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🪶 Letter from the Editor

By the time you read this, the Mason Cowgirls will be lacing up for the biggest game in program history.

Forty wins. One loss. Thirty-one straight. A 43–22 semifinal that wasn't really close. And tonight at five o'clock, inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, they'll play for the Class 2A Division I state championship — the first time Mason girls basketball has ever reached the title game.

That's the part you'll hear about on the news, if the news bothers to look this far.

But here's the part I keep thinking about: this didn't start Monday night. It didn't start this season. It started in gyms with no air conditioning, in summer leagues nobody covered, in early-morning conditioning sessions when it was still dark outside and the rest of town was asleep. Coach Cummings — who just hit 400 career wins — has been building this program for years. Anna Marie Whitworth didn't wake up one day with 2,000 career points. She earned them one game at a time, in front of crowds that fit in a single set of bleachers.

That's winter work.

And that's what this week's edition is about — the quiet, unglamorous labor that makes the visible things possible. The fence you mend before the spring calves arrive. The soil you feed before you plant a single seed. The bookkeeping you keep clean in February so April doesn't bury you. The phone call to a neighbor you haven't checked on since Christmas.

None of it looks like winning. All of it is.

March is doing what March does out here — teasing us with 90-degree days while the pecans haven't even leafed out yet. The drought is pressing harder than anyone wants to admit. But the people in these towns keep showing up. They hold fish fries to fund orphan care. They raise $200,000 for children who need advocates. They rally for a CT scanner because their hospital doesn't have one and they decided that's unacceptable.

That's tending what's ours. Not the dramatic kind. The daily kind.

Inside this edition: two business insights on why maintenance beats emergency spending every time, Hazel Mae and Fern tackle spring soil prep with their usual grace and vinegar, your tending and stewardship horoscope readings are here, and we've got a sweet eight-month-old pup named Mandy who's ready to ride shotgun into her forever life.

But first — if you're anywhere near San Antonio tonight, or even if you're just sitting on your porch sending good energy southeast — holler for those Cowgirls. They've done the winter work. Now it's time for spring.

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

🏀 Mason Pride: Cowgirls Play for State Tonight

The No. 2-ranked Mason Cowgirls play for their first-ever state championship TONIGHT — 5:00 PM at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The numbers tell the story: 40-1 on the season. A 31-game winning streak. Every playoff game won by double digits. Senior forward Anna Marie Whitworth has surpassed 2,000 career points and 1,100 rebounds. Head coach Alicia Cummings earned her 400th career victory along the way.

Mason reached the state semis three straight years from 2018–2020 but never broke through — until now. Tonight they face the winner of No. 1 Panhandle and No. 3 Cisco in the Class 2A Division I final.

Whether you're making the drive or sending your loudest vibes south from the porch: Go Cowgirls. 🤠

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: Maintenance as Strategy

There's a version of running a business where you fix things when they break. It's the most common version. It's also the most expensive.

The operators who last out here — the ones whose names are still on the building after twenty years — tend to share a habit that doesn't look like strategy at all. They maintain. They replace the roofing before the leak. They service the truck at the interval, not after the noise starts. They keep the QuickBooks current even when January is slow and nobody's asking for a report.

It's not exciting. Nobody posts about it. But it compounds.

The math is surprisingly simple: a dollar spent on maintenance almost always costs less than three dollars spent on repair. And it's not just about money — it's about capacity. Every emergency you prevent is a week you get to spend on the work that actually grows the business instead of the work that keeps it from collapsing.

The question worth sitting with: What in your operation right now is running fine — but only because nothing has gone wrong yet? That's not stability. That's borrowed time.

Insight #2: Investing Before Emergencies

There's a phrase that comes up in insurance circles: "You can't buy coverage while the house is on fire." It sounds obvious. But most small businesses operate exactly this way with everything except insurance.

The new hire doesn't happen until the current team is burned out. The bookkeeper doesn't get called until the IRS sends a letter. The website doesn't get updated until a customer says they couldn't find the hours. The well doesn't get inspected until the water pressure drops.

None of these are character flaws. They're the natural result of running lean in a place where margins are real and every dollar has a name. But there's a difference between being careful with money and waiting for the emergency to spend it.

The businesses that weather drought years, slow seasons, and the occasional curveball aren't the ones with the biggest reserves. They're the ones who spent a little during the calm to avoid spending a lot during the storm. A $200 inspection beats a $4,000 repair. A $50-a-month bookkeeper beats a $3,000 tax surprise.

Investing before the emergency doesn't require being rich. It requires being honest about what's wearing down.

A Small Townie Takeaway

Most of us know what needs tending. The gutter that's pulling away. The relationship that's gone quiet. The part of the business we've been meaning to look at since last fall. We don't ignore these things because we're careless — we ignore them because the day is already full and nothing's broken yet.

But "not broken yet" is a season, not a destination. The folks who seem to weather everything aren't luckier. They just got to the small things before the small things got big. That's not urgency. That's just paying attention — which, out here, might be the most underrated business skill there is.

