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🪶 Letter from the Editor

Hey neighbor,

I keep thinking about rooms this week. Not the kind you decorate — the kind you show up to.

The room at the Boots & BBQ where Llano raised $200,000 in one evening. The gym in Mason where a group of girls have built something extraordinary together — 36 wins and counting. The council chamber in Fredericksburg where a unanimous vote just gave Fort Martin Scott a real future. The school auditorium in Junction where kids stood up and were recognized for being good humans.

None of these rooms were enormous. Most of them weren't even fancy. But the people inside them were fully there, doing the quiet work of showing up for something bigger than themselves.

That's the thread running through this week's edition. Whether it's in your business relationships, your basketball gym, or the small room where you do your most important thinking — showing up together is the whole strategy.

We've got a packed events calendar through May, some serious business moves happening across the Hill Country, and Hazel Mae has thoughts about what your garden is trying to teach you.

Grab your coffee. Let's sit a spell.

— Katie Milton Jordan
Editor, The Townie
📬 [email protected] // 📞 325-475-4991

The Two Insights Your Business Needs Right Now

Running a business in this region has never been simple — but right now, it’s especially easy to misread the signals.

Some things are working better than they look. Other things feel “fine” right up until they aren’t. Based on what we’re seeing across shops, services, ranch-adjacent businesses, and Main Street operations, here are two insights worth sitting with this week.

Insight #1: Relationship-Driven Business Resilience

There's a particular kind of wisdom that comes from knowing your customers by name. Not knowing about them—knowing them. The ones who've been coming back for three years, who mention their kid's cheer schedule when they order, who text you before a holiday to make sure you're stocked the way they like it.

When times get thin, and they do get thin, this is where people tend to pull back. The instinct makes sense: protect what you have. Hunker down. Maybe skip the coffee chat with the regular who always spends 20 minutes talking before they buy. It's efficient to disappear a little.

But here's what gets overlooked in the scramble: those relationships aren't a luxury that comes after you're stable. They're the thing that makes you stable. The customer who knows you by name doesn't shop around when something costs a dollar more. They don't leave the first time you mess up an order. They bring their friends. They show up in bad months because they know what you're building.

The resilience isn't in the transaction. It's in the thread.

Insight #2: Networks That Actually Support Growth

There's a lot of noise about "networking" these days—the kind where you're supposed to work a room, collect cards, perform visibility. But that's not how growth actually happens in a small town. Growth happens when you know someone who knows someone, and that someone believes in you enough to say so.

Real networks aren't built at events with name tags. They're built in the ordinary moments: when another business owner texts you a supplier's number because they heard you were looking. When someone from the next county mentions your work to a potential client. When people you trust vouch for you, not because you asked, but because you've shown up as someone worth vouching for.

The most valuable network isn't the biggest one. It's the reliable one. It's the people who remember that you're there, who think of you when an opportunity comes by, who care enough about your success to send business your way without keeping a scorecard. That kind of network grows slow and steady, the way real things do.

Small Townie Takeaway

Most of us weren't raised to understand that the people around us are the actual business strategy. We were taught to optimize, to reach, to expand. But the steadiest operations in any small town aren't built on hustle or clever marketing. They're built on people who keep showing up, who know who you are, and who believe you're worth the effort. That's the whole thing, right there.

Don’t Build Alone. Join the Circle.

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[Upgrade and Join The Townie Business Circle Today] $10/MO for your exclusive pass to a more resilient region.

Fresh off the Porch

The Scoreboard

Mason Cowgirls are tearing up the bracket with a jaw-dropping 36-1 season. If you haven't been paying attention to Mason girls basketball, now's the time. The Cowgirls stormed into the UIL Class 2A playoffs as one of the top-ranked teams in the entire state, carrying a staggering 36-1 record into the postseason. They dispatched Bracketville in the bi-district round on Feb. 16 at Junction High School and advanced to face Skidmore-Tynan in the area round. This small-town squad — following last year's state tournament appearance — is building something truly special on the hardwood. The whole Hill Country is watching.

Llano Lady Jackets clinch back-to-back district titles for the first time in two decades. Over in Llano, the Lady Jackets captured the District 5-3A championship for the second consecutive year — a feat the program hadn't accomplished in 20 years. They clinched on Feb. 6 with a convincing 43-28 win over Comfort, ensuring seniors walked off their home court as champions. The Lady Jackets share the title with Blanco and Ingram Tom Moore and entered the UIL playoffs with a bi-district matchup against Sweetwater in Brownwood on Feb. 16.

Menard and Harper send their girls to the playoffs too. The Hill Country's small-school basketball pipeline runs deep. Menard's girls (state-ranked at No. 16/19) earned a playoff berth, squaring off against Irion County in San Angelo. Meanwhile, Harper's girls (17-10) took on Falls City on Feb. 18 in Boerne. Both tiny communities representing on the state stage.

