ITHE WAY I SEE IT ...
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Robin Rogers, Ed.D.
t’s my birthday month, which has me in all of my feelings. “Double nickels” is knocking on my door, and, hormones be damned, I’ve got to open up. I’ve never really stressed about aging. “Life is a highway; I wanna drive it all night long.” And most nights, I do stay awake all night long, as sleep deprivation occurs more in your 50s than when you have a newborn (or so say I). These days, I blame my sleepless nights on the changes in my body that are beyond my control. And, in lieu of slumber, I’ve become a mad Ambien online shopper (again).
I’ve obviously got some addiction tendencies. There’s plenty of alcoholism in my family (no, Mom, I am definitely not referring to your side), along with gambling, and who knows what else. Thankfully, I didn’t get any of the dangerous addictive vices, but let’s just say that if discount shopping could kill you, I wouldn’t have made it this far in life.
I may have shed a tear when the local Big Lots closed down. It wasn’t like I was buying all of my groceries out of the closeout store, but my laundry detergent? Oh yeah. Us kids born in 1970 knew that if you found a penny, you had better pick it up; otherwise, you’d have bad luck. A penny saved is a penny earned, and if I could save 300 pennies a pop on a jug of laundry detergent, and I had a 20% off coupon? I might as well buy as many jugs as they had in stock because I was practically making money! (No joke: earlier this year, I had laundry detergent in my storage building, and in all of the cabinets above my washing machine, and even a few stashed in the bathroom cabinets. It’s not like that stuff goes bad!)
I would much rather spend a day at a TJ Maxx or a Dirt Cheap or a Big Lots (rest its soul) over a day of designer shopping at Northpark in Dallas. Let me stock up on toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning supplies at bargain-basement prices, and I’ll be thrilled. Occasionally, I’ll run into Ollie’s, another closeout store in Oaklawn Village, but it’s a little dingy for my preferences. I don’t do the bin stores, either. Sifting through returns in an old Kmart that stinks like cigarettes and sweat totally grosses me out. But, a good estate sale? I’m on it. Those people know to light candles, open windows, and stage fans.
PUBLISHER
Dr. Robin Rogers
EDITOR
Ellen Orr
GRAPHIC DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY
Shane Darby
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Victoria Herman
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Phoebe Warren
Back in the ‘90s, when eBay was new on the scene and I had just become an Ambien user for sleep, packages would unexpectedly arrive at my door several times a week—little gifts I’d purchased under the influence of Ambien that my daytime self had zero recollection of. I still have the furry knee-high boots, designed for Colorado, Montana, or Wyoming winters, that came to the house one humid summer day. I hid them in the closet to ensure my family members didn’t see them; trying to explain their purchase in 105-degree heat would never fly for my significant other, so after that, I had packages delivered to my office. One Christmas, my employees gifted me a single share of eBay stock. Sentimental old me still has that stock certificate in my safe. Now, when my kids find it, they will know where it came from.
Though eBay has fallen out of my regular rotation, the all-night internet buying highway still beckons. These days, my people tease me about my obsession with Good Morning America and their “Deals and Steals.” As I’m writing this, I’m looking at a pile of goodies that GMA’s Tory Johnson curated just for me: nine pairs of no-show socks, four pairs of compression socks, a recirculating watering bowl for the cat, magnesium creams, tallow (because, sure, everyone is using unscented beef tallow as a lotion now), candles, eyeliner, cup towels, bras, peepers, and sunglasses that have never been opened—but I saved so much money on them!
After I peruse all of the deals and especially the steals, I start watching social media reels like a darn teenager. But the algorithms know I’m not a broke middle schooler but instead a middle-aged sucker with a couple of credit cards and chronic insomnia. I wonder if there’s a way to get the credit card companies to deny any transactions between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.? Or, maybe I should employ my daughter Emily to restrict my device access at night (oh, how the tables have turned).
Then I would never be able to write these enlightening editorials, or watch ridiculous reels, or buy nonsense stuff from people getting rich selling nonsense. They say that 55 is the new 45, thanks to better knowledge, skincare, and Botox. It seems to me that 55 may be the new 15. I need a bedtime, an allowance, and parental controls.
Even if I stumble upon discounted hiking boots or a like-new climbing pack that’s practically free, trust me when I say that even impossible-to-resist shopping scores will not convince me to try mountain climbing. Recently, I took a “little hike” with other members of our team to photograph Holly Gerrald, an actual mountain climber who is seriously passionate about summiting the world’s tallest mountains—and raising money for the smallest members of our community, babies in the NICU. Her story may inspire you to take up mountaineering, but as I am still recovering from our “little hike,” I’m less inclined to start trekking at 55. Her story does inspire me to do more for the organizations in our community that take care of children, disabled people, and the elderly. Maybe I can harness my budget shopping skills for the benefit of others.
All of our stories this month showcase people giving back in extraordinary ways. I know you will find them as uplifting as we do. As always, thanks for reading FSLM
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
JayDeeMullens Photography
Kyla Ryann Photography
Molly Kendrick Photography
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Emily Gammon
Jennifer Jordan
Baylor McLelland
Ellen Orr
Mary Lynn Patterson
Robin Proctor
Dr. Robin Rogers
Brandon Shoemaker
Phoebe Warren
Four States Living Magazine is published the first business day of every month. © Copyright 2025 by Four States Living Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Four States Living Magazine is distributed free of charge. Direct mail subscriptions are $40.00 per year. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material contributed.
