We’re just connecting the dots
WINTER TEXAN
Volume 11 • Issue 17 February 25, 2026
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Big Boots
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Highlight City’s Western Heritage fro m
We’ve got big boots…and we cannot lie. As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas, and in Mercedes, that couldn’t be truer. The famous Mercedes boots are scattered throughout the city–just waiting to be discovered–and they make the perfect excuse to turn an ordinary day into a mini adventure. Track them down, add them to your scavenger hunts, and use the journey as a fun way to explore corners of the Valley you may not have seen before. Don’t forget to snap a few photos along the way and share them with friends and family back home, a little proof that Texas really is as big and bold as they imagine. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, keep the exploration going. Hunt for the butterflies in Mission, spot the Hidalgo Killer Bee, stroll through the McAllen Mural District, or relax for a moment in the iconic South Padre Island beach chairs. The Rio Grande Valley is full of unique sights, hidden gems, and photo-worthy stops just waiting to be experienced. So get out there, have some fun, and be sure to tell us what treasures you discover along the way.
Thank You
SEASON SPONSORS 2025-2026
by Ric Cavazos
The 30 handcrafted boots standing nearly six feet tall on Mercedes Street corners and roadways represent the city’s western heritage and its connection to early Rio Grande Valley history.
T
he Mid-Valley city was founded in the early 1900s by a land company. The American Rio Grande Land & Irrigation Company, while setting up agricultural o p e r a t i o n s , established some of the first irrigation systems to move water from the river to new farm fields. About three decades later, the first of the agriculture shows kicked off that would make Mercedes the eventual home of the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Mercedes bills itself as one of America’s premier locations for boot making.