Llano's Boots & BBQ raises over $200,000. The 11th Annual Boots & BBQ in Llano brought together community members, supporters, and partners for what organizers called "an unforgettable evening of fellowship, fun, and philanthropy." More than $200,000 raised — a testament to this community's generosity and spirit.

Dates and details subject to change — always call ahead.

Feb. 20–22 | Texas Trail Roundup — Marktplatz, 101 W. Main St., Fredericksburg. America's Walking Club hosts a three-day international walking festival exploring scenic Hill Country trails. Open to all levels. Registration required. 9 AM–4 PM daily.

Feb. 20–22 | Fredericksburg Trade Days — Sunday Farms, 355 Sunday Farms Ln., Fredericksburg. 350+ vendors across 7 barns. Antiques, crafts, food, live music. Fri–Sat 9–5, Sun 9–4. Repeats monthly on 3rd weekends: Mar. 20–22, Apr. 17–19, May 15–17.

Feb. 21 | Castell General Store Ultimate Chili Cookoff Showdown — 19522 RR 152 W., Castell. Noon start. Live music, food, cold drinks on the banks of the Llano River. 325-247-4100.

Through Mar. 1 | "My Fair Lady" — Fredericksburg Theater Company, Steve W. Shepherd Theater, 1668 US-87 S. Lerner & Loewe's beloved musical. Saturday matinees at 2 PM. Ticketed. Named "Best Theatre in the San Antonio Region" by BroadwayWorld.

Feb. 24 | Llano Hospital Foundation "Don't Miss a Beat" Fundraiser — The Falls, Llano. 5–8 PM. Fundraiser for a new CT Scanner capable of CT Calcium Scoring for Llano Regional Hospital. A game-changer for local heart health screening.

Mar. 7 | Hill Country Chorale — "Classical Music" Concert — Cailloux Theater, 910 Main St., Kerrville. Evening performance.

Mar. 7 | Brews, Ewes & BBQ Festival — 325 S. Oakes St., along the Concho River, San Angelo. 11 AM. BBQ cook-off (brisket, ribs, chicken), World Championship Lamb Cook-off, Kids-Que Competition (ages 6–18). Benefits downtown revitalization.

Mar. 14–15 | Junction Annual Predator Calling Contest — Coke Stevenson Center, 440 US Hwy 83 N., Junction. Cash prizes and drawings. Sunday weigh-in. 325-446-3588.

Mar. 19–28 | 37th Heart of Texas Country Music Festival — Ed Davenport Civic Center & Heart of Texas Events Center, 1701 S. Bridge St., Brady. Ten days and nights of live country music — 24 shows, 30+ entertainers. Headliners include Grand Ole Opry star T. Graham Brown, The Malpass Brothers, Dottsy, Jake Hooker, Jody Nix, Billy Mata, Jeannie C. Riley, and Amber Digby. Open jam sessions, Darrell McCall & Friends Golf Tournament, and Heart of Texas Steel Guitar Show. Ribbon cutting for new 6,300 sq. ft. museum addition on Sat., Mar. 21 at 11 AM. Tickets at heartoftexascountry.com.

Mar. 26 | 7th Annual Touch-A-Truck & Open House — Fredericksburg. Fire trucks, police cars, backhoes — the works. FREE ice cream from Clear River Ice Cream & Bakery. Special America's 250th Anniversary celebration. Kids play "Department Bingo" for a chance to ride to school in a fire truck.

Mar. 27–29 | LEAF — Llano Earth Art Fest — Grenwelge Park, 100 E. Haynie St., Llano. Internationally renowned land artists creating sculpture with natural materials. World Rock Stacking Championship, live music, vendors, workshops, fire dancing, driftwood and sand sculpture. LEAF's comeback year. llanoearthartfest.org.

Mar. 28 | Mason Chamber Music Festival — "Italian Season Favorites" — Odeon Theater, 122 S. Moody St., Mason. Doors 6:15 PM, show 7 PM. Solo violinist Patrice Calixte and the Artisan Chamber Players. Tickets $30 (cash only at door). Students 18 and under $10. [email protected] or 325-347-6781.

Mar. 28 | @LAST Llano Art Studio Tour — Various studios, Llano. Self-guided tour of local artists' studios with demonstrations. Maps at Llano Visitor Center and Llano Fine Arts Guild & Gallery, 503 Bessemer Ave. After-party with artists at the Guild.

Mar. 28 | Spring Disc Golf Tournament — Schreiner University Disc Golf Course, 2100 Memorial Blvd., Kerrville. 9:30 AM. Two-person teams. $40/team. Cap: 18 teams. Register at 830-257-7300.

