KINGSVILLE (April 21, 2026) — While weather produced grey skies and wet conditions, middle school and high school agriculture programs from around the state were still able to shine during the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Jerome Tymrak Memorial Agricultural Mechanics Show on Tuesday, April 21 along University Boulevard.
This is the College of Agriculture’s 12th year hosting the show, but the first with the name honoring Jerome Tymrak, a two-time alumnus and a longtime professor in the College of Agriculture who passed away in 2020.
“Mr. Tymrak was one of our instructors here in the department for a number of years, and he’s the one who originally started the inaugural show,” said Texas A&M-Kingsville Professor of Agricultural Education and Mechanics Dr. Steven Chumbley. “We’ve just taken that and grown it to what it is.”
This year, the show had 109 projects registered from 39 different middle and high schools and included barbecue pits, trailers, restored, tractors, woodworking projects and more.
While the students presented their projects in hopes of capturing a ribbon during the showcase, some held a deeper meaning.
H.M. King junior Mario Silguero, his Dallas Cowboys themed BBQ pit with an inline smoker represented the first project him and his dad worked on together, making it a cherished item he’d like to hold on to.
“The Dallas Cowboys are my favorite football team and it’s a running trend in the family,” Silguero said. “It’s my grandfather’s favorite team, my great grandfather’s favorite team.”
Carlee Wiginton, a junior from Woodsboro High School presented a pink porch swing serving as memory to Melody Payne, or “Momma Payne,” as she was known as by those in the Woodsboro ISD community she served as a substitute teacher, cafeteria manager, cheer team sponsor and paraprofessional for just shy of 20 years. Payne passed away in Sept. 2024.
“Everybody loved her and she supported everybody,” Wiginton said. “I remember her because she was like my grandma and she would just support me all the time. So, I thought I would make a project for the school. I used my plasma cutter and cut out all the stuff she used to do and make (the swing). I want people to love it and sit on so they can relax and enjoy where she is.”
While the projects make the show more than a competition for students involved, the TAMUK agriculture students organizing the show take pride in giving students the platform to highlight their talents.
“This is my first time being involved with the project show and it’s been amazing so far,” said freshman agriculture science major Emma Bailey. “I’ve loved getting to see all these kids with their projects and what they’ve been working on. They get to come out and share what they’re passionate about. They also get to talk to other students that are as passionate about this stuff as they are…it’s been an amazing experience so far.”
With community, current and former TAMUK students, potential future students and industry partners in attendance, the Ag Mech show has become a way for the College of Agriculture to connect with the community and region.
“This event serves two purposes,” Chumbley said. “It’s a great recruiting event. I have so many students in class now who participated in this event as high school students. We’re seeing a lot of recruitment efforts, but also some retention. Our students feel like they belong to something. We also have industry representatives who provide prizes for the show and show up here to mingle with the teachers and students. It’s bringing the entire community together.”
2026 AG MECH SHOW RANKINGS
Division 1
Class 1
1st Goliad FFA Galvanized Sprayer
Class 2
1st Wilson Co. 4-H 10 ft Arena Drag
2nd San Isidro FFA Tractor Hay Spear
Class 3
1st Flatonia FFA Steel Welding Table
2nd ASTA Removable deck over trailer platform
Division Winner
1st Flatonia FFA Steel Welding Table
2nd Goliad FFA Galvanized Sprayer
Division 2
Class 1
1st ASTA Extreme Entry Gate
2nd Ganado Sorting Chute
3rd Sharyland FFA Cattle Panels
4th New Summerfield FFA 8’ Mineral Feeder
5th McMullen County Mobile Livestock Pen
6th Banquete FFA Wooden Hog Loading Ramp
Class 2
1st New Braunfels FFA Calf Trainer Roping Chute
Division Winner
1st ASTA Extreme Entry Gate
2nd Ganado Sorting Chute
Division 3
Class 1
1st Tidehaven FFA 20 Ft Bumper Pull Trailer
2nd Normangeee 14’ Bumper pull with ramp
3rd La Verina 21 Tilt deck bumper pull
4th buffalo FFA 20’ Utilty Trailer
5th Buffalo FFA 14’ Utility Trailer
6th United South 12x6 Dovetail
7th Roma 15x5 Utility Bumper Pull
8th Harper Welding Trailer
Class 2
1st Normangee FFA 28x6’8” gooseneck Cattle Trailer
2nd Roma 16’ Goosneck Dump
3rd Buffalo 30’ Dovetail
4th Buffalo 16’ gooseneck cattle trailer
5th San Isidro 24’ Gooseneck Trailer
6th Yorktown 28’ Gooseneck nursing cattle trailer
7th Agua Dulce 36’ Flatbed Trailer
Class 3
1st Harlingen Gooseneck 4 bale hay trailer
2nd Normangee Gooseneck Hay Swather Trailer
3rd Yorktown 51’ 8 bale hydraulic tilt side dump
4th Jourdanton 3 round bale trailer
Division Winners
1st Normangee FFA 28x6’8” gooseneck Cattle Trailer
2nd Roma 16’ Goosneck Dump
Division 4
Class 1
1st New Summerfield FFA 40”x72” River Table
2nd Bexar County The Social pit
3rd Sinton Large Outdoor table
4th HM King Swinging Bench
5th Laredo Martin Patio Swing
5th Laredo Martin Patio Chair with Table
6th New Summerfield Heart Shaped end table
7th HM King Floating Fire pit
7th Brenham 5ft sitting bench
8th Woodsboro Memorial Swing
9th Alice 4seat saddle rack
10th San Isidro 8’ pinic Table
11th San Isidro 6’ Bench
Class 2
1st New Summerfield FFA 40”x84” Wooden Aztec
2nd Driscoll 4H A&M Kingsviile Giant Chair
3rd La Villa Patio
4th La Villa Outdoor Bar
5th Roma Wooden Bookshelf
6th Roma Mud Room Bench
7th La Villa Vanity
8th La Villa Raise Beds
9th La Villa Spool Bench
10th La Villa Swing
10th Agua dulce Rustic Wooden Spool Poker
11th La Villa Spool Bar
Class 3
1st La Vernia 7x7 Deer Blind
2nd Woodsboro Quadruplex dog box
3rd Woodsboro Vital Zone Silhouette Traget
4th Brenham Deer Feeder on Skids
5th George west Hog Trap
6th George West Deer blind
Division Winners
1st La Vernia 7x7 Deer Blind
2nd New Summerfield FFA 40”x84” Wooden Aztec
Division 5
Class 1
1st Sharyland BBQ Smoker
2nd Sharyland BBQ pit
3rd HM King BBQ Pit with inline smoker
4th la Verina Fire Pit
5th HM King Chinese Fire Box
6th New Summerfield 36x36 Fire pit with cooker
Class 2
1st San Isidro 20’ BBQ Trailer
2nd Floresville 36’ BBQ Trailer
3rd Robstown 20’ BBQ Trailer
4th Sharyland BBQ Trailer
5th La Villa BBQ Trailer
6th Santa Rosa BBQ Trailer
Division Winner
1st San Isidro 20’ BBQ Trailer
2nd Floresville 36’ BBQ Trailer
Division 6
1st Floresville 1979 JD 2240
2nd La Verina 1979 John Deere
-TAMUK-
