Register for the Greater Mason Co Venture Fest

Greater Mason County Venture Fest

Thursday, October 2, 2025 • Fly Gap Winery, Mason, TX
Doors open at 5:00 PM | Welcome address at 5:30 PM

👉 Register free today: https://forms.gle/qYZUMhneE8f6w1T9A
Click → Fill name & email → You’re in.

Letter from the Editor

Neighbors,

You know our usual rhythm: The Townie lands in your inbox on Thursday mornings.
But today we’re popping in a day early with a special edition—because something remarkable deserves your attention before the week’s regular issue even drops.

On Thursday, October 2, 2025, Greater Mason County will host its first-ever Venture Fest at Fly Gap Winery.

This isn’t just another date on the calendar. It’s a once-a-year chance for our students and entrepreneurs to stand side-by-side, pitch big ideas, and show the state how powerful rural innovation can be.

And we get to put our region on the map alongside 3,000+ Texans across 10+ cities doing the same thing that night.

Every RSVP counts. Every sponsor helps the story reach farther. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to rally around the next generation of Hill Country leaders, this is it.

So register, bring a neighbor, and plan to be inspired.

Tomorrow’s regular Townie will still arrive as usual, but today belongs to the Venture Fest.

Let’s make sure everyone who cares about the future of Greater Mason Co is in that room.

— Katie Milton Jordan
Founder & Editor, The Townie

Why This Night Matters

The Lone Star State shouldn’t have lone founders. On Thursday, October 2, the Greater Mason County Region joins 3,000+ Texans in 10+ cities for the 4th Annual Texas Venture Fest—a statewide celebration of entrepreneurship and rural innovation.

Hosted at Fly Gap Winery, the evening will showcase Hill Country ingenuity with:

• Student Innovation Pitches from Mason ISD and Fredericksburg ISD

• Keynote insights from Ron Ondechek, Jr. of South Highland Ventures

• Expert Panel on Rural Innovation & Entrepreneurship with leaders from Mason, Menard, Brady, Junction, and Fredericksburg

• Networking & Conversation with entrepreneurs, investors, and community builders

Free registration is open now—reserve your spot and bring a friend.

Student Innovation Spotlight

Urgency to support: these ideas need mentors, investors, and champions.

• Local Eats – A central app connecting every restaurant and food trailer in Mason (and neighboring towns) so customers can order and pick up seamlessly.

• Smiles That Shine – A mobile dental unit bringing brighter smiles, better health, and new opportunities to underserved Hill Country residents.

• Seeds of Change – A student gardening program teaching low-income kids to grow food at home and prepare healthy meals with their harvest.

These projects are bold, practical, and deeply local. Show up, cheer them on, and help them take the next step.

Texas Venture Fest: A Statewide Movement

On the same night that Greater Mason Co gathers locally at Fly Gap Winery, 3,000+ Texans across 10+ cities will celebrate innovation and venture growth—from Austin and Houston to North Texas and East Texas.

This collaborative network of venture capital firms, universities, accelerators, and community leaders connects local founders to a bigger statewide force.

Your presence in Mason isn’t just about one event—it’s a vote for rural voices inside Texas’ largest entrepreneurial gathering.

Capturing the Night, Extending the Impact

We’re honored to welcome Jonathan Mills Media from Kerrville to professionally document the evening.

Jonathan’s team will produce a short film and photo package that speakers, sponsors, and community leaders can share—illustrating to a wider audience why our region is an extraordinary place to live, work, and grow a business.

This video and photography will help the story of rural innovation live long after the night ends.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Grouped by tier, every name below links to their site—explore and support the businesses investing in our region’s future.

Gold Sponsor ($1,000+)

• Fredonia Peanut Company

Silver Sponsors ($500)

• Texas Regional Bank

• Nine Bar Land & Cattle

• AEIOU Students

Bronze Sponsors ($250)

• Mason Bank

• Yonker Meat Processing

• Liters Inc.

• Menard Industrial Development Corp

In-Kind Sponsors

• Fly Gap Winery

• Mason ISD

• Fredericksburg ISD

• ERNA Sands LLC

• TheTownie.ai

• Twisted Bitch Cattle Co.

• Red Door B&B

Last Call for Sponsors – Be Seen, Be Remembered

There’s still time to add your business to this list and be featured on stage with Hill Country entrepreneurs and innovators.

Reply to this email today to learn about final sponsorship opportunities and secure recognition before, during, and after the event.

Greater Mason County Venture Fest
Thursday, October 2, 2025 • 5:00 PM • Fly Gap Winery
Register free → https://forms.gle/qYZUMhneE8f6w1T9A

Share this email with a neighbor or colleague who should be in the room on October 2. Our region is ready to show the state what rural innovation looks like—come be part of it.