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🎟️ Events

Menard — Menard Chamber Banquet (Thu, Mar 5, 6:00 PM, Club Victoria, Frisco Ave) — Menard County Chamber of Commerce. Happy hour kicks off at six, followed by a catered meal and live music. Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Pioneer of the Year, and more to be announced. A great night to celebrate Menard County's finest.

Mason — "Mercy" at the Odeon (Fri–Mon, Mar 6–9, 7:00 PM, Odeon Theater, 122 Moody St) — Odeon Theater. This sci-fi thriller follows a detective with 90 minutes to prove his innocence to an advanced AI judge. Four nights to catch it on the big screen. Admission just $4.

Mason — Piatigorsky Foundation Concert (Sat, Mar 7, 2:00 PM, M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library) — M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library. Free world-class classical music featuring mezzo-soprano Katherine Calcamuggio Donner and pianist Gabriel Evens. A rare, top-tier performance right here in Mason — don't miss it.

Castell — Fish Fry Fundraiser (Sat, Mar 7, 4:30 PM, Castell General Store) — Operation Orphans of Mason. Head to the General Store for fresh-fried fish served until it's gone. All proceeds support Operation Orphans of Mason. Arrive early — this one sells out every time.

Menard — Kothmann Scholarship Fund Dance (Sat, Mar 7, 6:00 PM, American Legion Hall, Hwy 190 East) — Aaron Kothmann Scholarship Fund. Dance the night away to the Wagon Aces. BYOB with set-ups available, silent auction, and concessions. Kid-friendly and all for a good cause — funding scholarships for local students.

Mason — Bingo Night (Tue, Mar 10, 5:30 PM, Murphy Creek Cellars) — Murphy Creek Cellars. Wine and bingo — what's not to love? Grab your favorite glass, settle in with friends, and play for prizes. A fun midweek pick-me-up at one of Mason's favorite gathering spots.

San Angelo — Gene Watson in Concert (Sat, Mar 14, 7:00 PM, Murphey Performance Hall) — San Angelo Performing Arts Center. Country legend Gene Watson brings classic hits to the Murphey stage. Worth the drive for real country fans.

Junction — Predator Calling Contest (Sat–Sun, Mar 14–15, Noon Sat, Kimble County) — Kimble County Chamber of Commerce. Fourth annual contest — hunting starts noon Saturday, weigh-in noon Sunday. Entry $200 per team of four. Cash prizes for top three plus side pots for heaviest bobcat, coyote, fox, and raccoon.

Harper — Chamber Meeting feat. Sheriff Ayala (Tue, Mar 18, 5:30 PM, AA Gitter Hall, 164 N 4th St) — Harper Chamber of Commerce. Doors open at 5:30, speaker at 6:00. Gillespie County Sheriff Ayala addresses the Harper community in person. Open to all.

Mason — Classic Movie Night: "The Godfather" (Wed, Mar 18, 7:00 PM, Odeon Theater, 122 Moody St) — Odeon Theater. An offer you can't refuse — the 1972 Marlon Brando masterpiece on the Odeon's big screen, completely free.

Brady — 37th Heart of Texas Country Music Festival (Thu–Sat, Mar 19–28, various times, Ed Davenport Civic Center & Heart of Texas Events Center, San Angelo Hwy) — Heart of Texas Country Music Association. The biggest traditional country music gathering in Texas returns for 10 days, 24 shows, and 30+ entertainers. Grand Ole Opry star T. Graham Brown headlines March 20; The Malpass Brothers take the stage March 21 alongside a ribbon-cutting for the museum's new 6,300-square-foot expansion. Dances are BYOB. Free Concho Valley Transit shuttle runs all week.

Fredericksburg — Trade Days (Fri–Sun, Mar 20–22, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Fri–Sat / 9:00 AM–4:00 PM Sun, Sunday Farms, 355 Sunday Farms Ln) — Fredericksburg Trade Days. Over 350 vendors fill seven barns plus outdoor displays. Antiques, crafts, jewelry, clothing, food, and live music in the biergarten. Parking $5 good all weekend.

Fredericksburg — City Open House & Touch-A-Truck (Thu, Mar 26, 3:30–6:30 PM, City Hall / Marktplatz / Fire Station) — City of Fredericksburg. Seventh annual event — learn about city departments, grab dinner, and let the kids climb all over trucks and big equipment. Free with giveaways for little ones. Rain date: April 2.

Llano — LEAF Earth Art Fest (Fri–Sun, Mar 27–29, 11:00 AM–7:00 PM, Grenwelge Park, 100 E Haynie St) — Llano Earth Art Fest. Artists from around the world transform the park into a giant outdoor gallery along the Llano River — land art, rock balances, mandalas, and driftwood sculpture. Features the World Rock Stacking Championship, live music, vendors, and family fun.