Apr. 2–4 | Llano River Chuck Wagon Cook-Off — Badu Park, on the banks of the Llano River, Llano. Wagons arrive Thursday. Public meal served at HIGH NOON on Saturday, April 4 — chicken fried steak and fixings, traditional chuck wagon style. Meal tickets $25 (Llano Chamber, 325-247-5354). Teams compete in meat, beans, potatoes, bread, dessert, and campsite authenticity. Free to attend and browse. Tickets sell out early.

Apr. 3–5 | 53rd Annual Easter Bike Tour — Start/finish at Schreiner University, 2100 Memorial Blvd., Kerrville. Three-day cycling event through the Hill Country. Routes from 10 to 100+ miles. Fully stocked rest stops. All levels welcome. easterbiketour.com.

Apr. 3–19 | San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo — CRC Roofers Coliseum, San Angelo Fairgrounds. Elite PRCA rodeo — bull riding, barrel racing, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, plus concerts, carnival midway, Mutton Bustin'. 90+ year tradition. sanangelorodeo.com.

Apr. 4 | Mason Spring Arts & Wine Fest — Historic Downtown Mason Square. Gates open 11 AM. Fine art by local artisans, Hill Country wines, live music on the square. 325-347-0230.

Apr. 4 | Junction Easter Pageant — 75th Anniversary — Easter Pageant Grounds, Cedar Creek Rd. & FM 2169, Junction. Free admission. Outdoor reenactment of the Easter story on a natural hillside stage beneath Lover's Leap. Show at sunset. Arrive early — this 75-year tradition has never been canceled.

Apr. 4 | Kerrville EasterFest — Flat Rock Park, 3840 Riverside Dr., Kerrville. 10 AM–4 PM. Free, family-friendly. BBQ & chili cook-off, Easter egg hunt at 11 AM, open car show, food vendors, live music, games, Easter Bunny appearance. 40+ year tradition. Benefits Hill Country CASA.

Apr. 4–5 | 48th Annual Llano Fiddle Fest — John L. Kuykendall Event Center, 2200 Ranch Rd. 152, Llano. Open fiddle contest since 1976 — youth, senior, open, and accompanist divisions. $1,000 Grand Prize. Free to attend (donations benefit Llano Food Pantry). Saturday evening concert and dance (ticketed, 325-247-5354). Sunday cowboy breakfast.

Apr. 11 | Castell Grind Gravel Race — Start/finish at Castell General Store, 19522 W. Ranch Rd. 152, Castell. Three endurance routes: Full Grind 100K (62 mi.), Three-Quarter 75K (45 mi.), Half 50K (31 mi.). Capped at 650 riders. Post-race festivities at the General Store. Registration deadline Apr. 4. castellgrind.com.

Apr. 11 | Ruthie Foster in Concert — Odeon Theater, 122 S. Moody St., Mason. Doors 6:15 PM. Grammy-nominated artist performing gospel, blues, folk, and soul. Tickets $25 advance / $30 at door (cash only). Students 18 and under $10. [email protected] or 325-347-6781.

Apr. 15 | Harper Chamber Non-Profit Expo — AA Gitter Hall, 164 N. 4th St., Harper. 6 PM. Learn about local non-profit organizations and their services. Open to all.

Apr. 17–18 | 36th Annual Llano Crawfish Open — Robinson Park, 303 Hwy 71 E., Llano (on the Llano River). 22,500+ pounds of crawfish, live music all day, charity golf tournament, 5K Crawfish Crawler, Motorcycle Fun Run, arts & crafts, team roping, cornhole tournament, barrel racing. Fri: $10 before 5 PM / $30 after. Sat: $20 before 5 PM / $35 after. Weekend Pass $50. 12,000+ attendees. Benefits Llano charities.

Apr. 18 | Outdoor Women Gone Wild — 402 Main St., Junction. Annual hands-on event for women — archery, bird watching, fly fishing, shooting, outdoor photography, self-defense, mosaic cross making, team wagon driving, and more.

Apr. 29 | Fredericksburg Wildflower 5K & 10K — Spring race through wildflower-lined Hill Country roads. Morning start.

Apr. 30–May 3 | Texas Adventure Rally — Tree Cabins at Rivers Bend, 701 Agarita, Junction. Multi-day adventure/dual-sport motorcycle rally. Registration $115. Multiple route options. Big-bike friendly, beginner accessible. texasadvrally.com.

Mark Your Calendar Further Out

Mid-May — Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve opens for the season in Mason County. Millions of Mexican free-tail bats emerge nightly through October. Operated by The Nature Conservancy.

