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The Townie

Know the backroads. Use the front door.

 

The Hill Country Just Won Something

And our kids take that same stage in October.

Something arrived in the mail a few weeks ago — not literally, but in the way good news travels out here, from somebody who heard it from somebody, by way of a phone call or a text or a mention at the feed store. The Hill Country Venture Fest — the student pitch competition that’s been growing out here since 2023 — was just named the 2025 Texas Venture Fest of the Year by the Texas Venture Alliance, at the state capitol in Austin.

It’s worth sitting with that for a moment. There are fifteen-plus cities in the statewide Texas Venture Fest network. Austin, San Antonio, cities with bigger audiences, bigger budgets, bigger stages. And the Hill Country — a rural stretch of counties most people drive through on their way to somewhere else — was recognized as a model for rural innovation.

On October 1, Hill Country students take the stage in Mason. They’ll pitch their ideas to real judges, in front of a community that’s rooting for them. Free to attend. Same stage the award was built on.

We’ll have more on what this means — for the kids, for the region, for local businesses thinking about sponsorship — in this week’s feature. For now, just this: good things happen out here. Sometimes the rest of the state notices.

Watch the 2025 Film  ·  hillcountryventurefest.com →

With love and Hill Country pride,

 

What’s Happening This Week & Beyond

Summer is here, the calendar is stacked, and the Hill Country has a lot going on.

On the calendar

What’s moving across the region

UIL State Champions. Mason High School’s Academic UIL team capped the year with two State Championship titles. The Speech team led the way, with junior Bronwyn Underwood taking first place in Poetry Interpretation at the state meet. The team finished 5th overall at state. Another reminder that what happens in small Texas schools can hold up anywhere.

Student recognition. Fredericksburg High senior Greyson Crenwelge was named the Fredericksburg Chamber’s 2026 Student Achievement Award recipient. An FFA chapter president, community volunteer, and top academic performer, Greyson will use the scholarship toward an engineering degree. Congratulations to him and to the Fredericksburg community that produced him.

Weather. A ridge of high pressure is building overhead after recent showers. Temperatures start in the mid-70s today and climb steadily — mid-90s by Wednesday, with the mercury touching near 100°F on Thursday. Isolated afternoon thunderstorms are possible Thursday; otherwise the week is mostly sunny and hot. South winds 15–20 mph with gusts. Shade, water, and sunscreen are the advisory. Check conditions before heading to outdoor events this weekend. Source: NWS San Angelo.

Rivers. The Llano River near Mason is running above the seasonal median — current gauge height 0.71 ft against a median of 0.52 ft for this time of year. Recent rains (6–7 inches through April–May) boosted levels; conditions are favorable for swimming and floating. Keep an eye on Thursday’s storm potential before planning river outings. Source: USGS.

Tourism pulse. June marks the start of peak season across the Hill Country. Fredericksburg hotel rooms fill quickly on summer weekends, and spillover traffic to Mason, Llano, Junction, and Kerrville is already building. If you operate a lodging, dining, or retail business and haven’t reviewed your summer hours and staffing, now is the time. The Texas Hill Country Summer Season Wine Pass (35+ wineries at $100/couple or $65/individual, June 1–Aug 31) is a new draw this year, extending tourist range across the region.

Agriculture. Beef markets are historically strong: feeder steers (500–600 lb) are bringing around $450/cwt in Texas, up from $326/cwt a year ago (Texas A&M AgriLife). Bigger news: Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide disaster for all 254 Texas counties on June 5 due to the New World screwworm — the first confirmed U.S. cases in 60 years. Confirmed infestations stand at 12 (11 in Texas, 1 in New Mexico); the most recent Texas case was a sheep in Sutton County, about 135 miles northwest of San Antonio. Inspect your livestock daily for wounds and report any suspected cases immediately to the Texas Animal Health Commission. Source: USDA APHIS; Office of the Texas Governor; Texas Public Radio, June 14, 2026.

Economic & small business. The Texas Commerce Commission clarified its franchise tax threshold guidance for small operators this spring: businesses with annualized revenue under $2.47 million remain exempt for 2026 filings. Operations just over the old threshold may now be exempt — check with your accountant. The SBA also extended its Small Business Development Center consulting hours at the Kerrville office through August for peak season support. Call 830-896-5111 to schedule.

