As the days lengthen and the sunshine warms us, we at Texoma Farm & Home want to wish you a truly wonderful summer! This season always feels like a fresh start, a chance to slow down, explore, and make lasting memories.
Whether you’re planning a grand adventure, a relaxing staycation, or simply enjoying the everyday moments with loved ones, we hope your summer is filled with joy and rejuvenation.
Take time for yourselves, embrace new experiences, and savor the simple pleasures that this vibrant time of year brings. We’re excited to bring you inspiring stories, practical tips and engaging content throughout the coming months to help you make the most of every sunny day.
Happy Summer!
Austin & Jennifer Lewter Publishers- Texoma Farm & Home
Reverse mortgages explained
Texoma Farm & Home
As long as there have been homes for sale, there have been financial vehicles designed to alleviate some of the financial pressures associated with owning a home. A reverse mortgage is another way homeowners can borrow money based on the value of their homes, but it doesn’t need to be repaid as long as those individuals are still living in their residences.
Eligibility and basics
The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Advice says a reverse mortgage is an option for those age 62 or older who can borrow money based on their equity, or how much money one could get for the home if sold after what is owed on the mortage is paid off. At least one owner must live in the house most of the year. Reverse mortgages may be paid as a cash lump sum, as a monthly income or as a line of credit that enables the homeowner to decide how much is desired and when.
Determining eligibility
There is a misconception that a loan that requires no monthly repayment of principal or interest will not come with any eligibility considerations. Premier Reverse Mortgage says there are some things to know before doing reverse mortgages. To prevent homeowners using reverse mortgages to avoid downsizing due to financial shortcomings, certain eli-
gibility parameters must be met, including a credit history analysis, income requirements, age requirement, and property stipulations. These criteria may differ from lender to lender.
Differences between traditional mortgages and reverse mortgages
Unlike a traditional mortgage where payments are made to principal and interest and the balance goes down over time, with a reverse mortgage, borrowers do not make any payments right away. The loan balance goes up over time and the loan is repaid when the borrower no longer lives in the home. The homeowners or their heirs will eventually have to pay back the loan, usually by selling the home. However, as the loan balance increases, the home equity decreases with a reverse mortgage. This can affect a surviving spouse or other family members. The FTC advises homeowners to confirm the reverse mortgage has a “non-recourse” clause, which means that the borrower or the borrower’s estate cannot owe more than the value of the home when the loan becomes due and the home is sold.
Additional considerations
Due to fees and other requirements, a reverse mortgage may be a more expensive way to borrow money. Other ways to borrow against equity may be a better fit,
such as a home equity line of credit. Furthermore, since reverse mortgages are for older adults, scams are prevalent. Some include contractors who approach seniors about getting a reverse mortgage to pay for repairs, or scams targeting veterans.
Borrowers considering reverse mortgages should first speak with a qualified financial planner. Homeowners in the United States can access information through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. All options, costs and interest rate information should be confirmed before signing on the dotted line.
A reverse mortgage is another way homeowners can borrow money based on the value of their homes.
HEARING WITH EASE
Conversations with family and friends are vital for our emotional wellbeing.
• It enhances our sense of independence, reducing feelings of isolation and inviting us to participate in life more fully.
The Smart Solution
Widex SmartRIC™ hearing aids can help you engage with the world as naturally as possible with better directionality (and reduced wind and touch noise), allowing you to stay connected to the people and sounds that matter most. These state-of-theart hearing aids feature a groundbreaking design -- modern, sleek, and functional -placed at an improved angle that’s comfortable even if you wear glasses. Choose from five stylish colors.
“Certainly, we understand that you want the best from your investment in hearing well. You deserve personalized attention and a hearing aid customized to your needs. We’re here to answer your questions and provide the excellent customer service you’ve come to expect. Call us at 903-868-2650. We want you to hear well again! ”
Jill Sheppard, B.S., SLP/Audiology, Licensed Fitter and Dispenser of Hearing Instruments (LFDHI), and co-owner of HearCare & Associates in Sherman and Gainesville
Imagine what your life would sound like if you could hear conversations with ease. If you didn’t have to work so hard to understand the words spoken to you. If you didn’t focus on reading lips to grasp meaning. If soft voices were distinct. If nuances in tone were detectable.
Hearing well gives you the ability to respond appropriately and participate more effectively with others. When you’re fully engaged, you connect more naturally. You grasp the context, as well as the words. You contribute more meaningfully. When you don’t have to struggle to hear, conversations become a joy again.
Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Especially when you consider research indicating that the worse your hearing is, the less you participate in the little things that make life so wonderful. Your brain was designed to hear – so much so that when our hearing deteriorates, our brains go into overdrive, striving to fill in the gaps. Eventually, hearing loss can lead to decreased cognitive skills. Did you know that if hearing problems are ignored or untreated, they can get worse?
There are remarkably sophisticated hearing aids available now that are practically invisible, that produce a pure spectrum of sound, that connect you with streaming devices, that are designed to fit higher on the ear so they’re comfortable even if you wear glasses, that have an extended battery life for extra convenience. And they come in a variety of colors! So, what’s keeping you from getting your hearing evaluated?
At HearCare and Associates in Sherman and Gainesville, we know that admitting you have hearing problems can be a challenge – even if you’re simply acknowledging it to yourself.