May 21–June 7 — 54th Kerrville Folk Festival at Quiet Valley Ranch. 18 days of folk and Americana. Lineup includes S.G. Goodman, Andy Frasco & The U.N., JJ Grey & Mofro, and more. kerrvillefolkfestival.org.

Wildflower Season (mid-March through late April) — Mason County backroads are legendary. Contact the Mason County Chamber at 325-357-5758 for their backroad driving guide.

Community Features

Fort Martin Scott gets a new guardian — and a bright future. In a unanimous vote that drew applause, the Fredericksburg City Council approved an operating agreement transferring the historic Fort Martin Scott — all 15.07 acres, buildings, equipment, and artifacts — to the Texas Historical Commission. Established in 1848 as the first U.S. Army frontier post in Texas, the fort will now benefit from THC resources for long-term preservation and public programming.

Llano earns national Main Street accreditation. The Llano Main Street Program has been designated an Accredited Main Street America™ program, meeting rigorous national performance standards for preservation-based economic development and community revitalization. A meaningful feather in the cap for a town already punching above its weight.

Junction ISD celebrates young scholars at NJHS ceremony. Junction ISD held its National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony on Feb. 4 in the school auditorium, recognizing students for academic excellence, service, leadership, and character. A proud night for Eagle families.

2,000 rainbow trout hit the Llano River. The annual rainbow trout release returned to Grenwelge Park in Llano, where 2,000 trout were stocked into the Llano River. The beloved tradition draws anglers and families alike and kicks off weeks of good fishing right in the heart of town.

Kerrville launches drone survey of the Guadalupe for river health. Fixed-wing and helicopter-style drones conducted aerial data collection over a four-mile section of the Guadalupe River on Feb. 17–18, assessing vegetation and river conditions. The data will inform ongoing planning for river health and restoration.

Kerrville Rotary Club turns 100. Plans are underway for the 100th anniversary of the Kerrville Rotary Club, culminating with a catered dinner on Feb. 26 at the Schreiner University ballroom. One of the Hill Country's longest-running service organizations reaches a major milestone.

Business & School Highlights

Frost Bank investing $8 million in new Fredericksburg location. One of Texas's most established banks (founded 1868) is putting serious money into the Hill Country. Frost Bank plans to invest $8 million to build 5,387 square feet of new space at 1415 E. Main St. in Fredericksburg — a significant vote of confidence in the local economy.

Southern Living Idea House under construction in Fredericksburg. National eyes are on Fredericksburg: the Southern Living Idea House is officially under construction within the Friedën development off U.S. 87 S. The project brings coast-to-coast editorial attention to Fredericksburg's architectural charm.

$458,000 in HOT grants flow to 25 Fredericksburg organizations. The Fredericksburg City Council distributed $458,000 in Hotel Occupancy Tax grants to 25 community organizations. Highlights include $150,000 to the Admiral Nimitz Foundation (National Museum of the Pacific War, which welcomed over 120,000 guests in 2025), $80,000 to the Gillespie County Historical Society for preservation of the Fassel Roeder Home, and funding for the Book Festival, Farmers Market, MusikFest, Crawfish Festival, and more.

Rotary Club of Fredericksburg Foundation gives $5,000 to Frontera Healthcare. Proceeds from the 2025 Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival. Good beer, good cause.

Mason Odeon Theater keeps the live music rolling. The historic Odeon Theater hosted a Valentine's Day concert featuring Willis Alan Ramsey — an Americana and Texas country legend — on Feb. 14. Upcoming: chamber music Mar. 28 and Ruthie Foster Apr. 11.

Kerrville opens 5th Citizens Government Academy. The City of Kerrville is accepting applications for its fifth Citizens Government Academy — a free 10-week program offering behind-the-scenes looks at city operations. Applications due Feb. 28.

Awards & Recognitions

Kerrville PD honors three heroes of the July 4 flood. At the Feb. 10 City Council meeting, Chief Chris McCall recognized three outstanding team members for their response during the devastating July 4, 2025 flood. Telecommunications Operator Riley Gordon was named 2025 Civilian Employee of the Year, Officer Trevor Fletcher earned Officer of the Year, and Sergeant Tyler Cottonware received Supervisor of the Year.

Rotary Club of Fredericksburg accepting Hans Hannemann Award nominations. Know a Fredericksburg community member who exemplifies service above self? Nominations are open through Feb. 27.

Emma Express animal rescue spotlighted in Llano. The Llano News featured the heartwarming "Emma Express" rescue effort. 365 Pet Connection gave heartfelt thanks to Bill and Elaine Lancaster for sponsoring the initiative, keeping the motto alive: "Rescue is about second chances and full hearts."

Hill Country Weather

NWS San Angelo reports temperatures 10–20°F above normal this week — highs in the upper 70s to low 80s, lows near 50. Breezy south-southwest winds and humidity dropping to 15–25% are fueling elevated fire weather conditions. Dry through Friday; cooler air arrives by the weekend. No precipitation expected until potentially late next week.