Grants & funding. Two time-sensitive deadlines this week: the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant (REDLG) Q4 deadline is June 30, 2026 — zero-interest funds routed through local utilities to create or retain rural jobs (up to $300,000 revolving loan fund; apply through usda.gov). And Texas Rural Communities, Inc. is accepting applications for annual grants to rural 501(c)(3) organizations: average award $3,000, maximum $10,000 — see texasrural.org. Also open: Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreational Trail grants (through July), Texas Dept. of Agriculture Youth Ag Ed Fund for 4-H/FFA projects (through August 1), and USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program for towns under 20,000 — Mason, Menard, Junction, and Llano all qualify. usda.gov — texasrural.org — tpwd.texas.gov

Mason sports. Mason High School’s linemen won the Hardin-Simmons University State Lineman Qualifier this month — a strength and technique competition drawing top linemen from across Texas. The Punchers also have a new head boys basketball coach: Seth Slover, named to the position this spring. Coach Slover brings strong Hill Country roots and a reputation for player development. Good things moving in Mason athletics.

Menard milestone. Lady Jackets head coach Gooch recently earned her 300th career coaching win — a milestone for a program that has been a consistent force in small-school Texas athletics. The Menard community turned out to celebrate. Congratulations to Coach Gooch and the Lady Jackets.

Open grant windows. Several rural funding opportunities are active now. The USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) provides loans and technical assistance to rural microbusinesses — all five of our core counties qualify. The TEA R-PEP rural education program funds school–employer partnerships; businesses doing workforce or career-ed work should inquire with their ISD. And the Community Impact Fund through the Texas Rural Funders network is accepting letters of inquiry for fall grants. Check usda.gov, tea.texas.gov, and texasruralfunders.org. Deadlines vary — look before summer gets away from you.

All listings verified and current for the June 18, 2026 edition. Event dates subject to change — confirm with organizers before traveling.

 

Our Venture Fest Was Just Named Texas Venture Fest of the Year

The Hill Country Venture Fest was named Texas Venture Fest of the Year — and your kids take that same stage on October 1.

Last month, something happened at the Texas State Capitol that most Hill Country residents haven’t heard about yet.

The Texas Venture Alliance — the statewide network of regional pitch competitions, spanning 15+ Texas cities — named the Hill Country Venture Fest the 2025 Texas Venture Fest of the Year. The award recognizes it as the strongest model for rural entrepreneurship development in the entire network. It earned the honor among programs in cities with far more resources, larger populations, and bigger budgets — recognized as a model for rural innovation ecosystems.

The festival has been running since 2023, co-hosted by The Townie and SimpleEDO.ai and part of the Texas Venture Fest statewide network from the start. This spring it took the name “Hill Country Venture Fest” to reflect the full 90-mile rural footprint it now serves — students from public school, private school, homeschool, 4-H, and FFA across the region. The award was presented at the Texas State Capitol.

The premise has always been direct: from most Hill Country towns, the nearest major startup stage is 100–145 miles away — expensive, intimidating, and built for somebody else. Student ideas stay in notebooks. Ambitious kids learn that doing something that matters means leaving. The Hill Country Venture Fest puts the stage here instead.

The 2026 competition is October 1 in Mason. Students pitch original ideas to real judges in front of a community that’s rooting for them. Free to attend. With this year’s statewide award, the spotlight is brighter than it’s ever been.

If you know a student with an idea, or want to be part of the mentor, judge, or sponsor family, email hey@thetownie.ai. A real person replies, usually within two days.

Watch the 2025 promo film at hillcountryventurefest.com to see what this evening looks like — and why a region of small towns is setting the standard for all of Texas.

Save October 1. Tell a kid who has an idea.

 

2 Things Your Business Needs to Know This Week

1 — The summer tourist and the regular customer are not the same person

Peak season is here, and the Hill Country is filling up with visitors who are not your regulars. That distinction matters more than most small business owners treat it. The tourist customer makes decisions faster, tips generously or poorly with no in-between, is scanning for social-media-worthy moments, and will not come back to complain — they’ll just leave a review. Your regulars will tell you if the burger was off. The tourist won’t. Summer is the season to audit your first-impression details — signage, storefront, the first thing a stranger sees when they walk in. It’s also the moment to make sure your Google Business profile is current, your hours are right, and your photos are recent. Locals forgive outdated listings. Visitors decide not to stop. The window between them walking past and walking in is measured in seconds, and this week is the right time to close it.

2 — Three rural grant windows are open right now — and most Hill Country operators don’t know about them

Hill Country businesses and nonprofits have three active funding opportunities that close before fall. The USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) provides loans and technical assistance to rural microbusinesses — every county in our coverage area qualifies, and the application is simpler than most federal programs. The Texas Education Agency R-PEP program funds partnerships between rural schools and local employers; if your business does any workforce, apprenticeship, or career-education work, it’s worth a conversation with your local ISD. And the Community Impact Fund through the Texas Rural Funders network is taking letters of inquiry for fall grants right now. None of these are well-publicized in small-town Texas. Deadlines vary — usda.gov, tea.texas.gov, and texasruralfunders.org are where to start. Look before summer slips by.