Llano — @LAST Art Studio Tour (Sat, Mar 28, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, various studios throughout Llano) — Llano Fine Arts Guild. Visit roughly 20 artists in their creative spaces — clay, glass, iron, leather, paint, photography, and more. Free admission. Evening after-party at the Art Guild.

Fredericksburg — Wildflower Celebration (Wed–Sun, Apr 1–12, daily during business hours, Wildseed Farms, Hwy 290 East) — Wildseed Farms. The fields burst into spring color at one of the nation's largest working wildflower farms. Festive activities, photo ops, and shopping celebrate the Hill Country wildflower season at its peak.

Fredericksburg — Easter Fires Pageant (Sat, Apr 4, dusk ~8:00 PM, Gillespie County Fairgrounds, 530 Fair Dr) — Gillespie County Fair & Festivals Association. A beloved tradition since 1847 — bonfires blaze on surrounding hilltops while local volunteers reenact the Easter legend with over 100 live bunnies and costumed performers. Tickets ~$10 adults, ~$1 children 6–12.

Junction — Easter Pageant, 75th Anniversary (Sat, Apr 4, sunset ~7:30 PM, Lover's Leap, Cedar Creek Rd & FM 2169) — Men's Bible Class of Junction. Seventy-five years running. Local actors in period costumes perform the Easter story against a natural limestone hillside with live animals. Free admission — bring lawn chairs. A true Hill Country treasure.

Llano — Llano Fiddle Fest (Sat, Apr 4, 9:00 AM–10:30 PM, John L Kuykendall Events Center, 2200 W Ranch Rd 152) — Llano Fiddle Fest / Llano Chamber of Commerce. One of Texas's premier fiddle contests runs all day. Evening concert features Kelly Spinks & Miles of Texas. VIP $30, GA $20. Donations benefit Llano Food Pantry.

Castell — Castell Grind Gravel Races (Sat, Apr 11, morning start, Castell General Store, 19522 RR 152 West) — Castell Grind. Annual gravel cycling event through remote Hill Country roads — epic views, wildlife, cattle guards, and low-water crossings. Three routes from 31 to 62 miles. 650-rider cap.

Harper — Non-Profit Expo (Tue, Apr 15, 6:00 PM, AA Gitter Hall, 164 N 4th St) — Harper Chamber of Commerce. Meet local non-profit organizations and discover what they offer. Great chance for Harper-area residents to connect with service groups and find volunteer opportunities.

Llano — Llano Crawfish Open (Fri–Sat, Apr 17–18, 9:00 AM–Midnight, Robinson Park, 303 Hwy 71 East) — Llano Crawfish Open Inc. The 36th annual bash — 22,500+ pounds of crawfish, live music until midnight, charity golf, a 5K run, team roping, cornhole, and arts & crafts. Fri $10 before 5 PM / $30 after; Sat $20 / $35; weekend pass $50.

Fredericksburg — Trade Days (Fri–Sun, Apr 17–19, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Fri–Sat / 9:00 AM–4:00 PM Sun, Sunday Farms, 355 Sunday Farms Ln) — Fredericksburg Trade Days. The monthly treasure hunt returns with 350+ vendors and seven barns.

Fredericksburg — Wine & Wildflowers Estate Dinner (Sat, Apr 18, 6:30 PM, Meierstone Vineyards) — Meierstone Vineyards. An intimate five-course wine-paired dinner set against the Hill Country estate at peak wildflower season. Reservations required.

Castell — Testicle Festival (Sat, May 16, Noon, Castell General Store, 19522 RR 152 West) — Castell General Store. The legendary deep-fried "calf fries" festival returns on the banks of the Llano River. Live music from 11:30 AM, washer-pitching at 1 PM, plus crawfish, catfish, BBQ, and cold drinks. Family-friendly and unforgettable.

Kerrville — Kerrville Folk Festival (Thu, May 21–Sun, Jun 7, all day, Quiet Valley Ranch, 9 mi south of Kerrville) — Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation. The nation's oldest continuously running music festival celebrates 54 years. James McMurtry, Brandy Clark, The Vandoliers, Lilly Hiatt, and dozens more across 18 days of concerts, workshops, and camping.

Fredericksburg — Crawfish Festival (Fri–Sun, May 22–24, Marktplatz, 100 W Main St) — Fredericksburg Jaycees. Memorial Day Weekend tradition — thousands of pounds of crawfish, Zydeco, rock, and country music right on historic downtown Marktplatz.

Menard — River Rat Picnic (Sat, May 23, 6:00 PM, Low Water Park, 301 Decker St) — Menard County Chamber of Commerce. Free Memorial Day Weekend concert in the park. BYOB, bring lawn chairs, and enjoy live music along the San Saba River. All ages welcome.

Luckenbach — Luckenbach Texas 5K (Sat, May 30, morning, Luckenbach Town Loop, 412 Luckenbach Town Loop) — Luckenbach Texas. All-terrain 5K on the legendary grounds — trails, stream crossings, and a post-race cold Lone Star. Ages 21+.