“Many people are proactive about having their hearing checked, but for others, it might take having something happening in their life, or with someone they love – or they miss something very important,” said Kenneth Sheppard, Jr., Licensed Fitter and Dispenser of Hearing Instruments (LFDHI), co-owner of HearCare & Associates in Sherman and Gainesville.
“The first step is having your hearing assessed to determine the cause of your difficulty,” said Jill Sheppard, B.S., SLP/Audiology, LFDHI, co-owner of HearCare. “It’s an easy process that’s painless, non-threatening and, according to some of our patients, even fun! You’ll want to know the root cause of your hearing difficulty and treat it in a way that meets your preferences, budget and lifestyle.”
What information do you need?
“We want you to be an educated consumer,” Jill Sheppard said. “We’ll work with you every step of the way, starting with listening to your concerns followed by a hearing test. We’ll explain the results right away. And, if you need hearing aids, we’ll
talk with you about the range of affordable options customized to your hearing needs.”
You’ll have questions. We want to hear them all.
Why wait? Learn how the advanced technology found in instruments like the new Widex SmartRIC™ will help you enjoy an active life again – one where you feel more connected, focusing on the sounds you want to hear. There’s confidence that comes with hearing well, a delightful ease in connecting with friends and family. We want you to hear well again.
Call HearCare & Associates at 800-868-2650 today. We look forward to hearing from you.
CATTLE SALE
EVERY MONDAY AT 11:00AM
GOAT & SHEEP SALE
1ST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH AT 11:00AM
HORSE & TACK SALE
3RD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH AT 1:00 PM STARTING IN APRIL
North Texas woman fulfills lifelong dream of farm life
By Mackenzie Johnson
Many little girls dream of one day owning a pony.
Many little girls also dream of becoming popstars, marrying princes and harboring the ability to fly. Yet those imaginative hopes may just be more attainable than the possibility of owning a pony.
Ponies are expensive and impractical to keep in a residential backyard. Thus oftentimes, much to the little girl’s dismay, the request to own one is quickly dismissed.
However, along with the dream of living in a castle and acquiring magical powers, the dream of owning a pony eventually fades out – just not for all little girls.
Julie Park of Whitesboro is a part of this small minority in which horse ownership never left the corners of her mind.
Despite the fact that Park grew up in the thick of the city, just north of Dallas in Richardson, Texas, this dream is one she held onto through school, a career and everything in between.
“Life was very normal for me as a suburban kid,” Park said. “We did all the sports, all the school activities... And then horses came in for me when I was 10 or so through riding and taking lessons at an awesome barn near Richardson called Merriwood.”
Although Park had always loved horses, she didn’t come
from a family immersed in the equine world. After all, they lived in the city, not the rural land as Texas is often recognized.
Nonetheless, the passion for horses might as well have been in her blood.
“I always had a strong web for horses, and taking lessons just sparked this thing in me,” Park said. “I was obsessed, and I think the only reason I stopped doing it after a couple of years was because I was getting into the age of getting better at volleyball and getting more involved in my school activities – life was kind of going in a lot of different directions.”
It’s typical for life to evolve in a way that pushes one more towards the path of reality than what one dreamed of as a child, but Park knew horses would emerge back into her life – it was just a matter of when.
After graduating high school in 2002, Park attended Colorado State University. After college, she moved back to Dallas for work, getting a job at a production studio that made animated movies.
“That was my whole 20s,” Park said. “Working there and just kind of going back to old friendships and making new friendships. I would actually say my early adult life was probably the longest stint I went without any horse interaction.”
Julie Park and her two daughters (left to right) Savannah and Reese pose with pony Bobby Chicken Head and horse Humpty for a Valentine’s-themed photoshoot.
RURAL LIFESTYLE
Park was surrounded by a striking skyline and urban living, but the chance at a more rural life was one she wanted to always keep within reach.
“Even before I found this obsession with horses as a little girl, I would walk around our backyard in Richardson and would pretend to do barn chores,” Park said. “It has always been a little seed of a dream inside me. For a long time, I didn’t know if that would ever happen because I got into this very busy and fun life in Dallas. I was very much living a city life, but I just kind of got to a point where I thought, ‘Okay, this isn’t going to happen unless I end up marrying someone who wants to do that, too.’”
Not too long after, Julie met her husband Aaron Park, who also shared that same ambition of owning land outside of a big city.
“After getting married, we lived in McKinney because it’s a little bit more affordable than buying a home in Dallas,” Julie said. “We loved it in McKinney, but knew our goal was always to end up with some land. We just weren’t sure exactly where. Then the pieces kind of just started falling into place.”
Her husband’s family was a big piece of the puzzle. Julie knew they wanted to buy land to build on but hadn’t yet viewed Whitesboro as a possibility.
“One Easter in 2019, we were out here with Aaron’s family in Whitesboro, and his granddad had a lot of acres, maybe 200 total between different spaces,” Julie said. “And it was like an epiphany that we had while out there—in the exact spot where our house is now—that was like, ‘Why aren’t we considering this?’ It felt like divine intervention – very faith-led and God-led.”
The couple was able to buy 12 acres of that Whitesboro land and within a year, were building a house on it.
“We just loved what we saw in Whitesboro,” Julie said. “We saw a thriving school district, a thriving athletics program and maybe most importantly for me, we saw the epicenter of North Texas horse country here. We’re just surrounded by it.”
Now that it was more geographically possible, Julie knew she wanted to share that love of horses with her two young daughters, Savannah and Reese. She was put into contact with Claire Marcell, a trainer who operated a barn nearby in Collinsville.
