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.”
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