🌟 Community Features

Go get 'em, Cowgirls! Mason plays for its first-ever state championship — TODAY. The No. 2-ranked Mason Cowgirls girls basketball team punched their ticket to the Class 2A Division I state title game with a dominant 43–22 semifinal win over San Augustine on Monday night. Mason (40–1) is riding a 31-game winning streak and plays at 5:00 PM today, March 5, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Star forward Anna Marie Whitworth — who has surpassed 2,000 career points and 1,100 rebounds — leads a squad that has won every playoff game by double digits. Head coach Alicia Cummings earned her 400th career victory along the way. The Cowgirls previously made state semis three straight years from 2018–20 but never broke through until now. If you can't make the drive to San Antonio, send your loudest good vibes south. This is Mason making history.

CASA's Boots & BBQ raises over $200,000 for Highland Lakes children. The 11th Annual Boots & BBQ fundraiser brought the community together on Feb. 23 for an evening of fellowship and philanthropy in support of CASA for the Highland Lakes. Presenting Sponsor Gage & Cade Construction provided leadership-level support.

Llano rallies for new hospital CT scanner. Residents gathered at The Falls on Feb. 24 for a fundraiser to purchase a new CT scanner for Llano Regional Hospital capable of CT Calcium Scoring — a non-invasive test measuring plaque buildup to predict heart attack risk before symptoms start. Organizers called it a game-changer for local heart health.

Fredericksburg Sisterhood for Good raises $6,500 for Food Pantry. The local chapter of Sisterhood for Good delivered $6,500 to the Fredericksburg Food Pantry during its annual Dessert Dash event on Feb. 25. Funds help the pantry continue providing meals to families in need across Gillespie County.

FUMC donates $5,500 to Good Samaritan Center. Fredericksburg United Methodist Church continued its tithing program with a $5,500 donation to the Good Samaritan Center, which provides basic health services to uninsured and low-income residents. The Center recently broke ground on a facility expansion.

🏫 Business & School Highlights

Fredericksburg Lady Billies run deep in playoffs. The FHS varsity girls went undefeated in District 26-4A for the second straight year, steamrolling through the bracket with wins over Legacy Ranch (68–37), Cuero (58–22), and Sinton (68–27) before advancing to the state semifinal.

Llano Lady Jackets repeat as district champs — first time in 20 years. The Llano High School girls basketball team captured the District 5-3A championship for the second consecutive season, sharing the title with Blanco and Ingram Tom Moore. First back-to-back district crowns in two decades.

Junction Eagles cap strong 17–9 season. The boys basketball team reached the regional semifinals before a tough 45–39 loss to Mumford ended a proud run for Kimble County. A season to build on.

Southern Living picks Fredericksburg for 2026 Idea House. A 4,000-square-foot modern farmhouse is under construction in the Friedën community, blending traditional Hill Country style with contemporary design and sustainability features. Public tours open September 18, with a portion of proceeds going to local charities.

Pedernales Electric plans $6M+ expansion in Junction. PEC will invest over $6 million to build 9,340 square feet of new space at 552 US Hwy 83N, with projected occupancy by July 2026. A significant economic boost for Kimble County.

$6.1 million commercial development filed for Fredericksburg. A new project at 720 S. Adams St. — roughly 229,750 square feet of commercial space — is set for groundbreaking April 1 with completion targeted for June 2027.

🏆 Awards & Recognitions

Coach Alicia Cummings reaches 400 career wins. The Mason Cowgirls head coach hit the milestone during this historic championship season — a testament to years of building one of the state's most consistent small-school programs.

Rilyn Grona earns McDonald's All-American Game nomination. The Fredericksburg Lady Billies guard was recognized as one of the top high school basketball players in the country. Grona helped lead the Lady Billies to an undefeated district campaign and deep playoff run.

Abigail Baughn wins Gillespie County BB Gun Match. Fredericksburg sophomore Abigail Baughn took first place and qualified for the state meet. The young markswoman continues to rise in shooting sports competition.

Llano Main Street earns Accredited Main Street America™ designation. The Llano Main Street Program met rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center, recognizing the community's commitment to downtown revitalization and preservation.

🌤️ Hill Country Weather

Warm and bone-dry — no rain in sight, drought deepens. The Hill Country is locked into an unusually warm and dry pattern for early March. Mason hit 91°F on March 4 — well above normal. A weak cold front pushes through Wednesday night, knocking highs from the low 90s down to the low-to-mid 80s through the weekend, with overnight lows in the low-to-mid 50s. South winds rebuild Saturday and Sunday with gusts to 25 mph. A second, slightly stronger front arrives around Tuesday, March 10, dropping highs to the mid-70s.

The bottom line: zero precipitation is expected through at least Monday. This continues a painfully dry winter. No active watches or warnings for the core Hill Country counties as of March 4.