“We just fell in love with Claire and her partner Jim’s barn,” Julie said. “And then shortly after Savannah started riding, Claire asked me, ‘It’s obvious you are interested. Why aren’t you riding?’ Then it was off to the races, and now I’m at the barn twice a week. My skill came back and I learned a lot – a lot that I never knew.”
That revelation opened the door for Julie to own horses at home.
“Moving up here and getting to ride these show horses with Claire and getting back into a lesson program has opened this whole door to a community of women that I just love,” Julie said. “It provided these friendships, this belonging, in a new town. As soon as I got plugged in at the barn, it just provided an immediate kindred spirit type of friends – people that love horses, too, and mentorships where I don’t have to figure all this out on my own.”
Although Julie still fine tunes her own riding at that beloved barn, she and her family now have a pony, a horse and a miniature donkey in their own backyard.
“It’s been everything I wanted and more,” Julie said. “I’m getting to experience this horse world and this farm life with my husband and two little girls. We get to do that together, and it’s just so fun to know that the girls won’t know anything but this. This is their life, and they will hopefully grow up to always cherish being raised on a farm, having animals and loving horses.”
Although it has been many years in the making, keeping the dream of farm ownership close to her heart is one Julie is grateful she never lost sight of. She encourages others to hold their dreams tightly, too.
“It’s never too late to make the jump,” Julie said. “You’re never too old, and it’s never too late to change course, go try to do what you think you’ve always wanted to do and follow your heart towards your passion. It doesn’t always happen overnight, and it took a few years for us to figure out how we could make it work, but now it’s here.”
Although Julie’s passion has materialized into something considered an accomplishment after making that jump from a city zip code to that of a more rural one, the life lessons haven’t stopped there -- especially through the lens of her daughters.
“This life is special to me because they’re learning skills that most other kids don’t get to learn living in the city,” Julie said. “Taking care of our garden, taking care of animals, being responsible and thankful for the land that we have – there are just a lot of those ‘blue-collar skills’ that they’re really only going to get experience of because they live here. It’s neat that me and my girls are getting to learn these things and appreciate nature and these animals at the same time at such different ages.”
There are countless things Julie cherishes about living the life she’s dreamed about since she was a little girl, but perhaps her favorite thing is that owning a pony is not just a distant dream for the two girls of her own – it’s a reality.
And it’s a reality that wouldn’t be here if one little girl living in the big city of Dallas didn’t dream of one day owning a pony herself.
Nocona Meat Company celebrates three years in business
by Jessica Edwards
Nocona, Texas has been known for its boots and ball gloves, but now, thanks to the efforts of a local family, it’s also home to one of the top meat processing plants and meat markets in the area.
Nocona Meat Company will celebrate its third anniversary this summer. Founded by John Caussey, Frank Garrett, Ronnie Vaughan and Eric Kennedy, this family-owned business began in June 2022 when Caussey, a cattleman, grew aggravated during Covid when he couldn’t get his cattle processed and sold. He and son-in-law Garrett decided to start their own business. While the men had experience and knowledge, they needed someone to help run the back (and front) end of the business.
“Ronnie and I worked together on a meat deal in the past,” Caussey said. “He’s been doing this since God made dirt (45 years). He’s been a real asset to getting this business started.”
The goal of Nocona Meat Company was to give people an opportunity to buy meat that comes fresh from a feed lot while providing old-fashioned, good customer service.
“People nowadays want to know they’re getting fresh meat,” Caussey said. “That’s what they’re getting with us.”
Nocona Meat Company began as a full-service meat processing plant. Customers can bring their own animals or can purchase animals from the company. Caussey owns a nearby feed lot where he raises black angus and a breed mixed with angus. The cattle are transported to Nocona Meat Company where, under careful USDA inspection, they are slaughtered on-site and hung for 14 days in a dry-aging process. The beef is then portioned into primal cuts for the customer (or front counter).
Later, the company added a front meat counter to the business. The market was Vaughan’s idea, whose experience as a meat manager at other companies has enabled the retail side of the business to succeed.
“At first, we weren’t too sure about it,” Garrett said. “But the market has really bloomed beyond our expectations. Sometimes it actually outsells our processing.”
Nocona Meat Company’s full-service meat market features a variety of fresh cuts from their aged beef from their own feed lot. These can be purchased in halves or wholes. The counter also carries fresh pork and poultry and provides inhouse made jerky, brats, farm-fresh eggs, local honey, fresh salsa, olive oils, fried pies, pickles, spices and more.
Nocona Meat Company specializes in custom hand cut meat offerings for any occasion.
Meat is always fresh, never frozen, and the company offers competitive pricing. But it’s the quality of their products that really sets Nocona Meat Company apart.
“Nothing compares to our quality,” Caussey said. “If you don’t like it, we’ll give you your money back.”
Nocona Meat Company is trusted and used by an overwhelming number of local groups and organizations. From area charities and organizations to the high school barbecue team, Nocona Meat Company strives to build community and support the local people of Montague County. In 2023, the Chamber of Commerce awarded them Business of the Year.
They attract an array of customers, from ranches reselling meat, to locals popping in for a fresh cut for dinner that night.
“Because we process meat ourselves, if there’s something a customer wants that we don’t have, we’ll get it. We don’t sell anything not choice or prime,” Vaughan said.