Rural Policy & Funding Watch

Texas secured the nation's largest Rural Health Transformation Fund allocation — $281 million from a new $50 billion federal program — bolstering HB 18's rural hospital stabilization initiative. SB 7 directs Texas Water Fund dollars to rural water utilities. The Ag Commissioner primary is March 3, with incumbent Sid Miller facing Abbott-endorsed Nate Sheets. Early voting began Feb. 17.

Economic & Small Business Intel

Texas ranked No. 3 nationally for starting a business (WalletHub 2026). The franchise tax threshold rose to $2.65M, and voters approved a new $125,000 business personal property exemption effective Jan. 1. Governor Abbott announced 15 cities for 2026 Small Business Summits — registration now open. Dallas Fed notes 3.9% state GDP growth, though small-business revenue trends lag.

Agriculture & Livestock Notes

Roughly 73% of Texas remains in drought (Feb. 10), with heavy stress across the Hill Country. NWS reports winter 2025–26 has been "exceptionally warm and dry" — a 3+ inch precipitation deficit since December. Elevated wildfire risk persists due to low humidity and dormant vegetation. Spring rains are critical for rangeland recovery and herd rebuilding statewide.

Market Snapshot

CME Feeder Cattle Index: $375.08 (Feb. 13), up 38.75% year-over-year. Live cattle cash hit $248–249 in the South, near record levels. Choice boxed beef: $369.91/cwt. OKC feeders steady to $5 higher on steers; heifers $5–15 higher. Packers report ~$76/head losses. March corn: $4.30/bu. Fed cattle supplies forecast 6–7% smaller in Q1.

Grant Watch

USDA Value Added Producer Grants — Accepting applications now through April 15 (1:1 match required).

Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant — Q3 deadline: March 31. Est. $50M in loans, $10M in grants.

NEW: USDA Strategic Economic & Community Development priority (published Feb. 2) covers Community Facilities and Water/Waste programs. More at texasruralfunders.org.

Tourism Pulse

Wildflower season approaches (mid-March to late April), but Visit Fredericksburg cautions limited fall/winter rain may dampen 2026 blooms. Wildseed Farms and Willow City Loop remain top draws. Fredericksburg's 50+ wineries along Wine Road 290 continue driving strong year-round tourism. Spring lodging bookings are reportedly filling fast; the new SKYE Resort adds inventory.

🌾 Neighbor Spotlight: La Cuna Center, Castell

Sometimes the most important things happening in a community show up quietly — in a stone building on a ranch road, in a conversation between an artist and a rancher, in a conference room that smells like mesquite smoke and possibility.

La Cuna Center in Castell is one of those places.

This spring, La Cuna is launching "After the Rain" — a campaign that does something you don't see very often: it puts contemporary art and practical land science in the same room and lets them talk to each other. Five artists-in-residence are creating new work that explores drought and flood resilience in the Hill Country. And alongside the art, La Cuna is hosting two conferences that every landowner and rancher in this region should know about.

What's coming:

🎨 March 7, 2:00 PM — Artist Reception at Castell Hill Country Gallery (across from the General Store). The "After the Rain" exhibition opens with work from five artists exploring land, water, and resilience. The show runs through May 9.

🔥 April 18, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM — "After the Rain" Land, Fire, Water Conference at Castell General Store. Steve Nelle on an ethic of land care. Michelle Bertelsen on managing land for water quality. Brian Wright on prescribed fire. Carol Flueckiger on prairie plants art. $25, lunch included. Presented with the Llano River Watershed Alliance.

🐄 May 9, 11:00 AM–2:00 PM — Regenerative Grazing Conference at Castell General Store. This is the big one. Dr. Rick Machen, Executive Director of King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, is the keynote speaker. Taylor Collins of Roam Ranch (Force of Nature Meats) and Marc Duderstadt of Halter Virtual Fencing round out the lineup. $40, lunch included.

Why this matters for our ranchers: There's funding headed to Texas for regenerative ranching practices, and many Hill Country ranchers are probably already using a lot of these principles in how they manage their land. This conference is a chance to get the language, the connections, and the roadmap to investigate that funding. When the Executive Director of King Ranch Institute comes to Castell, you pay attention.

Rachel Farrington, La Cuna's Executive Director, put it simply: she wants to get the word out to area ranchers, and she believes this could be a big deal for the region.

We agree.

Register for all events at www.la-cuna.org | Follow on Instagram: @lacunacenter

Read their full Feb newsletter below 👇👇👇

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Worth Your Time: Thomas Mote on Finding the Right Small Town Leader

Last Friday I had the privilege of being treated to lunch at Willow Creek by Thomas Mote and his colleague, Eric Davis — two economic development legends in the state of Texas — through an introduction from La Cuna Executive Director, Rachel Farrington. Thank you, Rachel!