 

Notes from the porch swing

Hazel Mae & Fern are lifelong Hill Country neighbors. They don’t always agree, but they always have something to say.

Dear Hazel Mae & Fern, My tomatoes are splitting before I can even pick them. I watered yesterday morning and by evening two more had cracked right down the middle. It doesn’t matter how careful I am. What am I doing wrong? — Puzzled in Mason

Hazel Mae: Oh sweet friend, you are not doing anything wrong — you’re just watering after the damage is already done. Tomatoes split when the soil goes bone-dry and then gets a big drink all at once. The skin has already set at one size and the inside swells faster than it can stretch. The fix is consistency: water deeply every morning before seven, lay a good inch of mulch around the base to hold moisture between waterings, and pick them the moment they show full color. They’ll ripen just fine on your counter. Patience and a steady hand — same cure as most things out here.

Fern: Hazel Mae is right about the rhythm, but I’ll give you the harder truth: some varieties were never built for a Texas July. Early Girl and Celebrity are California tomatoes at heart, and our summer will show them every time. Next spring, put in a few Juliet or Sun Gold plants — cherry types that crack far less because their skins can actually keep up with the heat. This week’s split tomatoes are your education. Next season is your fresh start.

 

Readings for the week of June 18, 2026

Summer’s here. The heat is clarifying. Some weeks the stars just tell you to go outside.

Aries (Mar 21–Apr 19)
You have been circling something you want to start. This week the temperature is high and your patience for waiting is low. That combination is not an obstacle — it’s a signal. Start the thing. The momentum will carry you past the part you were afraid of.

Taurus (Apr 20–May 20)
You are built for the long haul, and right now the long haul is paying off. Someone notices the steady work you never announced. Let them say so out loud. It will feel good, and you deserve that.

Gemini (May 21–Jun 20)
Your season is ending and the heat is teaching you something about simplicity. Not every idea needs a second idea attached to it. Pick one. Say it clearly. See what happens when the sentence ends and you stop talking.

Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 22)
Your season opens this week. The river is running high and the feeling that comes with that is yours — abundant, a little wild, generous in a way you can’t always explain. Someone in your orbit needs what you have to give. You’ll know who when you see them.

Leo (Jul 23–Aug 22)
You were made for this kind of heat. The center of summer is your season, and the energy building right now is preparation for your moment. Think about what you want the second half of this year to look like. October is not that far away.

Virgo (Aug 23–Sep 22)
You have done the planning. You have done the research. You have checked the numbers twice. At some point the spreadsheet has to close and the action has to begin. That point is this week.

Libra (Sep 23–Oct 22)
The summer crowd has arrived and you are watching them the way you always do — reading the room, trying to balance everyone else’s needs. Put one need of your own on the list this week. It does not have to be dramatic. A cold drink on the porch counts.

Scorpio (Oct 23–Nov 21)
Something you let go of has quietly come back in a better form. You will not make a scene about it. You will just sit with the satisfaction of having been right to be patient. That’s its own kind of reward.

Sagittarius (Nov 22–Dec 21)
Your big idea deserves a real audience. Stop workshopping it in the group chat. Find one person outside your usual circle and say it out loud to them. The reaction you get this week will tell you everything about whether the idea is ready.

Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19)
Summer feels like the wrong season for you — too loose, too warm, not enough urgency. Create your own urgency anyway. Set a deadline that no one else is tracking. The discipline you maintain when no one is watching is exactly what separates your October from everyone else’s.

Aquarius (Jan 20–Feb 18)
The idea you have been circling for months is asking for a decision, not more deliberation. You have done the research. You know what you think. The window between intention and action is shorter this week than it will be next month. Say yes to the thing and let the rest follow.

Pisces (Feb 19–Mar 20)
You have been dreaming well this summer. Write one of those dreams down before the heat evaporates it. Not for anyone else — just so it has a place to live outside your head. The ones you write down are the ones that become real.

 

Meet Cookie

Photo by Suzanne Demarie

Cookie and her buddy Pumpkin were found together on Highway 87 in Mason County. Their owners haven’t been found, and now these sweet girls need forever homes.

Cookie is a relaxed 1½-year-old Anatolian Shepherd mix — 77 pounds, a little thin right now, so she may fill out to 80+ pounds at her healthy weight. She’s been spayed, fully vaccinated, and tested heartworm negative. She is a gentle girl who is great with kids and gets along well with other dogs. If you love big, easy-going dogs, Cookie might be exactly who you’ve been looking for.

 

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