Bandera Electric Cooperative Texas Co-op Power - August 2026
JUST HOW BIG IS TEXAS?
FOR BANDERA EC MEMBERS
TELLING TIME ON CATTLE DRIVES
AFTER-SCHOOL SNACKS
AUGUST 2026
A Spiritual Identity
Native Americans revel in a sense of belonging at the Austin Powwow
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August 2026
Sharing the Trail
By Mark Wangrin
Photos by Tiffany Hofeldt
Jazlyn Espinoza, 7, of the AlabamaCoushatta Tribe of Texas, based in Livingston.
Photo by Tiffany Hofeldt
Diann Bayes, in the Panhandle town of Farwell, is a fifth-generation Texan eager to show off her state. Photo courtesy Morgan Taylor
By Claire Stevens
Photos by Diann Bayes
Great Strides
JAPAN IS TURNING FOOTSTEPS into clean electricity using piezoelectric technology.
The technology is embedded in floor tiles in high-traffic areas—such as a Tokyo railway station with over 3.8 million passengers daily—where each footstep depresses the material slightly, generating a small electrical current. The electricity is used to power LED displays and ticketing systems.
FINISH THIS SENTENCE
The headline for my life, in five words, is …
Tell us how you would finish that sentence. Email your short responses to letters@TexasCoopPower.com or comment on our Facebook post. Include your co-op and town.
Here are some responses to our May prompt: The greatest innovation in my lifetime is …
The internet. I can communicate with Texas Co-op Power with one simple click.
LORETTA BEDFORD DEEP EAST TEXAS EC SAN AUGUSTINE
The cellphone. The worst is also the cellphone.
DAVID WALICEK GVEC YOAKUM
Central heat and air.
JANE PATTERSON BOWIE-CASS EC TEXARKANA
Indoor toilets.
VICTORIA VAWTER WOOD COUNTY EC BEN WHEELER
The decoding of the human genome.
MIKE RICHARD
GRAYSON-COLLIN EC HOWE
Visit our website to see more responses.
Contests and More
“The shadows sway and seem to say, ‘Tonight we pray for water— cool water.’ ”
—D ALE EVANS AND ROY ROGERS
$500 RECIPE CONTEST
Smoothies
FOCUS ON TEXAS PHOTOS
Christmas Fails
RECOMMENDED READING
ENTER ONLINE
Want to celebrate Mead Day, which is the first Saturday in August? We took readers to Rohan Meadery in August 2016. Find the story on our website, where we have an archive of issues going back to 2004.
A True Gem
Your June issue was the best ever. Opal Lee is well named—she is a true gem [Giant Footsteps]. What a difference one person can make.
I also loved the article by John Millard on the Julian Onderdonk painting [J.O. Was Here]. What a coincidence that the author happened to see a photo of the painting the same day he had walked in that exact spot.
Diane Lyerly Pedernales EC Austin
I am a 79-year-old white woman. I grew up in the Jim Crow era and have memories of how Black folks were treated. We must never forget Opal Lee.
Jean Bryant Deep East Texas EC San Augustine
What an amazing and inspiring life Ms. Lee has lived. Helps us realize you
JUNE
2026 Giant Footsteps
“ Thanks for a great article about a great lady, Opal Lee. Juneteenth freed all of us. We celebrated 250 years July 4, and she has lived through nearly 40% of American history.”
LAWRENCE RAGAN
PEDERNALES EC
DRIPPING SPRINGS
can never do enough to make our world a better place.
Anita Patel South Plains EC Lubbock
Road Well Traveled
The route described in Go the Other Way [June 2026] is not just scenic. Travelers on this route are on a portion of the La Bahía Road, which connected Spanish missions in Goliad and East Texas. The route was also driven by me many times in an oil-field summer job back in the early ’80s.
James Barrow Karnes EC Hindes
Less Mess, Please
My partner and I took road trips last year across 15 states. It was quickly apparent to us how tidy the highways and roads were elsewhere [A Tidy Revolution, March 2026].
Texas should be making a far stronger effort to endorse our Don’t Mess With Texas campaign and walk our talk.
Vice President, Communications & Member Services Martin Bevins
Editor Chris Burrows
Associate Editor Tom Widlowski
Production Manager Karen Nejtek
Creative Manager Andy Doughty
Advertising Manager Elaine Sproull
Communications Specialist Samantha Bryant
Digital Media Specialist Cayt Calhoun
Senior Designer Stacy Coale
Assistant Production Manager Alex Dal Santo
Print Production Specialist Grace Fultz
Communications Specialist Erin Perez
Food Editor Vianney Rodriguez
Communications Specialist Claire Stevens
Communications Specialist Kelly Tran
Proofreader Louie Bond
TEXAS CO-OP POWER Volume 83, Number 2 (USPS 540-560). Texas Co-op Power is published monthly by Texas Electric Cooperatives. Periodical postage paid at Austin, TX, and at additional offices. TEC is the statewide association representing 77 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s website is TexasCoopPower.com. Call (512) 4540311 or email editor@TexasCoopPower.com.
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ADVERTISING Contact Elaine Sproull at (512) 486-6251 or esproull@texas-ec.org for information about purchasing display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in our 26 sister publications in other states. Advertisements in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. The publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any manner any product or company included in this publication.
The largest one-day powwow in Texas offers a platform to revel in heritage and tradition
BY MARK WANGRIN
Sharing the Trail
Crowded around solitary drums in the four corners of the sacred dance floor are men who are about to play a song they’ve never heard before.
Standing with the requisite stillness of stalking a deer, a dozen dancers await the first beat. They are in full regalia, some in earth tones and dabbed with war paint, some in neon trim or modern sports team logos, their feet clad in meticulously stitched and beaded moccasins.
They all have a story to tell. They don’t yet know how they will tell it. They will cede to the beat how they tell it and where their spirit guides them.
PHOTOS BY TIFFANY HOFELDT
Around them are three judges, armed with small clipboards and discerning eyes. They can’t say what exactly they want from the dancers, just that they will know it when they see it.
Up on the stage overlooking the spectacle, master of ceremonies Marty Thurman succinctly describes what is about to unfold: “Organized chaos,” he says with a smile.
This is an outsider’s introduction to powwow competitions, where Native American performers who have “followed the trail”—remained true to their bloodlines—let centuries of tradition, very little of which has been written down, inspire their sense of belonging.
One Saturday every November—for the last 32 years—the Travis County Expo Center hosts the Austin Powwow, a festival of Native American crafts, culture, food and community. There’s handcrafted jewelry and hula dancing, a nod to the event’s focus on dance and multicultural appeal. And in the expansive food trailer court, don’t skip the Navajo tacos, a culinary delight on Native American fry bread.