📋 Rural Policy & Funding Watch

Texas broadband plan approved — $1.3 billion released, but half the original amount. The federal government greenlit Texas's updated broadband expansion plan, releasing $1.3 billion in BEAD funding (down from the original $3.3 billion). Twenty-two providers have been awarded contracts to connect nearly 243,000 unserved and underserved locations statewide. Providers have four years to complete build-outs. Hill Country-specific project allocations have not yet been confirmed. Additional state investments include the $1.5 billion voter-approved Broadband Infrastructure Fund and $22.9 million earmarked for rural hospital broadband.

TxDOT's Rural TIP targets Mason, Gillespie, and Llano counties. The Rural Transportation Improvement Program is actively funding projects through 2026, including a $4 million+ bridge replacement at the Llano River on RM 1871 in Mason County and a $12 million+ widening of US 290 with continuous left-turn lane east of Old San Antonio Road in Gillespie County. The 2027–2030 Rural TIP is now in public comment.

LCRA holds at Stage 2 drought restrictions. The Lower Colorado River Authority remains under its Stage 2 Drought Contingency Plan. All firm water customers must limit outdoor watering to once per week with a 20% demand reduction goal. No Highland Lakes water is available to most interruptible agricultural customers.

💼 Economic & Small Business Intel

Dallas Fed projects modest 1.1% Texas job growth in 2026 after flat 2025. Texas nonfarm payroll growth was effectively zero in 2025 — just 0.1%, the weakest since the 2002–03 dot-com recovery. The forecast for 2026 calls for roughly 155,000 new jobs (1.1% growth), still below the state's historical 2% average. Key headwinds include constrained labor supply, low oil prices, a weak housing market, and tariff uncertainty.

$7.3 million in workforce grants touch Hill Country counties directly. Governor Abbott awarded Texas Talent Connection grants including $255,000 to Skillpoint Alliance for Expanding Rural Community Economic Pathways in Llano, San Saba, Gillespie, and other counties. Restore Education received $350,000 for Opportunity Youth Job Training in Gillespie, Kendall, and Medina counties. The Texas Workforce Commission also allocated $1 million in WIOA funds for Rural Training Labs.

Fredericksburg keeps building. Between the $6.1 million commercial project, the Southern Living Idea House, and the PEC expansion in Junction, the Hill Country development pipeline remains active heading into spring. Nearly 98.5% of Fredericksburg businesses are small or micro-businesses — every new project ripples directly through local families.

🌾 Agriculture & Livestock Notes

Drought grips Edwards Plateau — Extreme (D3) conditions blanket the Hill Country. The USDA Drought Monitor shows over 80% of Texas in some level of drought, with roughly 20% in Extreme or Exceptional conditions. Extreme Drought now covers most of the Edwards Plateau — directly affecting Gillespie, Llano, Kimble, Mason, Menard, and McCulloch counties. Fewer than 2 inches of precipitation have fallen on much of western Texas over the past 90 days.

Fire danger elevated to Level 3 statewide. Texas A&M Forest Service raised the Wildland Fire Preparedness Level to Level 3. A Red Flag Warning was issued Feb. 26 — relative humidity dropped as low as 13%, temps hit 96°F, with north winds gusting to 30 mph. Multiple counties have issued outdoor burn bans.

Highland Lakes holding, but inflows way down. Lake Buchanan sits at 94.0% capacity, Lake Travis at 76.8%. Those numbers look healthy, but January 2026 inflows totaled only 16,074 acre-feet — just 27% of the historical average. Stored water from July 2025 flooding is carrying the system, but the cushion is thinning fast.

Grazing and spring planting outlook mixed. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension reports that recent storm systems delivered some moisture helping cool-season forages, and additional soil moisture should help warm-season grasses as they break dormancy. But more rain is needed. Ranchers are advised to pull soil samples now. Texas hay supplies remain tight — better than last year but still below pre-drought averages.

📊 Market Snapshot

Beef cattle trending higher. Feeder steers and heifers $2–$8 higher week-over-week with good demand. At the San Angelo auction: feeder steers 300–400 lb at $580/cwt, 500–600 lb at $430–$480, 600–700 lb at $399–$434. Mason and San Saba stocker steers $15 higher — instances of $30 higher. The replacement market remains overheated.

Sheep and goat prices firm at San Angelo. Kid goats $3.00–$5.30/lb, slaughter lambs $2.70–$4.45/lb. Feeder goats moved $2–$4 higher, slaughter kids $4–$7 higher.

Hay supplies tight, prices steady. Central Texas Bermuda Grass large round bales at $50–$55/bale FOB. Demand rated good; supplies below pre-drought averages.

Pecans under pressure. Wholesale grower-level prices have averaged $1.77/lb in-shell, lingering below $2. Texas's 2025 harvest was an estimated 32 million pounds, described as average to mediocre.

Wool and mohair loan rates up for 2026. USDA announced updated rates: graded wool at $1.60/lb, mohair at $5.00/lb — all increased under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

💰 Grant Watch

USDA REDLG — Deadline March 31, 2026. The Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program accepts Q3 applications through March 31. Grants up to $300,000 and zero-interest loans up to $1 million for business incubators, community development, job creation, and facilities. Eligible applicants include current or former Rural Utilities Service borrowers. Q4 deadline: June 30. Contact: USDA Texas Rural Development, Temple, TX — (254) 742-9700.

