As Texas population grows and spreads, opportunities for home and farm-based businesses in the field of horticulture likewise expand.
The Texas Horticulture Opportunities Conference provides an opportunity to study the unique opportunities and challenges in the business of growing plants. This conference is designed for new landowners desiring to identify one or more specialty horticulture crops to build a farm business with and for existing agricultural producers to diversify into new or alternative specialty crops.
Texas Horticulture Opportunities in fruit and pecan production, vegetables, wineries, cut flowers, shade trees, and agritourism will be covered in a dynamic, fast-paced educational program.
Please note that this event must be registered for separately through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
For more details regarding the conference, please view or download the Tentative Program Agenda
| 1:00 – 2:30 PM | Registration with welcome reception and trade show | |
| 2:30 – 3:05 PM | The Support System for Horticulture Opportunities in Texas | Dr. Amit Dhingra, Professor and Head, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University |
| 3:05 – 3:45 PM | Opportunities for Marketing Horticultural Crops in Texas Today | Dr. Manuel Garcia, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University |
| 3:45 – 4:20 PM | Go Texan, A Program Supporting Horticulture Opportunities in Texas | Mr. Casey Corley, Specialty Crop Program Specialist, Texas Department of Agriculture & Industries |
| 4:20 – 5:00 PM | Horticulture~A Growing Opportunity | Mr. Jimmy Klepac, Klepac Greenhouses Inc., Blanco, Texas |
| 5:oo PM | Adjourn Day 1 | |
| 6:00 PM | TPGA Casino Night at Embassy Suites | (Requires ticket purchase from Texas Pecan Growers) |
| 8:00 – 8:30 AM | Opening Remarks – Pecans in Texas | Troy Swift, President, Texas Pecan Growers Association |
| 8:30 – 9:30 AM | Session 1~Tree Fruit Growing & Marketing | Dr. Tim Hartmann, Assistant Professor and AgriLife Statewide Extension Fruit Specialist & Grower TBD, Texas A&M University |
| 9:30 – 10:30 AM | Session 2~Berry Growing & Marketing | Mr. Stephen Janak, AgriLife Extension Program Specialist, Ph.D. student, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University & Dustin LaBat, Specklebelly Farms, Weimar, Texas |
| 10:30 – 11:00 AM | Break-Visit TPGA tradeshow | |
| 11:00 – 12:00 PM | Session 3~Cut Flower Production & Marketing | Dr. Nicole Wagner, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Sciences Texas State Univ. & Grower TBD |
| 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Lunch on your own | |
| 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Session 4~Vegetable Production & Marketing | Dr. Joe Masabni, Professor and AgriLife Extension Specialist, Controlled Environment Horticulture, AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Dallas, & Nick Farmer, Gotham Greens, Seagoville, Texas |
| 2:00 – 3:00 PM | Session 5~Vineyards & Wineries | Mr. Michael Cook, AgriLife Extension Program Specialist and Ph.D. student, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, & Donna Patrick, Pollo Rosa Winery, Cleburne, Texas |
| 3:00 – 3:30 PM | Break – Visit TPGA Trade Show | |
| 3:30 – 4:30 PM | Session 6~Christmas Trees in Texas | Dr. Andrew King, Assistant. Professor and AgriLife Research Scientist and Extension Specialist, Ornamental Horticulture & Grower TBD |
| 4:30 – 5:30 PM | Session 7~All About Agritourism | Dr. Stacy Tomas, Assistant Professor, Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism & Grower TBD |
| 5:30 PM | Conference Adjourns |
*Program and agenda are subject to change.
Click Here to book your room at the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel & Conference Center
Group Name: Texas Pecan Growers / Texas Pecan Conference
Dates Available: Saturday, July 12 – Thursday, July 15, 2026 (5 nights)
Cut-off Date for Group Rate: June 15, 2026
Group Code: 95V