The main event is the powwow itself. Derived from the Algonquian pau wau, a word for a medicine man or shaman, modern powwows have evolved as an expression of spiritual identity as tribes were continuously driven from their ancestral lands and pressured by cultural assimilation.
OPPOSITE The Fort Peck Sioux drum group from Montana at the Austin Powwow, a festival of Native American crafts, culture, food and community at the Travis County Expo Center.
TOP Jazlyn Espinoza, 7, is the 2025–26 junior tribal princess for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. She is flanked by two tribal dancers.
ABOVE Adrian Redbird performs his dance in the arena. He was one of more than 100 competitors at the powwow.
“It’s the largest one-day powwow in Texas,” says Nan Blassingame, arena coordinator and a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes who moved to Austin in 2003. “Everyone wants to see all the dancers come in at once at noon. Some will go out and go shopping in the market, get in the Indian taco line. Some stay inside and watch the powwow. So, it’s just so much to see. It’s really like three days of powwow rolled into one day.”
Over the course of 12 hours, beginning with the gourd dance, which honors elders, at 10:30 a.m., the floor is in almost constant motion, with dancers of all ages, from tiny tots to juniors to adults to golden age divisions. Twirling to the beat and native lyrics sung by a group of eight to 12 drummers, they compete for prestige and prize money, wearing the markings of their tribes—be it AlabamaCoushatta or Dallas Cowboys.
Head judge Sophia Thurman, Marty’s wife, selects the judges, based on knowledge, dedication, lack of conflicted interest—and the trust that they know it when they see it.
“Something about the dance catches your eye,” she explains. “Something about it makes you think it’s the best dance.”
Whether it’s a strict cultural interpretation or an iconic hodgepodge, the dancers consider their regalia a sacred representation of themselves. It’s not a costume.
“A costume is what you pretend to be,” says Marty Thurman, of Sac and Fox Nation heritage. “This is who we are.”
Steven Toya Jr., from Burleson by way of Zia Pueblo, New Mexico, has danced and sung in almost every state wearing the “Mother Earth colors,” accented by the four sacred Pecos colors: red, white, yellow and black.
Bare-chested except for a bone breastplate and wearing pigtails, a silver double-cross and buckskin leggings, the industrial tire salesman strives to resemble his great-greatgreat-grandfather—the last president of the Pecos Tribe.
“We live in a society where we’re not just Native, but we also live in the white Western world. So it’s two worlds coming together—duality,” Toya says. “We practice our traditional custom and culture. And then there’s some of us that still go to church on Sundays, still practice religion, whatever you know your calling is. It’s always still having that tie back to our traditional culture.
“For us as Native Americans, we always have a protocol, you know, a rite of passage.” In other words, he says, to dance a certain way or style, one has to experience initiation into those respective societies.
Sometimes that initiation goes unfulfilled.
Ralph Pacheco grew up thinking he was Hispanic. Or white. Or South Texas missions Indian (the product of Spanish missionaries’ attempts to assimilate Native Americans centuries ago). Or whatever society said he was at the time.
“I wasn’t Mexican, and I wasn’t white. So at that point, I walked away thinking I was nothing—nothing. I don’t have an identity,” says Pacheco, who sold jewelry at the powwow. “Then later, my elders came and said, ‘We’re the Indians that come from the mission.’ And so it was like a dirty secret. We just don’t talk about it.”
Inspired, Pacheco did more than talk about it. He traced his lineage back to the 1700s, through connections with the Alamo and the Texas Revolution. Now he serves as de facto historian for the Native American Cultural Center in Austin.
Sometimes that initiation comes early. And sometimes it must wait.
Jazlyn Espinoza, 7, is the 2025–26 junior tribal princess for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, based in Livingston.
“I enjoy the dancing and being a princess for my tribe,” she says.
Her parents travel with her and maintain her Instagram account. Mom Kristina Abbey was raised on tribal land.
“I was surrounded by my Native American heritage but never took advantage of the teachings until now,” Kristina says. “I am learning alongside my daughter.”
Sometimes the initiation is hidden in plain sight.
Daniel “Dio” Mireles’ parents were Hispanic, so he grew up in East Austin believing he was Hispanic.
When he was 12, some cousins mentioned he was adopted. He dismissed it at the time as adolescent teasing but heard the same message about six years ago from another relative.
Neither his father, who had died, nor his mother, then in her 90s, had ever said a word about it. Intrigued and remembering how his birth certificate has his father’s signature in place of the obstetrician’s, he had his DNA tested. The results confirmed what his relatives said but also gave him an answer he wasn’t seeking—he was overwhelmingly Native American.
“I kind of suspected I might be because I was always
enjoying going to these powwow festivities,” Mireles says.
He pieced together, from records and chats with his family, that he was born in Austin and adopted from a Catholic orphanage in San Antonio and that he might be from the Kickapoo tribe.
Sharon, his wife who is of British descent, says, “He spent his whole life thinking he knew who he was and then realizing he didn’t and liking who he might be.
Get Moving
The 2026 Austin Powwow is November 21. Get tickets at austinpowwow.net.
“It’s a puzzle with a lot of missing pieces.”
Among them are specifics. DNA can legally set paternity or condemn a murderer, but it cannot confirm what Mireles knows unequivocally. For that reason, he is legally barred from wearing an eagle feather in his headdress. He has Native American blood—73% of it—but he can’t be recognized under the auspices of the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which says only Native Americans who can document their bloodline can legally possess plumage from the revered avians. His birth certificate is devoid of information about his birth parents.
So he had an artist make a replica of an eagle feather from a turkey feather.
That he dances with a replica in a dance that reveres tradition is not lost on him. Yet it’s that escape from individuality to community—from conformity to consciousness—that identifies the only prey he’s pursuing on the trail of his true identity.
“You feel the energy, the sound of the healing, the singing,” Mireles says. “It just releases what you know, makes you feel good inside of your heart, your soul, your mind—brings you all together.”
What’s at the end of the trail is for you to decide. D
OPPOSITE, FROM LEFT Fancy bustle dancers perform. Steven Toya Jr. of Burleson wears the “Mother Earth colors,” accented by the four sacred Pecos colors: red, white, yellow and black.
LEFT Daniel “Dio” Mireles grew up in Austin believing he was Hispanic, but he later learned he’s about three-quarters Native American, a culture he loves celebrating because it “makes you feel good inside of your heart, your soul, your mind.”
1 A vintage neon Mobil Oil flying horse sign in the window of the Flying A Classic Car Club Museum in Albany.
2 Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo.
3 The iconic Texas Star Ferris wheel at the State Fair of Texas.
4 The Owl Family mural in downtown Brenham, painted by Jeff Soto in 2017.
5 A 3D mural at the Pop Art Museum in San Angelo.
6 The Official International World Headquarters of How Big Is Texas in Bullard.
7 Diann Bayes at Sea Rim State Park south of Port Arthur. In 2020, she began her quest to see and share as much of Texas as she could.