Texas Rural Communities, Inc. — Community Grants active. Finalists in the current cycle will be notified by approximately March 31. Grants up to $75,000 for community development projects in arts, humanities, education, and rural development. Details at texasrural.org.

TWU Texas Rural Woman Grant — Opens May 5. Through the Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership, this grant supports rural women entrepreneurs with funding and small business training. Applications open May 5, close June 5.

Also on the radar: TDA Downtown Revitalization Program offers up to $1,000,000 for rural municipalities for infrastructure improvements. USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program accepts year-round applications for essential community facilities in communities under 20,000.

🌸 Tourism Pulse

Wildflower season forecast: a varied bag. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's 2026 forecast calls for a rare mixed season due to patchy rainfall and lingering drought. The Edwards Plateau and Hill Country are most affected — bluebonnets and Texas paintbrush may be more sporadic in drought-hit areas. The good news: Texas A&M AgriLife notes bluebonnets are just below the surface, ready to spring up if warm, wet weather continues. Wildseed Farms near Fredericksburg remains the most reliable viewing spot. Peak season: April and May. The 2026 Wildflower of the Year is Carolina jessamine.

Fredericksburg tourism engine keeps humming. Gillespie County drew an estimated 740,000+ visitors in recent reporting, generating $175 million in visitor spending and supporting roughly 1,200 local jobs. Fredericksburg was recently named among America's most visited hidden gems for 2026. A Waldorf Astoria is planned for the Hill Country with a 2027 opening, and a Kimpton Hotel has started groundwork on the west end of town.

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📖 FEATURED STORY

Winter Work that Makes Spring Easier

There's a particular kind of morning in early March that only the Hill Country seems to produce — warm enough to make you think spring has arrived, cool enough by evening to remind you it hasn't. The live oaks are holding their leaves the way they always do, stubbornly green while everything else waits. The pecans are bare sticks against the sky. And the ground, if you put your hand to it, is warm on top and cold just below.

It's the in-between time. Not winter anymore, not spring yet. The season of preparation.

If you drive the county roads right now, you'll see it happening. Fence posts replaced where the ice cracked them in January. Stock tanks checked and cleaned before the first calves drop. Cedar cleared from pastures where it crept in during the years nobody had time. Garden beds turned over, not because anything is going in yet, but because the soil needs air before it can hold a seed.

None of this work has a ribbon-cutting. Nobody takes a photo of a man replacing a water line to a trough at six in the morning. Nobody writes up the woman who spent Saturday reorganizing her seed inventory, checking expiration dates, and making a list of what to order before the co-op runs out.

But ask anyone who's been out here long enough, and they'll tell you: the years that go well are the years the winter work got done.

My grandmother used to say that spring doesn't reward the eager — it rewards the ready. She meant it about gardens, but she could have meant it about anything. The businesses that don't scramble in April are the ones that updated their books in February. The ranches that aren't panic-buying hay in May are the ones that assessed their forage in January. The houses that stay cool in July are the ones where someone caulked the windows when it was still forty degrees outside and the caulk gun was miserable to hold.

There's a temptation, especially when the weather turns warm early like it has this year, to skip ahead. To start planting before the soil is ready. To book the summer schedule before the spring work is finished. To treat a sunny day in March like a promise rather than a tease.

The old hands don't fall for it. They know that early warm spells are nature's way of testing your patience, not rewarding it. Mason hit 91 degrees on March 4th. That's not spring arriving — that's March showing off. The cold front is already on its way, and anyone who planted tomatoes this week will be covering them with bedsheets by Friday night.

There's a word for the kind of work I'm describing, though most people don't use it in daily conversation: stewardship. Taking care of things not because they're broken, but because they matter. Not because someone is watching, but because neglect has a way of compounding just as quietly as care does.

Out here, stewardship is the whole game. We don't own this land in any permanent sense — we're just the ones taking care of it right now. The fences we build will be someone else's fences eventually. The wells we maintain will water someone else's cattle. The peach trees we're pruning this month were planted by people who knew they might never eat the fruit.

That's the mindset that makes this part of Texas different. Not rugged individualism — that's the myth. The reality is rugged interdependence. We take care of things because other people are counting on them lasting, including people we haven't met yet.

I think about this when I watch the crews clearing brush from a fenceline. Or when I see a neighbor hauling old wire to the recycler instead of leaving it in a pile. Or when someone spends a Saturday morning at the community center, not for an event, but to fix the latch on the back door that's been sticking since October.

None of it is urgent. All of it matters.

The drought is testing this instinct right now. When the land is dry and the forecast is empty and the hay is expensive, it's easy to let the maintenance slide. To put off the soil test. To skip the fence check. To tell yourself you'll get to it when things ease up.