The team takes a lot of pride in their quality, their attention to detail and their careful record-keeping. They utilize a checks and balances system that tracks an animal from the time it’s dropped off to its arrival in the cooler.
“We know that every animal that comes in here has gone back to the person who brought it in,” Garret said. “Not every meat processing company can say that.”
But it’s the incredible teamwork that the business partners claim is the true secret to their success. From Vaughan’s expertise in processing to Garrett’s experience and stability as the rock of the business, Nocona Meat Company has a “perfect storm” with the people and experience within the company.
In addition to its business partners, Nocona Meat Company has several employees who are cross-trained on the various duties needed to run a successful meat processing plant and market. The business is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
After nearly three years in business, things continue to go well for the company.
“We’re growing at a rapid rate,” Vaughan said. “Retail is up. Processing is up. Everything is going great. We just really love being part of this community.”
Ranch 82 event venue becomes restaurant
by Jessica Edwards
Last month, Ranch 82, a popular event venue in the Whitesboro area, opened its doors as a dinein restaurant.
Sitting on seven acres of land, the 6,000 square-foot building has seen a few changes over the years. In its previous life, half the building was a steakhouse and the other half was a lawn art business.
In June 2019, Celina resident Kim Kenney took over ownership of Ranch 82. She brought 20 years of experience in the wedding and event industry and knew she could make this a successful venture. After some renovations and upgrades to the building, she held her first big event, a Ducks Unlimited fundraiser, and things were ramping up. But then COVID-19 hit.
“I had dumped a lot of money into the event venue, and I would just go back by the pond and just cry,” Kenney said. “I thought, ‘Oh, no! I had something going in Dallas, now I’m here, I’m scared.’ But we survived.”
Since then, Ranch 82 has hosted a variety of events, ranging from private rentals to public gatherings. But after more than two decades in the event business, Kenney was ready for a change. Knowing that a common desire for area residents is a restaurant that offers dinner options, Kenney decided to transition Ranch 82 into a dine-in restaurant.
She expanded the bar, mounted televisions to the wall and created a space for people to come and have a drink or enjoy a sit-down meal.
Kenney held a soft opening on March 7 and 8, inviting people to attend and try out the proposed menu items and enjoy some live music and an open bar.
“It was a challenge for sure. Friday night was a little more difficult -- we were trying to work out the kinks and the kitchen was pretty backed up,” Kenney said. “Luckily for our soft opening, we
knew pretty much everyone so they were a little bit more gracious. We realized what we were doing wrong and learned what processes we needed to change to implement on Saturday. For the majority of Saturday, the flow was pretty smooth.”
Attendees at the restaurant’s soft opening provided Kenney with helpful feedback that guided some decisions for their grand opening.
The restaurant officially opened for business on April 2 for lunch and dinner. Menu options include hand-crafted burgers, super-sized baked potatoes, salads and daily specials. Hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m.close and, beginning June 1, Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The restaurant will be closed Monday and Tuesday. Diners can also enjoy live music on weekends.
“There’s a lot of people that say there’s nowhere to go dancing, or they have to go to Denison,” Kenney said. “This will be a chance for people to come much closer to home and not have to drive so far at the end of the night. We’re going to have great bands, and we have a great dance floor space.”
Even though Ranch 82 will primarily serve as a restaurant, Kenney will continue to host some of the community’s favorite events. The highly popular Ladies’ Bingo will remain a monthly activity, as will bimonthly market days. Private events like the History Club Spring Social and Fashion Show will also continue.
It’s been a couple of months since the transition and things are going well. Kenney has built a great team who has found their rhythm. They continue to rotate in new food options and seek public feedback to shape the direction of their menu. That plus special events like their spring Crawfish Boil and a variety of live entertainment keeps people coming back for more.
Kenney’s motto at the Ranch 82 restaurant is, “Where old friends gather and new friends are found.” Be sure to stop by for lunch or dinner (or even just to grab a drink after work) and enjoy the reinvention of this popular local venue. Ranch 82 is located at 12265 E Hwy. 82. Follow them on Facebook for daily updates and menu options.
JAG has you covered when it comes to all your future metal needs. We provide complete weld-up and bolt-up engineered metal building packages, metal building components, and structural steel fabrication services for general contractors, architectural and engineer firms, construction companies and DIY homeowners.
Bowie Community Center West Hall
Saturday, July 26, 2025 from 6-8:30 p.m.
Piston Heads Auto Club Poker Run
Chicken Dinner Fiddling Fun Time
Auctions
Homemade Jam
Realtor, horse judge reflects on horse industry’s impact on life, community
by Mackenzie Johnson
At an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) show, only a select few will have a golden trophy or buckle placed in their hands, a rosetta draped proudly around their horse’s neck and a professional awards photo to capture the momentous win.
For that winning competitor, despite being on the arena floor, victory feels comparable to standing on top of the world.
From the stands, a parent or spouse watching their loved one achieve this win might argue they instead have the prime spot.
And the owner of the horse who won, posing beside the winning team in the photo, likely views their vantage point as not too shabby either.
However, for professional breed show judge Lisa Moden, one of the best and most rewarding seats in the whole house is center stage of the arena.
Moden has claimed Whitesboro as her home for the last 27 years or so, but before planting roots in Texas, she grew up in Western Kansas on a farm that raised ranch horses and grew wheat fields.
Horse-crazy from the start, she spent her youth immersed in 4-H and open shows, competing in a variety of all-around events.