8 The American Windmill Museum in Lubbock.
BY CLAIRE STEVENS • PHOTOS BY DIANN BAYES
GETTING AROUND TEXAS
Meet the ‘grandfluencer’ who’s inspiring folks to get out and see all they can
HOW BIG IS TEXAS?
Diann Bayes wanted to know. Sure, she could’ve Googled it and gotten an answer, but she had a better idea.
She drove the entire perimeter of the state, along with Debra Bustos and Morgan Taylor, two colleagues in the travel industry.
“I called them. I’d known them not long at all. And I said, ‘Would you like to go with me?’ ” Bayes says. “Immediately, ‘Yes, we want to go.’ ”
In June 2020, once pandemic travel restrictions were lifted, the three women packed into a rental car loaded with luggage. Their route, which started in the North Texas town of Gainesville, would take them 3,331 miles around the state. (For reference, the drive from New York City to Los Angeles is about 2,800 miles.) They kept to major roads while sticking as close as possible to the state’s borders, which was particularly difficult in wide-open West Texas.
It wasn’t a race. Bayes, a road trip enthusiast who insisted she do all the driving, made it a point to stop in as many towns and roadside attractions as possible over their nineday expedition.
They visited Paris’ cowboy hat-topped Eiffel Tower and the Kolache Shop in Brazoria, watched a sunrise from South Padre Island, grabbed a steak dinner at Terlingua’s Starlight Theatre, saw the University of Texas Permian Basin’s Stonehenge replica in Odessa, and checked out the world’s littlest skyscraper in Wichita Falls.
“Those little gems are everywhere in this state,” Bayes says. As they journeyed, Bayes documented the trip on her newly created blog, How Big Is Texas, listing every stop along the way and all the parks and museums she would’ve stopped at if only there’d been more time. It was the start of a new calling—as a travel blogger. Her whole goal, she says, is to help others experience the kind of joy she gets from collecting treasures, memories and stories and head out on their own quests.
“There’s cool stories just everywhere,” Bayes says. “That is the appeal to me. I love being able to find those stories.”
After her trip, Bayes heard from a man who was going to follow her route, though he planned to take a full 30 days to complete the loop. As he traveled, he called periodically to update her on his progress.
“He told me that he had lost his wife years earlier and he just kind of stopped traveling, stopped doing things,” Bayes says. “He said because he saw what we did, it encouraged him to get out.”
That was exactly what Bayes hoped her blog would accomplish— that it would inspire others to get out and see more of the world.
“People who don’t go make me sad,” she says. “I mean, there are a lot of people who never leave past their county or leave past, you know, two or three counties away.”
Bayes, who spent more than 30 years working in the tourism industry at restaurants, hotels and visitors bureaus, just wants people to get out and explore. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Most of her blog is about road trips she takes alone or with friends, often just over a weekend.
In 2021, she teamed up with Darla Dear, her high school best friend and college roommate, for a tour of Texas’ “most mispronounced towns and cities.”
The pair traveled to Colmesneil (COLE-muh-neel), Humble (the “H” is silent), Buda (BYOO-duh), Gruene (GREEN) and Boerne (BER-nee). At each stop, they made friends with locals who affirmed the proper pronunciation.
In 2022, Bayes and Dear spent a long weekend visiting every Buc-ee’s in Texas—34 at the time. The friends ate only food purchased from the mega-gas station for the duration of the trip.
“Probably my favorite had to be when we did our Beaver Nugget and wine pairing,” Bayes says. “We just were laughing in our hotel room. I mean it was just so funny to us.”
JUST GET GOING
To start traveling more, Bayes says, the best thing you can do is just go. There’s something for everyone in Texas.
For music lovers, she recommends checking out historic dance halls, like Gruene Hall. In Lubbock, the Buddy Holly Center offers a look into music history.
History buffs already know the Alamo but may have missed the nearby San Fernando Cathedral, the final resting place for some of the Alamo defenders. Bayes recommends Mission San José for the story of prestatehood Texas.
Foodies have a whole host of options in Texas, including some restaurants that recently received Michelin stars, but Bayes says she’s found the best barbecue in small towns at family-run joints.
In the Hill Country, Fredericksburg is a designated Dark Sky community with excellent stargazing opportunities. Big Bend National Park and the surrounding communities also offer incredible night skies with views of the Milky Way.
A state parks pass is only $70 for a whole year of access to our 88 parks. Go for the natural beauty but also for their historic sites.
But the destination isn’t always the most important part of a trip. A sunset or sunrise can be enjoyed just about anywhere, and Bayes will never pass up a chance to sit and watch one (and snag a quick picture). And when she’s traveling, she doesn’t hesitate to pull over if she sees something that intrigues her.
Dear was happy to reunite with Bayes for the trips—and to have the ultimate Texas tour guide. “Just being in the car and getting to spending time with her, she is such a positive person,” Dear says. “I think I know everything there is to know about Texas, but then whenever I get with Diann, she shames me.”
The key to Bayes’ ambitious tours of the state, Dear says, is meticulous planning. “She has a schedule, and she sticks to it. She has everything mapped out.”
In 2023, Bayes did a “global tour” of Texas, visiting the towns of Athens, Bogata, Carthage, Geneva, Klondike, Naples, New London, Palestine and Trinidad.
And last year, she completed a long-term goal of visiting all of Texas’ 254 counties, though not in a single trip. She’s currently working on visiting every state park and all eight of the state’s minor league baseball stadiums.
All of it gets documented on the blog, and Bayes keeps her followers updated on social media and started a podcast too. In late 2025, she transitioned to working full time on the blog. Aware that she’s an anomaly, starting a social media career in her 60s, she calls herself a “grandfluencer.”
“I’ll own that,” she says. “The whole history of my life has led to this.”
Bayes, a fifth-generation Texan, has lived in 22 Texas towns in her life, knows the state well and is eager to show it off, especially the parts off the beaten path.
“Some people say Texans are arrogant,” she says. “I’m one of those proud Texans, and I don’t think of it as arrogance. I think of it just as pride, and I hope that other people have that same pride.”
Bayes and her husband, Dan, recently moved to Bullard, near Tyler, where they are members of Cherokee County Electric Cooperative. In their new backyard, Dan constructed a she-shed to serve as a headquarters for her work.
Like Bayes, the office—she calls it the Official International World Headquarters of How Big Is Texas—is full of stories. The building is modeled after a store her great-grandfather owned in Troup. She displays a quilt from her grandmother
OPPOSITE Darla Dear, left, and Bayes during a long weekend in 2022 when they visited every Buc-ee’s in Texas—34 at the time. A signpost at Bayes’ headquarters points the way to some of Texas’ most uniquely named towns.