But that's exactly when it matters most. The rancher who pulls soil samples during drought is the one who knows what to plant the moment rain comes. The business owner who reviews expenses during a slow month is the one who has margin when a surprise hits. The family that checks the well pump when it's running fine is the one that doesn't lose water on the hottest day of July.

Winter work isn't about being pessimistic. It's about being honest — about what wears down, what needs attention, and what happens when you wait too long to give it.

As I write this, I know that most of you reading have already done some version of this work today. You checked on something. You fixed something small. You planned for something that hasn't happened yet. You did the kind of labor that nobody will congratulate you for and that makes everything else possible.

That's the Hill Country way. Not loud. Not flashy. Just steady, and honest, and ready for what's coming.

Spring will be here soon enough. And when it arrives — when the bluebonnets push through the caliche and the peach blossoms open along the fence rows and the stock tanks fill with the first real rain — you'll know it didn't just happen. You made it ready.

The winter work is never wasted.

🌱 Dear Hazel Mae & Fern

Dear Hazel Mae & Fern,

I've been staring at my garden beds for two weeks now and I can't decide if I should start cleaning them up or wait. We've had these warm days that make me want to get my hands in the dirt, but then I hear about another cold snap coming. My neighbor already has tomato plants in the ground and I feel like I'm behind, but last year I planted too early and lost everything to a late freeze. I'm tired of guessing wrong.

— Behind and Bewildered in Llano

Hazel Mae says:

Well now, sugar — first of all, your neighbor's tomatoes are going to meet Jesus if another cold front rolls through, so let's just set that worry right down on the porch and leave it there.

You're not behind. You're being smart. And there's a world of difference between the two that most folks don't appreciate until they're covering six rows of peppers with garbage bags at ten o'clock at night.

Here's what you CAN do right now without risking a single plant:

• Clean those beds out. Pull the dead stuff, the weeds that wintered over, any mulch that's gone sour. Let the soil breathe.

• Pull a soil test. Your county extension office will run one for practically nothing. You can't fix what you can't measure, and most Hill Country soil is begging for compost and a little sulfur.

• Turn the top four inches. Not deep — just enough to break the crust and let air in. If you've got a broadfork, now's its moment to shine.

• Lay fresh compost. Two to three inches on top. Let it sit. Let the worms do the mixing. They work for free and they don't complain.

• Start your seeds indoors. Tomatoes, peppers, squash — get them going in trays by a sunny window or under a cheap grow light. They'll be ready to transplant when the soil actually holds warmth.

The goal right now isn't planting — it's preparing. Think of it like setting the table before dinner. The food isn't ready yet, but when it is, everything's in place.

And honey, the freeze line in our part of Texas is mid-to-late March, sometimes into April. Anyone telling you different is selling you something at the nursery.

Fern says:

There's a kind of wisdom in standing still while the world around you rushes. I know it doesn't feel like wisdom — it feels like hesitation. But the soil knows the difference.

A garden bed that's been cleaned and fed and left to rest is doing more work in that quiet period than we can see. The microorganisms are rebuilding. The earthworms are aerating. The compost is releasing nutrients slowly, the way a good meal digests — not all at once, but steadily, over time.

Nature doesn't plant in a hurry. Watch the wildflowers — they don't push through the surface until the soil temperature has held steady for days, not just spiked for an afternoon. They read the ground, not the air. We'd do well to follow their lead.

Your instinct to wait isn't fear. It's attunement. You've learned something from last year's freeze, and that knowledge is worth more than a two-week head start.

The garden will tell you when it's ready. And when you've done the winter work — the cleaning, the feeding, the quiet preparation — you'll be ready too.

Hazel Mae (one last word):

Alright, here's your marching orders for this weekend:

• Saturday morning: clear the beds, pull the weeds, haul off the debris

• Saturday afternoon: turn the soil, spread compost, water it in

• Sunday: start your seed trays indoors — tomatoes, peppers, and one wildcard you've never tried

• Next week: call the extension office and get that soil test submitted

• After last frost: transplant with confidence, not anxiety

And when your neighbor's tomatoes freeze and yours are still safe in their trays? You just wave and smile, sugar. That's what neighbors do.

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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This week's readings are about the quiet work of care — what you're maintaining, what you're protecting, and what's growing stronger because you didn't give up on it.

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

You've been going hard, and something in you is ready to declare the mission complete. Not yet. This week asks you to tend the thing you already started instead of chasing the next one. That project, that relationship, that half-finished plan — it doesn't need more fire. It needs follow-through. The kind where you show up Tuesday morning when nobody's clapping. Think of it as chopping wood after the storm: not glamorous, but the house stays warm because you did it. Let your energy serve what already exists. There's more power in that than starting over.

Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)

If anyone understands stewardship, it's you — but even Taurus can fall into the trap of tending things out of habit instead of intention. This week, walk your land. Literal or metaphorical. Open every drawer, check every account, touch every relationship. Not to fix anything — just to know the state of things. You might find that something you've been maintaining no longer needs you. And something you've been ignoring has been waiting patiently. The kind of care that matters most this week is the kind that adjusts. Steady isn't the same as stuck.

Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20)

Your brain has been running two conversations at once — the one you're having out loud and the one underneath it. This week, tend to the quiet one. There's something you've been meaning to say, finish, or finally decide about, and it's taking up more space than you realize. Write it down. Not for anyone else — for you. The act of putting scattered thoughts into words is its own kind of stewardship. You're not losing freedom by committing to clarity. You're making room for the next good idea to actually land somewhere solid.

Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22)

Home is where your attention goes this week — and not just the building. The people in it. The feeling inside it. Something small needs tending: a conversation that ended awkwardly, a room that lost its warmth, a routine that stopped working. You don't need a renovation. You need a Tuesday evening where you light a candle, make something warm, and sit with whoever's there. Stewardship for Cancer isn't about fixing. It's about presence. Show up to your own kitchen this week like it matters, because it does.

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

There's a spotlight you've been standing in, and this week it dims — on purpose. Not because you've failed, but because what you're building right now needs shade to grow. Think of seedlings: too much sun and they burn. This is your potting-shed week. Tend to the backstage work. Answer the emails you've been avoiding. Mend the relationship you forgot to water. Do the work nobody sees, and let it strengthen what everyone will eventually notice. Your light isn't going anywhere. Let it warm something close for once.

Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

You already know what needs maintaining — you've had the list in your head since January. This week, you finally get the satisfaction of crossing things off. Not all of it. But the top three items you've been circling? Do them. Soil test, oil change, budget review — whatever your version is. Virgo's superpower isn't perfection; it's preparation. And this week rewards preparation more than any other. The catch: once you've tended to the practical, make space for something impractical. A walk with no destination. A meal with no recipe. Stewardship includes the soul.

Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Something in your relational world needs balancing — and not the kind where you give more. The kind where you ask for what you need without apologizing for the ask. Stewardship of your partnerships means protecting your own roots, not just watering everyone else's. This week, have the honest conversation. Set the boundary that's been wobbling. Say "I need this" without wrapping it in six qualifiers. The people who matter will meet you there. The ones who don't were never tending their side of the fence anyway.

Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

Something underground is shifting for you — not in a dramatic way. More like the slow, persistent work of roots cracking through rock. You've been tending to a transformation that most people can't see yet, and this week, you'll feel the first signs of it holding. Don't rush it to the surface. The most powerful growth happens in the dark. What you're protecting right now — that private hope, that quiet ambition, that thing you haven't told anyone about yet — it's strong enough. Keep watering it in secret. The bloom will announce itself when it's ready.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

You don't love the word "maintenance." It sounds like the opposite of adventure. But this week reframes it: maintenance is what lets you adventure at all. Check the oil before the road trip. Settle the tab before the next round. Finish the book before buying three more. Stewardship for Sagittarius isn't about staying put — it's about being ready to leave when the time comes. Tie up one loose end this week. Just one. You'll feel ten pounds lighter, and the next open road will look even better because you're not dragging anything behind you.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You've been building something — you're always building something — and this week asks you to pause and inspect the foundation. Not because anything is wrong. Because you're good enough at this to know that small cracks grow. Check your systems. Check your rest. Check whether the pace you've set is one you can actually sustain through June. Stewardship for Capricorn isn't about doing more — it's about making sure what you've done will last. The structure is sound. This week, make sure the builder is too.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Your community needs something from you this week, and it's not your ideas — it's your presence. Show up to the meeting. Send the text you've been composing in your head. Bring the thing you said you'd bring. Stewardship of community isn't theoretical. It's the casserole on the doorstep. It's the phone call that says "I've been thinking about you" and means it. You see systems better than anyone, but this week, the system is personal. Tend to one person. Not a movement. Not a platform. One person.

Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

You've been absorbing a lot — everyone else's weather, worries, and wondering — and this week, the stewardship that matters most is aimed inward. Tend to yourself the way you tend to others: gently, attentively, without rushing toward a fix. Run the bath. Take the walk. Put the phone in another room and sit with whatever surfaces. You are not a resource to be managed. You are a garden that needs tending too. The world will keep spinning while you water your own roots. In fact, it spins better when you do.

💫 Until next week, tend to what's yours — not because it's broken, but because it matters. The things we care for quietly are the things that last.

Eight months old, a Black Mouth Cur mix, and already better-mannered than half the adults in this county — meet Mandy. This Mason girl is the kind of dog who makes you wonder how she's still at the shelter. She loves a car ride (window down, ears back, living her best life), she's already solid on a leash, and here's the real kicker: she barely barks. She's playful when you want to play and calm when you want to sit. Mandy's had all her vet work done and is just waiting for someone to say, "Alright girl, let's go home."

AI Translation: If Mandy were human, she'd be your favorite road trip copilot — easygoing, zero drama, already packed before you asked. Generated from her real shelter bio.

Did we nail it? Tell us — if Mandy were human, would she ride shotgun on YOUR next adventure? Reply and let us know. 🚙

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