After attending college for a year at Lamar Community College—a horse training school in Lamar, Colorado— Moden worked for various trainers and started her own training business in Nebraska before moving to Texas in 1997.
“When I moved to Texas to train horses, I worked for (professional horseman) Pete Kyle, and we did a lot of disciplines,” Moden said. “We did all of the all-around events and the reining, and it always interested me.”
At the time of learning the ins and outs of training western pleasure and all-around horses, Moden also discovered her passion for judging, though the process of becoming one wasn’t instantaneous.
“I had already judged a few open shows and really liked it, so I decided to pursue the judging,” Moden said. “It was a lot of studying and learning all of the events and all the penalties. I worked hard at it, and I applied for my AQHA card first around 2019. At that point, I knew I wanted to do more, so I waited a year, and then I applied for my APHA and my NRHA cards... It was a lot of studying in those two years.”
Currently, Moden holds an AQHA, APHA (American Paint Horse Association) and NSBA (National Snaffle Bit Association) card, but that’s not to say it was particularly easy to acquire them.
When Moden began her judging journey, you couldn’t necessarily pick one discipline to specialize in – you had to know how to judge the whole class roster.
“There are so many events that we have to be qualified for to judge at the breed shows,” Moden said. “Each division has their own scoring system that you have to learn, and each division has a different set of penalties. Being able to differentiate all of those classes and get the penalties right is a lot of studying… We have to know the rule book and pass a closed rule book test that goes over all of the judging criteria.”
Although Moden can now be more selective about what and where she judges, that personal standard of versatility is one she remains committed to – especially when that versatility gives her the opportunity to judge the best stock.
“I judge full-slate shows. I can do everything,” Moden said. “But I’ve gotten to the point where I can be choosy about where I go. There are a lot of times the bigger shows will be five or ten days, but those are always fun to judge because the quality is so good.”
In an industry always changing, an increase in the quality of horses being shown is always something that can be counted on.
“There are excellent horses in every discipline, but it’s being able to separate those horses at the top that are excellent,” Moden said. “A judge has to keep up with the changing trends and be able to recognize the higher quality. I spend a lot of time going to some of the bigger shows, even if I’m not judging, to watch and sit with some of my peers that are judges.”
It’s not just the judges that need to be familiar with the changing trends. Although the rule book is of course crucial to the judge, Moden also believes the competitor should have a firm understanding of it.
“What’s so important is to know the rule book. The rule book is the foundation, and it tells us the fundamentals of judging and showing,” Moden said. “If you just go to a horse show, and you don’t really read the rule book and know what your event is about or how it’s really scored, you’re not doing yourself justice. So, when I was showing, I learned that I had to keep up with the rule changes
each year.”
Alongside her judging career, Moden is also a North Texas real estate agent and credits the horse industry as a major component of the thriving home market in Whitesboro.
“What you find in the equine industry as a whole is that there are so many moving parts. The horse is the starting point of the industry in our area,” Moden said. “Whitesboro just has continuously grown to where now we have the best of the best horse trainers and owners in this area. It keeps our market for ranches and housing blooming –and we’re just talking about horse training. The breeding program is a whole other industry, and it’s huge.”
When looking at the programs of breeding and training in Whitesboro side by side, the two crafts form the backbone of much of the area’s employment and economy.
“With the breeding and training side, you have to filter down what keeps both of those industries going,” Moden said. “You have the breeders, then you have the trainers, the horseshoers, the veterinarians, the feed stores, the tack dealers, the saddle shops, the chap makers – you name it. It’s a tier of everything that makes an industry come together.”
The horse industry does more than just support the housing market and economy in Whitesboro; it also serves as a pillar for the entire community.
“It all started with the love of horses. That’s why I moved here,” Moden said. “And just the community of horse people themselves is large. It’s a big group of horse enthusiasts here, and you have a friend on every corner.”
Through these experiences, Moden has seen firsthand how horses have shaped her life and the lives of those around her. However, the perspective that judging has given her will always be held especially close.
“My job in the arena is to find the best horse in that class, on that day, and be able to place them accordingly. It’s really rewarding to be able to separate the best horses, get the great ones at the top and reward them for their excellence,” Moden said. “But beyond that, once you stand in the middle of that arena, you understand more of what you are seeing all the way around, and you look at things a little bit differently.”
Perhaps that very outlook is the thing that gives Moden the best seat in the house on show day.
That trophy or buckle doesn’t just magically materialize into the hands of the winning competitor at the AQHA show – someone has to be the one to crown that horse and rider as champions.
And although accomplishing that win is an exceptional feeling for the competitor, getting to present that win to a remarkable horse and rider is the moment Lisa Moden most cherishes.
Lisa Moden is a professional breed show judge for AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association), APHA (American Paint Horse Association) and NSBA (National Snaffle Bit Association), as well as a real estate agent specializing in North Texas. Through the balancing of both of these careers, Moden has developed a deep appreciation for the horse industry.
EXPAND YOUR GRILLING
HORIZONS THIS SUMMER
Texoma Farm & Home
The Fourth of July is a day to celebrate the birthday of the United States of America. Americans celebrate the Fourth of July in various ways, many of which involve spending time outdoors with family and friends. Grilling delicious foods often is part of the July 4 game plan.