LEFT From floor to ceiling, the headquarters’ walls are covered in Texas memorabilia acquired from friends and on her travels.
and a set of dominoes from her great-grandparents that are almost too worn to use anymore.
From floor to ceiling, the walls are covered in Texas memorabilia acquired from friends and on her travels. She leaves the playlist she made for the original perimeter trip on repeat as she works.
“I just have fun memories of things and places I’ve been, stories that I remember,” she says. “I’ve got art from people I know and from people I don’t.”
There are still plenty more trips she wants to take. “I will look at a map and just go ‘OK where have I not been?’ ” she says. (The list is quickly shrinking but includes 10 state parks, Fiesta San Antonio and Washington’s Birthday Celebration in Laredo.)
“I like to go to state parks. I like to go to historic sites. I like to see what the story was. I love town squares, especially in small towns, and I love a diner. I love something that’s not fancy. I want to go in because you’re going to hear people talking in there.”
A few years back, she visited the London Museum, a small museum in East Texas that tells the story of a 1937 natural gas explosion at a school in New London that killed nearly 300.
At the café across the street from the museum, she met a man who had been a first responder that day. At 101 years old, he was one of the last living rescue workers. He told Bayes about the impact of the explosion on his life and how in the aftermath of that tragedy, legislation passed to add odor to natural gas. It’s the stories like his of towns like New London that Bayes says she wants to bring attention to.
“We need to figure out how to tell a story to get people to go see them and maybe go into the grocery store, buy a few groceries or go buy some stamps or something,” she says. “Because otherwise you lose those stories and you lose that town.
“I want people to go see them, so I’m going to tell that story all day long.” D
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MESSAGE FROM CEO
WILLIAM “BILL” HETHERINGTON
It is About Purpose
I RECENTLY READ A BOOK titled The Birth of the Chaordic Age. The author, Dee Hock, was the CEO and Founder of Visa International. If you open your wallet, I’m sure that many of you will find a little plastic card with the word Visa on it. It is the most recognized credit card in the world, but ironically it came to be through the humble and visionary work of Dee Hock.
He felt that institutions were becoming dysfunctional due to their lack or loss of purpose and making profit is not a purpose. He also felt that for an organization to remain healthy, it had to exhibit a blend of Chaos and Order, creating what he termed Chaordic. Innovation and success is driven by chaos, which is the tension between collaboration and competition among employees who are empowered by the order of purpose.
Much like an electric cooperative, Visa was founded on basic principles that reflected their core values. For Bandera Electric Cooperative, our seven founding principles include Voluntary and Open Membership, Democratic Member Control, Members’ Economic Participation, Autonomy and Independence, Education, Training and Information, Cooperation Among Cooperatives, and finally, Concern for Community.
In the book, Hock outlines the principles for the formation of the Visa organization which
included: participation should be open and voluntary, being equitable and owned by all participants, all participants should have the same rights and obligations, no existing participant should be left in a lesser position by any change to the organization, the organization should induce and not compel behavior, it should be infinitely malleable yet extremely durable and power, function, and resources should be distributed to the maximum degree.
During his tenure as CEO from 1970-1984, Visa was a self-organizing, self-governing institution that charged no fees or interest on transactions, and he was able to persuade the thirteen largest banks in the world to collaborate and work together based on these principles.
But I think the most notable takeaway was the importance of organizational purpose. For Visa it was “to be the embodiment of a community based on shared goals calling to the higher aspirations of people.”
Today it seems that many distrust institutions and many feel disconnected and isolated from their community. It is up to organizations to reinstall trust by focusing on purpose. For BEC it is to strengthen our community by providing affordable and reliable services, and empowering our employees to bring innovative solutions that benefit all.
BEC’s Youth Tour Delegates Explore Nation’s Capital
THREE LOCAL STUDENTS REPRESENTING Bandera Electric Cooperative recently joined more than 150 Texas students for the annual Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C., an educational leadership experience sponsored by electric cooperatives across Texas and the nation.
The delegates spent a week in the nation’s capital learning about American history, government and public service while building leadership skills and lifelong friendships with students from across the state. The trip included visits to some of the country’s most iconic landmarks and memorials, including the United States Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Smithsonian Institution and the Washington National Cathedral.
The Youth Tour program was established by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in 1957 to provide young leaders with an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the democratic process and the role electric cooperatives play in serving communities across rural America.
Throughout the week, students participated in educational tours, leadership activities and discussions with elected officials and policymakers. The experience allowed BEC delegates Elliora Groot, Cullen Watson and Rynlee Fiedler to see government in action while gaining a deeper understanding of civic engagement, leadership and public service.
“That week in our nation’s capital brought all the information in my history books to life. Every experience and place we vis-
ited opened my eyes to something new, but the place with the strongest impact on me was the Holocaust Museum. As I passed through the exhibits, the images and videos portrayed things that were beyond tragic; they were an atrocious expression of humanity’s capacity for evil. I am not ashamed to have cried. But because of that experience, I desire even more to stand up for what is right even when it is unpopular, to shelter the oppressed, and to defend the sanctity of life, so that history is never repeated. I wish that every American could go on this trip of a lifetime that not only creates memories but builds character,” explained Groot.
Groot’s reflections capture the impact Youth Tour has had on thousands of students over the decades. Beyond visiting historic landmarks and government institutions, the program encourages participants to think critically about leadership, service and their role as engaged citizens in their communities.
BEC has a long-standing tradition of sponsoring local students for the Youth Tour program as part of its commitment to education and youth development. Through scholarships, leadership programs and educational initiatives, the cooperative continues to invest in the next generation of community leaders.
The annual Youth Tour remains one of the most prestigious youth programs offered by electric cooperatives and continues to inspire students to become active, informed and engaged citizens while fostering a greater appreciation for public service, leadership and community involvement. D
Introducing BEACON
STAY INFORMED. STAY CONNECTED. STAY ENGAGED.
EVERY DAY, DECISIONS ARE MADE that can affect electric cooperatives, broadband expansion, infrastructure, energy policy and rural communities. Many of those decisions happen long before they make the evening news. That’s why Bandera Electric Cooperative created BEACON — the Bandera Electric Advocacy & Community Outreach Network.
BEACON is your connection to the information, resources and conversations that help you stay informed about issues affecting your cooperative and the communities we call home.
As a member-owned cooperative, BEC believes members deserve clear, timely and factual information about issues that may affect their electric service, broadband access, local communities and the future of rural Texas.
BECOME A BEACON FOUNDING MEMBER!
As we launch BEACON, we’re inviting members to become Founding Members of this new network.
Join by September 30, 2026, and you’ll:
Be among the first to know when important issues affect BEC, electric cooperatives or rural Texas.
Receive invitations to future Community Conversations with elected officials and community leaders.
Gain access to BEACON’s growing library of member resources, including a new county-by-county Election Resources page.
