BELLVILLE — The 2025 Austin County Home-Grown Vegetable Contest was held June 7 at Linseisen’s Feed & Supply in Bellville.
Along with the contest, there was an educational program on Fermented Cucumber Pickles, presented by Garry Kroeger from the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association.
Austin County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service congratulates the winners, and thanks all who participated, with 21 participants bringing in 69 entries.
They also express their appreciation to sponsors, Linseisen’s Feed & Supply, for hosting the event and Nelson’s Plant Food for their donation to the Best of Show winners and all entries. A special thanks to Jody Taylor, County Extension Agent - Horticulture from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Fort Bend County, who served as our contest judge.
This year’s winners were: •Best of Show: 1. Catalea Flor Castro (Pumpkin), 2. Ian Anderson (Cucumbers), 3. Scott Gates (Tomatoes)
•Best Tomato-Slicers: 1. Scott Gates, 2. Ian Anderson, 3. 1823 Garden at San Felipe (BMGA) •Best Tomato-Snackers: 1, Martha Neva, 2. Jean L Priem, 3. Scott Gates •Biggest Tomato: 1. Charles Beckendorf, 2. Scott Gates, 3. Sens Demonstration Garden (BMGA) •Best Bell Peppers: 1. Sens Demonstration Garden (BMGA). 2. Sherry Burnham •Best All Other Peppers: 1. Tom and Laura Harkness, 2. Faye Beery, 3. Marcella Ausmus •Best Banana Peppers: 1. Sherry Burnham, 2. Charles Beckendorf, 3. Misti Rudloff •Best Jalapeño Peppers: 1. Scott Gates, 2. Tom and Laura Harkness, 3. Sens Demonstration Garden (BMGA) •Best Cucumbers: 1. Ian Anderson, 2. Scott Gates, 3. Peter Marshall •Best Squash: 1. Charles Beckendorf, 2. Sens Demonstration Garden (BMGA) •Best Beans/Peas: 1. Sens Demonstration Garden (BMGA), 2. Garry Kroeger, 3. John Spiess
•Best Onions: 1. Henry Schmidt, 2. Charles Beckendorf, 3. Martha Neva •Best Potatoes: 1. Sens Demonstration Garden (BMGA), 2. Garry Kroeger, 3. Charles Beckendorf •Best Fruit/Berries: 1. B.R. Koehler (Rio Grapefruit), 2. Sens Demonstration Garden (BMGA) (Cantaloupe) •Best Peaches: 1. Gail Spiess, 2. John Spiess, 3. Faye Beery •Best of All Others: 1. Sens Demonstration Garden (BMGA) (Eggplant), 2. Sens Demonstration Garden (BMGA) (Okra), 3. Martha Neva (Dino Kale) •Most Unique Vegetable/ Fruit: 1. Catalea Flor Castro (Pumpkin), 2. Marcella Ausmus (Purple Tomatoes). 3/ 1823 Garden at San Felipe (BMGA) (Heirloom Tomato) If you would like to participate in the Home-Vegetable Contest next year, please visit https://austin.agrilife. org/agriculture/acvegcontest/. If you have any questions about this program, please contact the Austin County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent, Stacie Villarreal, at 979-865-2072.