Burgers, hot dogs and chicken drumsticks will never fall out of favor for Fourth of July fare, but savvy grillmasters know to pepper the offerings with foods that will tempt palates in unique ways. This recipe for “Grilled Eggplant with Feta and Greek Couscous” from “Cooking Light Fresh Food Superfast” (Oxmoor House) by the Cooking Light Editors appeals to vegetarians, vegetable lovers and anyone who wants something a little lighter from the grill.
Grilled Eggplant with Feta and Greek Couscous
Yield: 4 servings
2 small eggplants (about 1 pound each), each cut into 4 lengthwise slices
2. Drizzle eggplant slices with olive oil. Sprinkle evenly with oregano, salt, and pepper. Grill 6 minutes on each side or until tender. Sprinkle eggplant with cheese; grill 2 minutes or until cheese melts.
3. While eggplant grills, prepare Greek Couscous.
4. Place 2 eggplant slices on each of 4 plates. Top each serving with 1 cup couscous. Garnish with oregano sprigs, if desired.
This recipe for “Grilled Eggplant with Feta and Greek Couscous” from “Cooking Light Fresh Food Superfast” (Oxmoor House) by the Cooking Light Editors appeals to vegetarians, vegetable lovers and anyone who wants something a little lighter from the grill.
Greek Couscous
Makes 4 1-cup servings
2 cups hot cooked whole-wheat couscous
1⁄4 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
20 grape tomatoes, quartered
1 15-ounce can no-salt-added cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate 10 minutes.
SPICE UP BRUNCH WITH THIS EASY FIX
Texoma Farm & Home
Youngsters may be eager to help out in the kitchen and whip up something that Mom and Dad are certain to enjoy. But many recipes can be complicated for younger children or others who might not be so adept with meal creation. However, with a few ingredients that families may already have on hand, it’s possible to craft a delicious brunch.
This recipe for “Wee Chicken & Waffles with Jezebel-Maple Syrup” from Denise Gee’s “Southern Appetizers: 60 Delectables for Gracious Get-Togethers” (Chronicle Books) utilizes commercially available miniature waffles and popcorn chicken bites to create a chicken and waffles dish with a kick. Serve alongside mini muffins, deviled eggs, cheese and crackers, and other brunch dishes that are simple for youngsters and their little fingers to prepare.
Wee Chicken & Waffles with Jezebel-Maple Syrup
Serves 10 to 12, Three or Four Waffles Each
Jezebel-Maple Syrup
2 cups maple syrup
1⁄4 cup pineapple preserves
1⁄4 cup apple jelly
11⁄2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
3⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
40 mini waffles from a 10.9-ounce package, lightly toasted
40 pieces cooked fried popcorn chicken Finely chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley or green onion for garnish (optional) Hot sauce for serving
To make the syrup: In a large microwave-safe glass measuring cup with pour spout (one holding at least 3 cups) or a bowl, add the maple syrup, pineapple preserves, apple jelly, horseradish, pepper, and salt; whisk to combine.
Microwave the mixture on high for 35 seconds. (You also can heat it in a small saucepan on low until the mixture is warm.) Stir and taste, adjusting the flavor if desired. Set the syrup aside.
Place the toasted waffles on a large serving platter. Top each waffle with a piece of chicken. Drizzle the chicken-waffle bites with about 1 teaspoon of the syrup. Garnish with the parsley, if desired, and serve with the remaining syrup and hot sauce.
Is your phone listening?
By Andrew Utterback
It seems like everyone has had the same “my phone is spying on me” experience.
You talk about a trip to the beach or needing to buy a new vacuum cleaner over dinner and then sure enough, ads for Florida resorts and Dyson vacuums appear later that night.
So, is your phone actually listening?
No, at least not in the way you think.
If you have an iPhone or Android device with “Hey Siri” or “Ok Google” features enabled, the voice assistants will activate when you say the respective trigger phrase. What this means is your phone is constantly in a low power state waiting to hear that specific phrase.
Think of this feature like how you sleep. When you’re taking a snooze, you’re likely not hearing every noise or conversation that goes on in the room. But, if your alarm goes off or a person says your name, you’ll likely wake up.
Another good analogy is a dog. They hear your conversations about that trip or vacuum purchase as a soup of mumbly nonsense until you say “walk,” “treat” or their name. Then they’re ready to go.
In an iPhone, there is a small “always on processor” that is listening for the Siri trigger phrase. Once the phrase is said, a more powerful part of the processor fires up and actually processes your request.
If your phone was fully recording your conversations and uploading them to target ads, your battery life and data usage would clearly reflect that. So while it is technically “always listening,” it is only “listening” for those very specific trigger sounds.
So if Siri or Google Assistant isn’t always listening to conversations, how do they recommend ads for what you were just talking about?
The answer is Google.
Google is the most popular search engine, and second place isn’t even close. According to Backlinko, in Jan. of 2024, Google had a search engine market share of 81.95%. Bing came in at just 10.5%.
This means that Google is by far one of the very best places to put your ads since they span across the internet and made almost $240 billion in 2023 from ads alone.
To make these ads even more valuable, Google tailors them directly to you. This is the part that is probably just as invasive as your phone actually listening to you.
According to Google’s Safety Center website, “your activity on Google—like sites you visit, apps you use, topics you’ve searched and associated information like location— is used to
deliver better, more helpful experiences across products, including ads.”
Every time you press the enter key and search for something on Google, that information is stored and then used to target ads across not just Google search pages, but websites across the internet including social media sites.
