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Renewing our experience at the Guadalupe County Ag Center

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 I think the Guadalupe County Ag Center conscientiously changed their business plan and it may have worked well.  In years past, the organizers of this section of the Pecan Fest did not charge admission to the Ag Center and provided a turkey dinner for $8.  Then they changed to an $8 admission fee with an $8 turkey dinner.  Of course, last year, they were frightened off by the virus, so nothing occurred.  This year, with vastly improved display facilities in the so-called Red Barn, they did not charge admission but had a $15 turkey dinner.  So, you can see, they are searching for the sweet spot in attracting visitors and bringing in some cash.

Rodeos, agricultural fairs, and 4H exhibits put rural, farm and ranch life on display. We like to visit these events, especially to witness the enthusiasm of young people involved in outdoor and farm related activity. The Guadalupe County Agricultural Center is one of the favorites.  From our experience at any of these ranching and farming events some of the visitors are city people who walk around in flip flops trying to sidestep the manure and look at the displays as if they were visiting a museum as if none of this was real, but only on display for their amusement.  Other events, such as this agricultural center north of Seguin, apparently attracts those who are living the life which is on display.  The ag center just off Hwy 123 north of Seguin is a place of real life displays by volunteers of the local ranching and farming community. We didn't see many urbanites this day.

The Red Barn has been expanded with a new wing devoted to the Pecan growing business of the County.  The new wing is off to the right of the main hallway of exhibits--the main hallway shown in the following photo.  The Pecan Room is off to the right and the farm equipment straight ahead and the fantastic collection of old tools off to the left.  

Main Hall

Off to the right in this photo is the vendor booth of WW Farms where they sell pecans (new crop is not in yet) pecan oil, and pecan flour.  They also had for sale cookies made with mostly pecan flour (they were good tasting).  We plan to visit their farm for some pecans in a month or so.

Pecan Room
I think the person in the brown suit off to the right is supposed to be a pecan but it's hard to make a person into a pecan.

Tool Display 
This photo shows only about 20 % of the total display.  This is perhaps the most extensive display of hand tools that we have ever seen.  In the foreground is a small screen with a narrative by the collector on his history of collecting these tools.  He is a native of Marion, just to the east of Seguin.

The background of the tool display

We then had our turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and green beans dinner in a relaxed atmosphere, talking to the people who shared a large table with us.  An older couple across the table from us were native Texans who had moved from Round Rock when that area got out of control on population.  They enjoy their life in the Seguin area.  Two other ladies across from us were discussing various ways to prepare turkey stuffing, noting that this stuffing was corn bread based.  One said her mother always made corn bread stuffing with hamburger meat added. I guess there are an infinite number of ways to make turkey stuffing.  Unfortunately, we did not take a photo of the eating area or the dinner as we were too busy talking and eating.
One interesting sidelight was the lady taking the tickets for the turkey dinner.  With some conversation kick starting, she said she was a new Texan and a political refugee.  More discussion led to the reality that she had to leave the State of Washington because she said "the people there just keep electing the people who are ruining the State of Washington".  Perhaps she should have stayed and fought the battle of survival of the state, but then that may not be tolerable to some people so they leave.

Good day was had by all.










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