Receive advocacy alerts only when important issues arise.
More importantly, you’ll be part of a stronger, more informed cooperative network from the very beginning!
WHAT YOU’LL FIND ON BEACON
ISSUES THAT MATTER
Timely, factual information about legislation, regulations, broadband expansion, energy policy and infrastructure topics that could affect BEC members.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
Opportunities to hear directly from elected officials and community leaders in a respectful, non-partisan setting.
ELECTION RESOURCES
A convenient county-by-county guide to current elections and candidates, with links to official candidate websites, to help members research their ballot before Election Day.
THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE
ACTION ALERTS
When important issues arise, members can learn more and decide whether they would like to share their perspecitve with elected officials and policymakers.
One cooperative. Thousands of members. One stronger voice.
Our Promise to Members
YOUR VOICE JOURNEY
LEARN STAY INFORMED ATTEND EVENTS
CONNECT WITH LEADERS MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
We know your inbox is already full. That’s why BEACON isn’t another marketing email list. We’ll only contact you when there’s an important issue that may affect your cooperative, your community, broadband service or rural Texas. That means no political endorsements, no campaign messaging and no unnecessary emails or texts — just timely, factual information when it matters.
Why BEACON Matters
One recent example illustrates why BEC believes BEACON is important. During the 2025 Texas Legislative Session, proposed House Bill 3448 raised concerns about potential impacts on electric cooperatives and the communities they serve. BEC shared factual information with members and provided an opportunity for those who wished to engage. More than 200 members contacted lawmakers to share their perspectives. Following that significant feedback from our membership, the bill was ultimately withdrawn. While many factors influence legislative outcomes, the experience demonstrated the value of informed members and reinforced the need for a trusted way to communicate when important issues arise.
Looking Ahead
For more than 85 years, Bandera Electric Cooperative has connected our communities with reliable electric service. Today, BEACON represents another way we’re serving our members — by connecting them to the information, resources and conversations that help shape the future of rural Texas.
Become a BEACON Founding Member today.
Be among the first to know.
Be among the first to engage.
Be among the first to help shape the future of your cooperative.
Scan the QR code or visit BanderaElectric.com/beacon to sign up today.
Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay engaged. D
SCAN ME!
Round Up the Family for BEC’s 2026 Fall Festival & Annual Meeting!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS because one of Bandera Electric Cooperative’s biggest events of the year is back! Join us for BEC’s Fall Festival & Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Enchanted Springs Ranch in Boerne for a morning packed with family fun, great food, exciting activities, and important cooperative updates.
Whether you’re coming to learn more about your cooperative, spend quality time with family and friends, or simply enjoy a beautiful Hill Country morning, there’s something for everyone, and best of all, it’s completely FREE!
Event Details
The 2026 BEC Fall Festival & Annual Meeting will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Enchanted Springs Ranch, located at 242 TX-46, Boerne, TX 78006.
This free community event is open to all BEC members and their families, and everyone is encouraged to attend.
A Morning of Family Fun
This year’s festival is filled with activities the entire family can enjoy. Stroll through the pumpkin patch and capture fall-themed photos, visit the petting zoo, hop aboard a wagon ride, or let the kids explore the hay maze and bounce houses. Throughout the morning, you’ll also find balloon artists, bingo, a photo booth, live music, and exciting line dancing and trick roping demonstrations that celebrate the spirit of the Texas Hill Country.
Families can also stop by the bandana bar to create a custom bandana or relax in the chill zone, where children can enjoy coloring activities, cartoons, and a glitter bar while taking a break from the excitement.
Enjoy Delicious Food and Refreshments
Come hungry! Festival favorites return this year, including Bill Miller breakfast tacos, along with fresh cinnamon rolls and pastries. Complimentary coffee, tea, bottled water, and
soft drinks will also be available throughout the event. Be sure to save room for fresh kettle corn and cotton candy while you’re exploring the festival grounds.
Connect with Your Cooperative
One of the best parts of the festival is the opportunity to meet the people who power your cooperative every day. Visit with employees from BEC Fiber, Energy Services, Member Relations, and our line crews to learn more about the services and programs available to members.
Whether you have questions about fiber internet, energy-saving solutions, or the work that goes into keeping the lights on, our team will be there to visit with you. Plus, be sure to stop by the various booths to pick up free swag items while supplies last.
Your Annual Meeting
The festival also serves as BEC’s Annual Meeting, providing members with an opportunity to hear updates from executive leadership about the cooperative’s accomplishments, financial performance, and future initiatives.
Members will also learn the results of the Board of Directors election for Districts 1, 2, and 3, gaining insight into the leadership that will help guide the cooperative moving forward.
Mark Your Calendar
Don’t miss one of BEC’s most anticipated events of the year! We look forward to celebrating with our members and their families during a fun-filled morning of activities, entertainment, delicious food, and cooperative business.
For more details about this year’s Fall Festival and Annual Meeting, scan the QR code or visit BanderaElectric.com/annualmeeting. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, October 17, 2026. D
BEC Foundation Awards $10,000 Through Member Choice Competition
THE BEC FOUNDATION HAS AWARDED a total of $10,000 in community grants through its annual Member Choice Competition, with Out of the Way Café and Don’t Make Waste Bandera each receiving $5,000 after member voting resulted in a tie.
The Member Choice Competition empowers BEC members to help direct charitable funding to local nonprofit organizations, making a positive impact throughout the cooperative’s service area. This year’s tie reflected strong community support for both organizations and the important services they provide to Bandera County residents.
Out of the Way Café was recognized for its efforts to combat food insecurity by providing meals, food assistance, and support to individuals and families facing difficult circumstances. Don’t Make Waste Bandera was selected for its commitment to environmental stewardship through local recycling programs, roadside cleanups, and community education initiatives.
“We are so grateful to BEC for this donation, which will help continue upgrading the recycling equipment we use daily at the facility,” said volunteer Janus Olive. “Don’t Make Waste Bandera coordinates local volunteer services to sort and recycle materials, while Bandera County partners with Keep Texas Recycling to contract the sale of recycled materials and manage the facility.”
“Both of these organizations are making a meaningful difference in our community,” said Tracey Robledo, BEC Foundation Chair. “Out of the Way Café provides food, hope, and support to those in need, while Don’t Make Waste Bandera helps preserve our environment and educates residents about the importance of recycling. We are proud to support their missions and grateful to our members who help make grants like these possible through their participation in the Member Choice Competition and Operation Round Up.”
The grants will help Out of the Way Café continue its meal programs and hunger-relief efforts, while Don’t Make Waste Bandera will enhance recycling operations, expand community recycling opportunities, and increase environmental education initiatives.