Facebook uses this same kind of website data to track you, even across non-Facebook sites.
So maybe you didn’t actually search for hotels in Florida, but you instead checked the weather in Miami after searching for the best Florida resorts earlier in the day.
Later that evening when you found the ads waiting for you, they most likely came right from those earlier searches. Not the family dinner table.
The bottom line is your phone (if the feature is enabled) is technically “listening” in a low power state for the assistant trigger words, and that’s it. The heavy tracking and ad targeting all comes later once you open your browser and start searching.
This Month’s Featured Pet:
Oscar
and Coco
At left,Oscar and Coco are two French Bulldogs who oversee operations at Goosehead Insurance in downtown Whitesboro. Owned by Jennifer LeVoir and husband Mike, this dynamic doggie duo spends their days welcoming clients to the office, ensuring LeVoir stays on task and sneaking in the occasional power nap.
Courtesy photo
Chiropractor helps horses, riders thrive in the arena
by Mackenzie Johnson
It’s not often that a doctor’s patients have anywhere from two to four legs, zero to five fingers, stand between five feet and 16 hands tall or possess 33 to 54 vertebrae.
However, Dr. Natalie Hair’s roster of patients spans the full range of these anatomical variations.
As a Whitesboro-based chiropractor for both horses and humans, it’s clear why Hair treats patients with such varying limbs, digits, heights and vertebrae.
Raised as a cowgirl from the North, Hair has been involved with horses from the start, but the path of becoming a chiropractor—for both humans and horses—is something that unfolded later on.
“I began riding at a very young age,” Hair said. “My family had hitch horses, and we did cart classes with our haflinger ponies. When I was nine years old, my mom started taking me to this boot and saddle club where they ran barrels. That’s what really started the Western discipline interest, and it just grew from there.”
After a childhood spent running around Michigan, competing in barrels, poles, goat tying and roping at jackpot, 4-H and playday shows, Hair decided to attend Southern Arkansas University, earning a spot on their rodeo team.
In a sense, that spot on the rodeo team is also what encouraged Hair to pursue a career in chiropractic medicine.
“What really got me into the chiropractic side of things was I always had headaches growing up all through high school and in college,” Hair said. “Being on the college rodeo team, we traveled a lot… I would sleep a lot of times with my head up against the window of the truck on drives, and my neck and head would hurt horribly. I decided to see a chiropractor, and it completely changed my life and made my pain disappear. And I was like, ‘I need to go to chiropractic school.’”
Hair shifted her focus from pursuing an agricultural degree to chiropractic and went straight to Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas after earning her bachelor’s.
Although Hair planned to become a chiropractor for both horses and humans, she initially focused on human anatomy – that is until the opportunity to expand into equine care fell into her lap.
“At Parker Chiropractic School, one of the faculty members, Dr. Gene Giggleman, actually had an animal chiropractic clinic on campus, and he started the animal chiropractic program at Parker,” Hair said. “It was like my second year of school when it was offered right at my back door. I knew I absolutely had to go through this.”
After earning her doctorate from Parker and an Animal Chiropractic Certification in 2004, Hair moved back home to practice in Ohio.
For 10 years, she worked as an associate under several doctors before joining a medical complex recognized as the largest primary care office in Northeast Ohio.
Although she was back home in familiar territory, Hair’s heart tugged her back to the Southwest. “I always knew I wanted to come back to Texas,” Hair said. “All my family was in Ohio. I had this
As an avid horse owner and competitor, Hair’s professionalism stems not only from her medical certifications but also from her daily involvement in the horse industry.
fantastic job, I had a beautiful house. But there just wasn’t an option of it not working out – I was moving to Texas one way or another. There was no doubt, no matter what happened.”
In the fall of 2014, Hair moved back to the Lone Star State. She ran a chiropractic office in Pottsboro for roughly four years while providing mobile equine chiropractic care. As her equine clients became her primary focus, she closed the Pottsboro office and completely dedicated her time to her four-legged clients.
“As a horse person, people take better care of their horses,” Hair said. “Horses are the priority. They usually have a better diet, they exercise more and they have less wear and tear on them versus the people taking care of them. I’d see horses more frequently than I’d see their owners.”
Focusing solely on the equine chiropractic industry kept Hair busy, but after three years, Dr. Kelsey Howard (a Texas chiropractor Hair had worked closely with doing coverage work) told Hair she was moving to Arkansas and asked her to take over the practice.
Although Hair had plenty of equine business, she simply couldn’t refuse. She took over the practice underneath her own brand, and Gold Buckle Chiropractic was born.
Now, Hair’s practice is 50% horses, 50% people.
“Even if you don’t compete, just taking care of horses and farm work is really hard on your body,” Hair said. “I have a lot of trainers – cow horse people that go down the fence, colt starters that are getting bucked off. Horse people are hard on their bodies, and chiropractic is a great fit for that. And that’s why I really think Whitesboro is just such a good location for me because those are the people that I network with on a daily basis.”
Fostering connections with these Whitesboro trainers and competitors—along with their horses—is what initially brought Hair to Texas and back into the realm of human chiropractic care. As such, she strives to keep their specific needs at the forefront of her schedule.
“You have to focus on the people and the animals that you really want to serve, and I want to serve the North Texas area,” Hair said. “I shrink my travel radius in order to serve the people I see often – whether I rope with them, see them at local barrel races or at the grocery store.”
