Elders enjoy annual pecan pickup event

The Choctaw Nation’s Agricultural department held its annual Elder Pecan pickup on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. The event drew around 250 elders from every district in the Choctaw Nation, who were shuttled in from their community centers to the pecan orchard near Idabel, Oklahoma.

Jody Standifer is the executive officer of Agriculture at the Choctaw Nation. According to Standifer, the pecan orchard has around 1,000 trees on the property, and they hope to harvest around 90,000 lbs. of pecans after the elders gather what they want.

Standifer said that he was happy the event could take place this year as the event was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was great to see so many Choctaw Seniors come out to participate in the event,” said Standifer.

Ernest Dry fills his bag at the pecan orchard during the elder pecan harvest.

Some elders brought their own buckets to collect as many pecans as they could before the orchard had their commercial harvest.

Photos by Christian Toews