Thomas has been studying small towns for over 25 years. He's personally visited hundreds and studied hundreds more across the country, and he writes about what he sees with the kind of clarity that makes you put your coffee down and pay attention. His Substack, Small Towns 2.0, speaks directly to the systemic challenges — and solutions — facing communities like ours.

His recent piece, "Finding the Right Small Town EDO Leader," is one I think every city council member, board member, and engaged citizen in the Hill Country should read — especially with early voting open right now.

The core argument: the people we hire to lead economic development in small towns shouldn't be scaled-down versions of big-city executives. Small towns aren't just smaller cities — they operate more like extended families, with all the complexity that comes with that. The skills that matter most aren't about landing headlines or chasing the next big announcement. They're about trust, patience, maintenance, and the willingness to pick up a broom when that's what the job requires.

Thomas offers a diagnostic framework for evaluating EDO candidates that flips the usual hiring playbook. Instead of looking for closers and visionaries, he argues boards should be looking for farmers — people who know how to fix things, apply common sense, and plant trees they'll never sit under. The right leader might already be living in your small town. They might not have Ivy League credentials, but they have something harder to teach: commitment to the long-term well-being of the place they serve.

It's a piece that will make you think about who's leading your community, how they got there, and what kind of stewardship our small towns actually need right now.

Read the full article: Finding the Right Small Town EDO Leader — Thomas Mote on Substack

And while it's on your mind — early voting is open now. Go vote.

Featured Story: Why Small Rooms Matter More Than Big Stages

There's a particular kind of magic that happens in a small room.

It's not something you can measure or post about. It's the way the light falls when six people sit around a table that's seen better days. It's the exact moment when someone says something true and everyone stops talking at once. It's knowing you can take your time, that no one's checking their watch, that what you're building right now—in this room, with these particular people—is enough.

We've been told, for so long, that bigger is the measure of success. More followers. Larger audiences. The big stage. The viral moment. The packed venue. There's this persistent whisper that if you're not growing, if you're not reaching more people, if your work isn't seen by thousands, then maybe it doesn't matter that much.

But anyone who's actually done meaningful work knows the truth: the small room is where transformation happens.

I think about the quilting circle that's been meeting on Thursday mornings for thirty-seven years in the back room of a feed store. I think about the book club in a Baptist church basement where someone first found the courage to read their own poem out loud. I think about the hardware store where the owner spends an hour with a homeowner, walking them through what they actually need, not what sells fastest. I think about the café where the same group gathers every Tuesday and knows each other's kids' names and their worries and what kind of coffee they take.

These rooms don't fill auditoriums. They don't go viral. But they're where people find out they're not alone. They're where small businesses find their steadiest customers. They're where a shy teenager discovers they belong somewhere. They're where complicated ideas get talked through until they make sense. They're where someone who's been carrying something heavy can finally set it down.

There's a different kind of attention that happens in a small room. When there are six of you instead of six hundred, everyone is accountable to everyone else. You can't mail it in. You can't perform. You have to actually be there, present, real. And so does everyone else. That mutual accountability, that genuine attention—that's what creates the conditions for something real to grow.

The small room also has something that big stages can never replicate: permission to be imperfect. In a small room, you can fumble your words and be okay. You can change your mind mid-sentence. You can admit you don't know something. You can be tentative, uncertain, still figuring it out. And the room holds that. Doesn't require you to have it all solved before you show up.

I watched this happen recently at a local business gathering—not some fancy conference, just four people in a virtual conference room on a Tuesday night. A woman stood up and talked about the fact that her business wasn't growing the way she thought it would. That she'd been measuring success by the wrong metrics and it was eating her alive. In a big room, that would be vulnerability on a stage. In this small room, it was an opening. By the end of the evening, three other people had talked about their own quiet struggles, and the conversation had shifted from "am I growing fast enough?" to "am I building something I actually want to tend?"

That's what small rooms do. They give you permission to ask the real questions.

There's also something about the size of a small room that makes it possible for everyone to feel seen. Not famous. Seen. Known. The kind of knowing that comes from paying attention, from showing up consistently, from caring about the specific person in front of you, not the idea of an audience. When you're seen like that, you're more likely to try something. To risk something. To offer your best work instead of your curated version.

The small room is also where networks actually form—not the performative kind, but the kind that lasts. The kind where someone thinks of you months later when an opportunity comes by. Where people vouch for you not because they're trying to build their own brand, but because they believe in you and want to see you succeed. These networks are built on real attention and genuine relationship, the kind of thing that takes time and shows up.