However tightly knit it may seem from the outside, the horse community in the Whitesboro area is actually vast. Making a name for yourself in the industry as a go-to professional among other experts is no easy task.
“I think the biggest challenge of any entrepreneur is just setting yourself apart from everybody else,” Hair said. “By nature, I’m not super outgoing. But you have to get out of your comfort zone and network and meet people, and that’s why I think I’ve done so well in Whitesboro with just the horse community – I’m already so actively involved in that.”
With such bustling business, Hair has outgrown her previously rented space for her human clients and is moving locations to an office off Highway 377 in Whitesboro in May.
With this new space will also come new amenities.
“I don’t just do chiropractic,” Hair said. “I do dry needling, which is similar to acupuncture, but it’s more dealing with trigger points, muscle spasms and tendonitis. And I have a new spinal decompression table coming and will have a massage therapist on staff, too. So with more room, I’m going to be able to offer that as well.”
Hair’s equine services will remain mobile for the time being, as she spends Tuesdays and Thursdays traveling to equine clients and Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays seeing in-office clients.
No matter the type of patient, chiropractic care is something Hair will always be an advocate for.
“It’s much easier to prevent a problem than to play catch up,” Hair said. “Our health is something that is very hard to get back, so I encourage people to take care of a problem quickly. Chiropractic care is not only just about pain relief, but it’s about helping keep your body functioning the best that it possibly can. When a rider is more balanced, it’s going to be easier on their horse’s body.”
Getting to see her daily impact on how she is helping people
Natalie Hair is a North Texas chiropractor who specializes in both equine and human care. With a true passion for the chiropractic industry, Hair is happiest when working on a client – two-legged or four-legged.
live a more functional life, which in return helps their horses live a more functional life, is one of the most rewarding aspects of Hair’s career – especially when her clients experience the success to show for it.
“I’m looking at highly trained, take you to the next level type of horses that are at the top of their game. I do everything from 4-H horses, high-end hunter jumpers, to multiple world champions in the Western pleasure world,” Hair said. “When I say multiple world champions, I’m talking about horses that have won 23 to 40 world championships. My clients are all over The Paint Horse Journal and the Quarter Horse Journal.”
Getting to work on the accomplished riders of these horses is just as rewarding.
“I work on million-dollar riders all the time,” Hair said. “It’s really cool because as a little girl growing up in Ohio and Michigan, I’m now living her dream, getting to work on these top-notch clients and top-notch trainers.”
For Natalie Hair, living the dream of adjusting professional horses and riders is one she couldn’t imagine any differently – even though her patients are exactly that.
Although those clients may range in anatomical structure, their chiropractor’s drive and passion for their welfare is one that remains constant.
HOME Landscaping lessons: Get to the root of a dry lawn
Texoma Farm & Home
Weather can be unpredictable, even during the warmest months of the year. Summer days may feature strong thunderstorms and downpours, followed by stretches of extremely hot and dry conditions. Weather extremes can take a toll on lawns, especially when drought is part of the equation. The results can be anything from dry patches to a scorched landscape, leaving homeowners wondering what they can do to repair the damage.
According to The Spruce, dry grass can happen in as little as a week without adequate care and water. Sometimes dry grass can be the result of disease, pets, or pests. A healthy lawn will be lush and green; a dry lawn quite the opposite. It’s crunchy, uncomfortable and muted in color. Here’s how to address a dry lawn to restore it to its natural beauty.
Pet urine
Animal urine often is the culprit behind dry patches in a lawn. Lawns need nitrogen to grow, which is why it is included in many fertilizers. But the nitrogen in dog urine is concentrated and directed in one area, so much so that it chemically burns the lawn. This concentrated nitrogen causes the grass to dry out, turn yellow and eventually go brown and die.
Rinsing areas where dogs urinate on the lawn or creat-
Here’s how to address a dry lawn to restore it to its natural beauty.
ing a separate potty area in the yard can help alleviate brown spots.
Lawn height
Sometimes a lawn mower might be to blame for a brown lawn. According to Scotts®, the higher a person mows, the deeper the lawn’s roots will grow. That can help the lawn thrive under restricted water conditions and insulate the lawn from some of the effects of hot, dry weather. Never remove more than one-third of the total height in a single mowing, as that can stress the lawn.
Diseases
Leaf blight, brown patches and powdery mildew are just some of the diseases that can affect a lawn. Fungal bacteria can spread on a lawn and
contribute to these conditions, which makes it important to aerate and dethatch the lawn in cooler seasons to help prevent disease.
Improper pH
A lawn requires a certain pH to grow well. According to Weed Man Lawn Care Services, the ideal pH range for lawn soil is between 6.0 and 7.0. Anything outside of this range may result in poor, brown grass. A soil pH test will indicate if the soil is acidic, alkaline or optimal. Amend an acidic soil with lime and an alkaline soil with sulphur in small amounts until a balance is reached.
Pest infestation
People are not the only creatures that like a lawn. Many pests feed on blades of
grass or the roots. The result can be patchy, dry grass. Figuring out what is causing any damage is essential. Homeowners can then take steps to remove the pests and return the lawn to its former glory.
Dehydration
Deep watering can help restore a lawn that has widespread wilting and browning. Popular Mechanics advises homeowners begin watering more in spring. Water infrequently but for longer periods of time to encourage roots to deepen. The ideal time to water is between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. to limit evaporation. Trial and error may be necessary to figure out why a lawn is brown and what’s needed to revive it.