The BEC Foundation is funded through donations, annual fundraising events, employee giving, and Operation Round Up, a voluntary program that allows BEC members to round up their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar. Those small monthly contributions collectively fund grants that support nonprofit organizations and community initiatives throughout BEC’s seven-county service area. Through programs like the Member Choice Competition, the BEC Foundation continues to invest in organizations that strengthen communities, encourage stewardship, and improve quality of life across the Texas Hill Country. D
Texas Hummus
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup chopped sweet onion
½ cup fresh cilantro
¼ cup fresh parsley
¼ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
1 can diced tomatoes with mild green chiles (10 ounces)
1 can chickpeas (15 ounces)
Salt and pepper, to taste Tortilla chips, to serve
1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook onion, cilantro, parsley, cumin, oregano and garlic until the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes.
2. Drain tomatoes and add to pan to warm. Drain chickpeas and pour into a blender or food processor. Add tomato mixture to chickpeas. Pulse mixture until it is the consistency of a dip but not completely smooth. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired. Serve with tortilla chips.
District 1 Robert Aguirre, Secretary-Treasurer Pending Fulfillment
District 3 Jeffery “Jeff” Slocum
District 2 Frances “Fran” Laue
District 3 Jeffery “Jeff” Slocum
District 4 Jeremy Diller, Vice Chairman
District 4 Jeremy Diller, Vice Chairman
District 5 Annegreth “Anna” Niemann
District 5 Annegreth “Anna” Niemann
District 6 Richard “Dick” Earnest
District 6 Richard “Dick” Earnest
Christopher “Chris” Blakemore, Chairman
District 7 Christopher “Chris” Blakemore
District 8 Michael D.T. Edwards, Chairman
District 8 Michael D.T. Edwards Kurt Solis
District 9 Kurt Solis, Secretary-Treasurer
Key Staff
Key Staff
William “Bill” Hetherington, CEO
William “Bill” Hetherington, CEO Stephanie Pankratz, CFO
Stephanie Pankratz, CFO
John Padalino, General Counsel and CAO
John Padalino, General Counsel and CAO
Shane Schmidt, COO
Shane Schmidt, COO
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
Our mission is lighting the grid to empower our members.
Empowering communities with reliable and innovative services and technologies to enhance everyday life.
Vision Statement
Reimagining rural America.
Building a sustainable and connected future together.
OFFICES
OFFICES
For hours and information, visit banderaelectric.com/hours.
For hours and information, visit banderaelectric.com/hours.
Bandera Headquarters | 3172 Highway 16 N. Boerne | 1100 N. Main St., Suite 104
Bandera Headquarters | 3172 Highway 16 N. Boerne | 1100 N. Main St., Suite 104
Comfort | 739 Front St. (Highway 27)
Comfort | 739 Front St. (Highway 27)
Leakey | 485 W. Ranch Road 337
Leakey | 485 W. Ranch Road 337
PAYMENT OPTIONS
PAYMENT OPTIONS
For a list of accepted payment options, visit banderaelectric.com/paymentoptions
• myBEC online or mobile app bill payment
• Free bank draft service
• Paperless billing
FOLLOW US
• Level billing
• Automatic recurring credit card payment
• Visa, Mastercard and Discover accepted
BEC Fiber
• ECheck payment by phone
• Cash or check payments in office
• 24/7 payment kiosks at select offices
• Payments accepted at Fidelity Express
CONTACT US
• Time-based usage program
P.O. Box 667 • Bandera, TX 78003
• PrePay program
Phone 1-866-226-3372, option 5
Web BECFiber.com
Email mas@banderaelectric.com
FOLLOW US
TexasCoopPower.com/bandera
MEGAN MYERS
Sacred Stone of the Southwest is on the Brink of Extinction
Centuries ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.
On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.
We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and purchased it for our Sedona Turquoise Collection. Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, one-of-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you aren’t completely happy with your purchase, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.
The supply of Arizona turquoise is limited, don’t miss your chance to own the Southwest’s brilliant blue treasure. Call today!
Jewelry Specifications:
• Arizona turquoise • Silver-finished settings
Sedona Turquoise Collection
A. Pendant (26 cts)
$299 * $99 +s&p Save $200
B. 18" Bali Naga woven sterling silver chain $149 +s&p
C. 1 1/2" Earrings (10 ctw)
Complete Set**
$299 * $99 +s&p Save $200
$747 * $249 +s&p Save $498
**Complete set includes pendant, chain and earrings.
Call now and mention the offer code to receive your collection.
1-800-333-2045
Offer Code SDT211-01
You must use the offer code to get our special price.
C.
Necklace enlarged to show luxurious color
It’s About Time
How cowboys counted the hours out on the dusty trail
BY W.F. STRONG • ILLUSTRATION BY BRYAN PETERSON
COWBOY TIME ISN’T fast or slow. It isn’t tied to a clock at all. It’s tied to the sun, the herd and the work.
On cattle drives of long ago, the day began before first light. At dawn, men were in the saddle, driving cattle north to Abilene or Dodge City in Kansas. They worked till sundown. No whistle blew, no shift horn called them home. The only time that mattered was daylight and whether the herd was settled for the night. Even so, cowboys had their own kind of alarm clock. It was the cook’s bell. Legendary rancher Charles Goodnight invented the chuck wagon in the 1860s, repurposing a heavy-duty government wagon as a kitchen and pantry on wheels. And with the chuck wagon came the
sound that structured cowboy life. When the cook struck his triangle of iron, it was dinnertime. Cowboys joked that the cook had the only watch that mattered.
At night, men took turns watching the cattle. Time wasn’t measured in minutes but in watches—three shifts through the night. There was the first guard, the midnight guard and the morning guard. Dying campfire embers and the movement of stars and the moon helped tell the passing of time in the dark.
A cowboy might sing his herd to sleep, humming trail songs or gospel tunes under the stars. The cattle calmed to the music, and time passed by melody more than clock.
Even distance was measured differently.
Listen as W.F. Strong narrates this story on our website.
Cowboys spoke of horse time. They’d say: “That’s a two-horse ride from here.” Time was bound up with distance, and distance with the stamina of your mount.
Some cowboys did carry watches— tough old Elgin or Waltham pocket watches, often bought when railroads made timetables important. But plenty of them would tell you: “The only watch I need is the sun.”
They were more on God’s time than man’s time.
Writers caught on to this too. Andy Adams, a cattle driver himself, described in The Log of a Cowboy trailmen rising with the dawn, eating when the cook said so and changing guard by the stars.
J. Frank Dobie wrote that a cowpuncher “eats when the cook’s ready, he sleeps when the guard lets him.” Larry McMurtry gave us cowboys singing to their cattle through the night, timing their lives by starlight and dust.
So cowboy time was different. It was steady. It ran sunup to sundown, with a few hours stolen under the stars. It was measured by horses, by bells, by songs— by the needs of the herd, not by a clock on the wall.