And maybe this matters most right now, in a time when we're all being told that if we're not visible, we don't exist. The small room offers a different calculus entirely. It says: you matter. Your work matters. The people who are here with you matter. The depth of what you're building is more important than the breadth of who sees it.

In the Hill Country, we understand small rooms. We're surrounded by them. The coffee shops where the same faces gather. The library meeting rooms where things are organized. The living rooms where decisions get made. The back porches where real talk happens. These aren't accidents or failures of scale. They're where the actual work of a community gets done.

So if you've been measuring your work by how many people see it, maybe it's time to ask a different question: Is it working in the room? Are the people who show up changed by being there? Do they leave with something they didn't have before—clarity, or courage, or connection, or permission to try? Do they come back?

That's the measure that actually matters.

The small room isn't a stepping stone to the big stage. It's not a phase you outgrow. It's the place where everything real starts, and often, it's the place where the most important work stays. And that's more than enough.

🌱 Dear Hazel Mae & Fern

Dear Hazel Mae & Fern,

I planted a spring garden this year and nothing's coming up the way I expected. I got excited, bought all these seeds and starts, and I keep digging around to see if something's happening. Every other day I'm out there checking, pulling weeds that aren't there, wondering if I'm doing something wrong. My neighbor said I need to just let it sit for a while, but I can't seem to leave it alone. How do you know the difference between patience and just giving up?

— Sarah, Johnson City

Hazel Mae says:

Well now, sugar, I'm gonna tell you straight: you're not checking on your garden, you're checking on yourself. You're nervous because you want something good to happen, and that's human as the day is long. But listen here—the fastest way to kill something is to dig it up every few days to see if it's growing. You want to know what that does? It disturbs the roots. It tells the seed, "We're not stable yet, better not commit."

Your neighbor's right, and I say that as somebody who loves a good fuss as much as the next person. Patience isn't standing there staring at nothing. It's doing the setup work—the good soil, the right water, the right light—and then trusting the invisible part to do its job. The growing happens underground where you can't see it. That's the whole trick of it.

Here's what I do: I plant something, I water it good and proper, I mark the date on the calendar, and then I go on about my business. I check in once a week, maybe, just to see if anything's peeking through. Not every day. Once a week. That way you're being attentive without being invasive. You catch problems early if they happen, but you're not messing with the process.

And here's the thing about knowing the difference between patience and giving up: giving up feels like defeat. Patience feels like trust. You don't sound like you're giving up, honey. You sound like you're terrified something's wrong. That's just love, trying to protect something before it's even born.

Fern says:

There's an old rhythm to gardens that we've mostly forgotten. It's the rhythm of revelation, not creation. The seed already knows what it's supposed to be. Your job isn't to make it grow—it's to create the conditions and then step back enough to let it become itself.

Observation is different from intervention. When you observe, you're watching with an open hand, noticing what's happening. When you intervene, you're trying to direct it, to make it fit your timeline. The Garden, in her patience, teaches us that growth has its own rhythm. Some seeds will rush. Some will take their time gathering strength before they break through. Both are doing exactly what they need to do.

The most generative thing you can do is create the conditions once, thoroughly, and then practice the discipline of leaving it alone. That's not passivity. That's respect for a process bigger than your anxiety.

Hazel Mae (one last word):

Alright, listen, here's what you do:

• Check your soil moisture once a week—stick your finger in about two inches down. If it feels like a wrung-out sponge, that's right.

• Pull any weeds that are actually there (not the imaginary ones).

• Sit near it sometimes and just be there, but don't poke at it.

• Mark your calendar for what's supposed to show up and when, so you know you're not losing your mind.

• And honey? Trust it. Seeds have been doing this for about four thousand years without your help.

You're gonna have a beautiful garden, and it's gonna teach you something while it's at it.

Got a question for Hazel Mae & Fern? Send it in. We'll put the kettle on, pull on our boots, and walk it out with you. [email protected]

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Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

You're feeling the pull to lead something, to take charge, to make something happen. That instinct is real and it's yours. But this week, the energy is asking you to do something harder: to bring someone else along. Not to prove you can—to prove something matters more than solo victory. There's a conversation waiting with someone who needs your directness. Give it to them straight, and let them surprise you with what they do with it. The real win comes from showing someone they can trust you to tell them the truth. Make room for that.

Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)

Something solid is forming, and you can feel it. There's a kind of steadiness available to you right now that won't force. Maybe it's a partnership that's been tentative, or a business arrangement, or just a friendship that's deepening without trying too hard. The impulse will be to shore it up, to make it official, to nail it down. Resist that. This is a week for showing up consistently and letting the other person feel that consistency. Slow movements, repeated. That's what builds trust. Let your presence be the promise.

Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20)

Your people are on your mind, and that's the story this week. You're the connector, the one who thinks about how everyone fits together, who remembers the pieces of each person's story. Use that gift right now. Send the text you've been meaning to send. Bring two people together who don't know each other yet but probably should. The universe is asking you to be the bridge, and bridges matter more than anyone tells you. Your attention to people creates worlds. Pay attention to that.

Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22)

Home matters more than usual. Not in the frantic, "I need to fix everything" way, but in the gentle, "I want to make this a place where people want to be" way. Someone around you needs what you're good at—witness, warmth, the feeling of being held. You don't have to do anything big. Make coffee. Light a candle. Ask the real question. Show up in your own home like it's a sacred space, because it is. And it'll make everyone in it feel a little steadier.

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You've got something to say, and the week is giving you permission to say it. Maybe it's in a meeting, maybe it's one-on-one, maybe it's finally saying the thing you've been holding back. The catch is this: say it with heart, not just spark. The people who matter won't be impressed by the performance—they'll be moved by the truth underneath it. So lead with that. Be bold, but be real. Let them see both the fire and the tenderness. That combination is what changes people's minds.

Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

Money's on your mind, or resources, or the practical question of how to make something work in the real world. That's good thinking. But this week, don't think about it alone. Bring someone in who sees things differently than you do. Maybe they're an opposite—someone looser, more intuitive, less attached to the numbers. That combination, your grounding and their vision, creates something neither of you would make alone. Collaboration is a resource too. Use it.

Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

You're being called back to yourself a little bit. There's something about being true to your own vision—not the version you're performing, the actual thing you care about. It might be small. It might be quiet. But the universe is asking: what do you actually want? Not what looks good. Not what's expected. What do you want to build, be, create? Once you answer that for yourself, bring people in who get it. They're waiting. You just have to be clear enough to call them.

Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

Community is the story for you. The people you've gathered, the inner circle, the ones who know your depth. Something's shifting in how you relate to them, and it's asking for more honesty. You don't have to perform intensity or mystery. You can be softer with these people. You can let them see you're trying, that you care, that you don't have all the answers. That vulnerability is what actually binds people together. Let them see it.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Your world is expanding, and you can feel it. New people, new ideas, new possibilities. You want to gather them all in and make something big and beautiful. Good instinct. But this week, focus on one person or one project that genuinely moves you. Give it depth instead of breadth. Let someone close enough to see how you think, how you dream, what you're building toward. That kind of knowing creates the kind of loyalty that travels. One good connection made real is worth more than a hundred surface ones.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You're the one people lean on, and it's your nature to be solid. But this week, let someone see the other side of that. Not weakness exactly—just the part of you that wants things, that hopes, that's not in control of everything. Let someone see that you're human too. It makes room for something reciprocal, something less heavy. You don't have to be the bedrock all the time. You can be the person who's also being held. That's not a liability. It's connection.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You've got people around you, and you're thinking about community, belonging, what it means to show up. That's the energy of your week. But here's the invitation: let yourself need people as much as you care about them. You're good at the bird's-eye view, the big ideas about how people should be together. But how are you being held? Who gets to see what you need? That exchange—the giving and the receiving—is where the real bonds form. Open that door a little.

Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

The eyes of the world are on you a little bit this week, or at least it feels that way. Someone's noticing what you do, how you move through things, who you're becoming. Instead of hiding from that, let it be an invitation to show up as the fullest version of yourself. Not performing. Just present. The people who are meant to see you will see you. And they'll recognize something in you that matters—a kindness, a vision, a way of being that the world needs. Trust that. Let yourself be seen.

💫 The common thread this week: showing up, being seen, letting others carry something alongside you. Community isn't about being big—it's about being real.

Mandy is an 8-month-old ball of happy energy — but she is learning fast! Our volunteers are having fun working with her on some basic obedience skills. This fabulous young girl is a Black Mouth Cur mix, spayed, fully vaccinated, and heartworm negative. She is a big puppy with a big heart!

AI Translation: If Mandy were human...

She'd be that 22-year-old who just moved to town for her first real job and doesn't know a soul yet — but give her ten minutes and she'll know everyone at the coffee shop by name. She's the one who shows up to the community volunteer day in a ponytail and sneakers, already halfway through hauling tables before anyone's finished their sign-in sheet. Her energy is infectious but not exhausting — she's learning when to dial it back, and people respect that about her. She's got a warmth that makes you feel like you've known her longer than you have. Her dating profile would say: "Still figuring some things out, but I'm a fast learner and I've got a big heart. Looking for someone patient who doesn't mind a little chaos with their morning coffee. I'll make it worth it — promise."

Generated from her real shelter bio.

Did we nail it? Does Mandy's "human version" match the vibe? Drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us what you think.

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