And maybe that’s why cowboy time still has a hold on us here in Texas. Even if we don’t ride herd anymore, there’s something in us that remembers. We work till the sun goes down. We eat when the food’s ready. We measure time by what matters, not by what buzzes on our phones—or at least we’d like to.
In a world of atomic clocks, digital seconds and meetings scheduled down to the minute, cowboy time whispers a different wisdom: Don’t count every minute—just do the work until the day is done. D
After-School Snacks
Readers share family sweet treats that answer the final school bell
BY VIANNEY RODRIGUEZ, FOOD EDITOR
I’m a dipper. I love to dip fries, nuggets and tortilla chips, but I especially love to dunk fresh fruit into something creamy. My honey yogurt dip takes the joy to the next level—try it with watermelon, peaches and berries. It pairs perfectly with any fruit you have on hand.
Honey Yogurt Dip
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons honey, plus more for serving
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Sliced fruit, for serving
1. In a bowl, combine yogurt, honey, cinnamon and vanilla. Drizzle with additional honey, if desired.
2. Serve with sliced fruit.
SERVES 4
Follow Vianney Rodriguez as she cooks in Cocina Gris at sweetlifebake.com, where she features a recipe for Lemon Sheet Cake With Lemon Yogurt Glaze.
Peanut Butter, Crackers and Marshmallows
KAREN FAUBUS
SOUTH PLAINS EC
This snack originates in central Mississippi, where Faubus’ grandmother and her siblings grew up enjoying it. Faubus now makes it for her own grandchildren. Sweet and satisfying, sometimes the best snacks are the simplest.
5–6 saltine crackers
¼ cup peanut butter
1 cup mini marshmallows
COOK’S NOTE: It’s easy to burn these melty treats under the broiler, and broiler temperatures vary by model. Keep a close eye on the crackers, and don’t let them stay in more than 2 minutes.
1. Preheat oven to broil.
2. Place crackers on a baking sheet. Spread peanut butter on each cracker. Top with mini marshmallows.
3. Broil 1–2 minutes or until marshmallows are lightly browned.
SERVES 1
$500 WINNER
Grammie’s Rice Krispies Squares
TINA WEBB
BLUEBONNET EC
Webb’s mother-in-law made this recipe for her children and grandchildren for years. I can see how these tasty treats— popular in the Midwest and known as scotcheroos— became a family favorite. Rich with peanut butter goodness and topped with chocolate, these bars are a well-deserved delight after a day of classes.
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups crisp rice cereal
1⅓ cups semisweet chocolate chips
1⅓ cups butterscotch morsels
1. Coat a 9-by-13-inch pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, bring corn syrup and sugar to a light boil, stirring occasionally. When the mixture starts to boil, remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until smooth. Stir in rice cereal.
3. Spoon mixture into prepared pan and use the back of a spoon to gently press mixture evenly into pan.
4. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate chips and butterscotch morsels in 15-second increments, stirring each time, until fully melted. Spread evenly over cereal mixture.
5. Allow to cool at least 1 hour at room temperature, then cut into rectangles.
MAKES 20 BARS
$500 Recipe Contest
SMOOTHIES DUE AUG 10
We toast the new year with the best from your blenders. We’ll print our favorite smoothie recipes from readers in the January issue. The winner gets a cool $500.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 >
UPCOMING: LEMONY DELIGHTS DUE SEP 10
No-Bake Oatmeal Balls
ELIZABETH COWAN
FANNIN EC
Growing up, Cowan and her siblings nicknamed these “booze balls” because of the piquant kick from the Tang powder. Don’t worry, there’s no actual booze, but this no-bake snack packs a punch! Coat in your choice of coconut, powdered
sugar, cocoa powder or a combo. The balls can be stored in the fridge for a week of ready-made snacks for hungry kiddos.
OATMEAL BALLS
2 cups (4 sticks) butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup Tang powdered drink mix
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup seedless raisins
2 cups rolled oats
COATING
1 cup flaked coconut (optional)
1/2 cup powdered sugar (optional)
1 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional)
1. OATMEAL BALLS In a large bowl, cream butter, powdered sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add cocoa, Tang powder and vanilla. Mix well.
2. Stir in pecans, raisins and oats. Cover
Snacks for an Easy A
• Apple slices + string cheese
• Hummus + carrot sticks
• Mini microwave popcorn bags
• Fresh sliced melon
• Berries + yogurt
• Pepperoni + cheese
• Dried apple chips
• Trail mix
• Premade smoothies
• Cheese + crackers
• Sliced peaches + cottage cheese
• Hard-boiled eggs + sliced turkey
—Vianney Rodriguez
and chill dough at least 2 hours or overnight.
3. Form mixture into 1-inch balls.
4. COATING Roll each ball in coconut or powdered sugar or in a mixture of powdered sugar and cocoa. Cover and store in fridge.
MAKES 40–45
Wear a reminder that you can take the girl out of Texas, but not the Texas out of the girl with this exquisitely detailed bracelet! Expertly handcrafted and lavishly plated in gleaming 18K gold, this bracelet captures the pride of Texas. A charm showcasing the silhouette of the state serves as the centerpiece for this dazzling design, and a smaller cowboy boot charm captures the spirit of the Texas Gal. Tooled leather-inspired details with rich platinum plating add classic cowgirl style. A sparkling genuine white topaz in a heart-shaped setting sits over the spot where the capital of Austin is located on the map. Both charms dangle from the easy-to-secure horseshoe-shaped toggle ring. Elegant beads on either side of the toggle ring dazzle with more than 30 additional white topaz, and links with twisted rope details add to the authentic look. e reverse side of the Texas-shaped charm is delicately engraved with a classic Texas girl sentiment for a perfect nishing touch. is bracelet measures 7.5" and is sized to comfortably t most wrists.
A REMARKABLE VALUE NOT FOUND IN STORES
Expertly handcrafted, this bracelet is a remarkable value at just $99.99*, payable in 3 easy installments of $33.33 each, and it’s backed by our 120-day full-money-back guarantee. e “Heart of Texas” Genuine Topaz Women’s Bracelet arrives in a velvet jewelry pouch and box that are perfect for gift-giving or safekeeping, along with a Certi cate of Authenticity, so it’s ready to give as a beautiful gift or to add to your personal ne jewelry collection. To order, send no money now; just mail the Priority Reservation. is gorgeous bracelet is only available from e Bradford Exchange. Don’t miss out—order today!
Please reserve the Heart of Texas” Genuine Topaz Women’s Bracelet for me as described in this announcement.
Engraved on the back with a heartfelt sentiment
The Palace in Paris
Statesmanship and storytelling at the Sam Bell Maxey House
BY CHET GARNER
IF YOU’VE EVER wondered what it felt like to be a big deal in 19th-century Texas, I’d suggest a stroll through the Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site in Paris. And yes, that’s Paris, Texas—where the Eiffel Tower wears a cowboy hat.
Built 1866–67, the Maxey House is a pristine example of High Victorian Italianate architecture—which is a fancy way of saying it looks like it belongs in a period drama. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and restored in 1980.
Walking through the house feels less like touring a museum and more like you’ve interrupted a well-appointed 1870s dinner party. The wide balcony and tall windows were designed to battle the Texas heat, though I suspect they were also perfect for watching neighbors and discussing politics.
Sam Bell Maxey wasn’t just any resident in Reconstruction-era Paris. He was a veteran of the Mexican-American War and a former Confederate general. Later he served as a state and then U.S. senator.
Following the Civil War, senior officers in the Confederacy were not allowed to hold political office, but Maxey received a pardon from President Andrew Johnson after a personal vouch from Maxey’s U.S. Military Academy classmate and friend, Ulysses S. Grant. During his two terms, Maxey was known as “the Beaver of the Senate” for his work improving transportation and infrastructure.
What struck me most wasn’t just the grandeur of the home but the humanity. The preserved letters, clothing and everyday objects tell a fuller story—of ambition, loss, recovery and resilience during one of Texas’ most turbulent eras. Outside, the gardens offer a tranquil respite, a soft contrast to the political storms once likely debated inside.
The Maxey House isn’t just a monument to one man’s legacy; it’s a reminder that even in a small Texas town, the currents of our nation flowed right through the front door. D
Chet
the video on our website and see all of Chet’s Texplorations on The Daytripper on PBS.
Know Before You Go
Call ahead or check an event’s website for scheduling details, and check our website for many more upcoming events.
5
6
De Leon [5–8] Peach and Melon Festival, (254) 893-6600, pmdfestival.com
Boerne [4–6] Kendall County Fair, (830) 249-2839, facebook.com/kendallcounty fairassociation
Rockport [4–6] Fiesta en la Playa, (361) 314-2226, acmtexas.com
Austin Bat Fest, (512) 4419015, roadwayevents.com
Bedford Beats and Eats Fest, (817) 952-2100, bedfordtx.gov
We pick events for the magazine directly from TexasCoopPower.com. Submit your November event by September 1, and it just might be featured in this calendar.
AMUSTHAVE SILVERDOLLAR
A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity
For 40 years, America’s Silver Eagle has stood as the world’s most collected modern coin. This coin enters a new era of significance this year with an added feature collectors have never seen before. For the first time in the history of the annual series—and the first time in 50 years on any U.S. coin—the 2026-W Silver Eagle Proof bears a true dual date: 1776–2026. This un-precedented feature instantly sets this release apart as the most historic Silver Eagle ever struck. In addition, a oneyear-only Liberty Bell 250 privy mark has been added to the design, further elevating it to the upper pantheon of U.S. coins.
Some coins mark time. Others make history. The 2026-W American Silver Eagle Proof
SILVER EAGLE
does both. For people who remember the excitement surrounding dual-dated 1976 Bicentennial coinage, the significance of 2026 needs no explanation. For those new to the scene, this represents an opportunity that won’t come again in our lifetimes.
Don’t Miss Out on a True Legacy
Even before the official release date of February 26, single 2026-W Proof American Silver Eagles recorded pre-sales of just over 209,000 coins, or about 42% of its stated 500,000 mintage before the coin was even available. The remaining coins from the first allotment have since been sold. While the Mint does intend to strike the remaining authorized mintage, don’t run the risk of missing out on acquiring a true legacy for you and your family that will be prized for generations to come.
To add one of these first-ever dual-dated 2026-W American Silver Eagle Proofs with Liberty Bell 250 Privy Mark to your collection, call 1-800-517-6468 to secure yours now.
“My daughter, Addison, took this inside the aquarium at the Houston Zoo.”
2 CRYSTAL VALDEZ
LYNTEGAR EC
“My daughter, Natalie Valdez, took this picture at an aquarium. She is an aspiring photographer who loves animals of all kinds.”
3 KORO CURRIESAN SAN BERNARD EC
“A shell looking like butterfly wings.”
4 HARRISON NASH BLUEBONNET EC
“This is from a memorable day on the Devil’s River where the target species was smallmouth bass.”
From our backyards to our beaches, Texas waters are teeming with life. These readers have us hooked, so pull on your boots and wade on in. The water’s fine.
CURATED BY GRACE FULTZ
Wallow Awhile
Maybe pigs are onto something with their love of mud
BY CYNTHIA L. MATLOCK ILLUSTRATION BY GEORGE SWEETLAND
IF YOU’VE SPENT any time around pigs, you know one thing for sure: They like mud. I learned this firsthand growing up on a farm, where I often admired and despised the pigs we raised. Especially when they wallowed in the mud on hot summer days.
At feeding time, if the hogs were not already in the pen, my sister and I would have to go out into the woods and round them up, chasing them through the brush and trees. Sometimes, instead of heading to the trough, they’d detour down to the creek, flopping joyfully in the mud. Ugh!
I often wished I could hose them off first—clean them up before feeding them—as drying mud covered their hides, from their snouts to their hooves. One would open his mouth as if smiling and follow us along the fencerow with
his curly tail wagging.
How disgusting but freeing. It seemed incredibly liberating to get muddy, smile and not worry about what anyone thought.
As much as I wrinkled my nose, I came to understand why they did it. Rolling in mud cools pigs down quickly—by nearly 4 degrees, according to some sources—far more efficiently than sweating. Our white Yorkshires, with their sunburn-prone pink hides, often stayed coated in mud, which worked like a natural sunscreen.
And I couldn’t help but envy their wild abandon. The closest I’ve come to that exhilarating, freeing feeling is a good jump in a swimming pool. Or a swerve in a car to splash through standing water. As the years roll on and adult responsibilities pile up, it can be harder to make time to unwind—for most of us.
While I’ve been dodging dirty things all my life, others have been diving right in—literally. Near my childhood home in Jacksonville, mud is always part of the scene. Crowds of off-roaders come roaring in on all-terrain vehicles, trucks and dirt bikes, churning up treacherous pits and sending mud flying as engines growl and vehicles launch into the air. Mud fights draw big crowds—slick with thick, sticky mud. It’s all in good fun.
When life feels heavy with frustrating deadlines, unnerving family drama, surprise bills and unexpected detours, it makes me want to run through mud or a puddle.
Naturally, children can’t resist the pull of a fresh puddle after a heavy rain. They stomp through the shallow water, sending droplets dancing in the air. Even more fun is plopping down, feeling the squishy mud ooze between their fingers and shaping it into a rounded mud pie. Maybe that’s why mud and water play still calls us. It’s not just for pigs, or kids, but for all of us. Jump in, let’s wallow awhile. D