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ON THE COVER JUNE 2025
Holly Gerrald is on a mission to summit each continent’s highest mountain—while raising money for infants at home.
Read about Holly on page 12
Carrying on his grandparents’ legacy, Rev. Jaimie Alexander teaches community members to make perfect pie crust.
Read about Jaimie on page 38
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
THE TWISTED AND UNCORKED WINE FESTIVAL VIP DINNER WAS HELD AT CROSSTIES EVENT VENUE ON FRIDAY, MAY 2ND.
Sandi Martin and Haley Roeser
Jeff Brown with Mary and Denis Washington
Jerry and Yulin Brewer
Gayle Wright and Terrie Arnold
Sharon and Roderic Ross
Connie Loomis, Christie Micks, Shedera Combs, and Samantha Frederick
Sharon Ross, Kelsey Waggoner, Deidra Reeves, and Tallon Reeves
Randy Roeser, Stephen Robbins, and Russ Looney
Staci Dodson, Angela Adams, and Sierra Patel
Will and Anna Humphrey
Madeline Robbins, Malorie Looney, and Collins Cockerell
Miranda and Jose Arredondo
Mike and Bobbie Guillot with Danette Murray
Gary Gathright and Jaime Knighton
Scott and Melissa Harris
PASSIONS GREAT AND SMALL
Holly Gerrald climbs the world’s tallest mountains and raises money for NICU patients
by BRANDON SHOEMAKER
Holland “Holly” Gerrald was two-thirds up Argentina’s Aconcagua—the highest mountain in the Americas—when her fingers went numb. The wind blasted her face with frozen air as she moved higher into thinner oxygen and deeper into self-doubt. Around her, climbers pressed on through the ice-crusted void, heads down, one step at a time. She had trained for this; she had visualized it. But the mountain wasn’t interested in her plans, and neither was her body.
“I was freezing,” she recalled. “I thought, ‘Why am I here?’”
Just 500 meters from the summit, Holly turned back—not in a moment of fear but in a moment of wisdom. “I had to make the smart decision to get back down safely, for my kids,” she said.
But failure didn’t define her climb. In fact, that decision became one of the most powerful steps in her journey—a journey that has taken her from humble tents in the Caribbean to the slopes of some of the tallest mountains in the world, all in service of something greater than herself.
This is Holly’s favorite picture from the Aconcagua trip. In the distance are mules and muleteers. The hike to base camp stretches through the Andes and takes 8–10 hours.
Holly likes to go to White Cliffs, just northeast of Ashdown, Arkansas, for practice and conditioning between trips.
A Different Kind of Ascent
The journey to high altitudes for Holly began in unlikely terrain: under a tent, in the Caribbean Netherlands. “I lived there for a while in 2007, on the side of an extinct volcano, called Mount Mazinga, and I climbed that,” she said. She was in her mid 20s.
Years later, after building a life in Texarkana as the owner of De Queen dance studio Company Dance, Holly still itched for the thrill of the summit. She spent much of her free time climbing in the Ouachita Mountains and completing other local summits, but those didn’t satisfy her yearning for the rush of a big climb. “I wasn’t bored, but I needed more,” she said. “That wasn’t enough for me.”
In March 2023, she decided, rather suddenly, that the time was now or never.
“One day, I was like, ‘This weekend I’m going to Guadalupe Peak,’” she recalled. After spending the night in a yurt in the desert, she was on the mountain by 6 a.m. and back down by early afternoon.
“It’s about 8,500 feet tall, and she’s brutal. I call her the queen of switchbacks,” Holly said, describing Texas’ tallest mountain. “People die on Guadalupe, either from dehydration or the wind knocking them off. But that was my first win . . . That felt good.”
A few months after conquering Guadalupe Peak, Holly set her sights on Peru’s Salkantay Trek, which culminates in a particularly rewarding vista at the end: Machu Picchu. She completed that hike in June 2023. One year later, Holly set out to scale the first of her Seven Summits—the name given to the group of the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.
Far left: Guadalupe Peak, the tallest point in Texas, is located in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. It is 8,751 feet, and Holly summited it on March 11th, 2023.
Holly trekked the Salkantay Trek for approximately 46 miles through the Andes Mountains to Machu Picchu in Peru. submitted photos
In June 2024, Holly and her sister set off for Africa’s Kilimanjaro. They were in a group which, by happenstance, turned out to be a party entirely of women climbers. “I love getting to hang out with other strong women!” she wrote on her blog, where she documented her journey. Their eightday trek tested Holly’s fortitude by throwing illness in her way, along with the anticipated challenges of high-altitude climbing. “Once you get that high, even at 5,000 meters, it’s hard just to walk,” she explained. “Just lifting your leg, it’s kind of like walking through a milkshake.”Add to that a bout with altitude sickness, and Holly discovered just how strong she was over the course of that trip.
At the conclusion of her climb, along with the memories and photos of some of the most beautiful views she had ever seen, Holly gained something else that meant a great deal to her: a certificate. “It’s on paper. I did it, you know?” she said. “It took me three days to get home from Africa, and I carried my certificate in my hand the whole way so it would not bend.”
Finding Her Purpose
Big mountains require big motivation. For Holly, the drive to summit isn’t just about glory—it’s also about giving. When preparing for the second of her Seven Summits—South America’s Aconcagua— she decided to tie her ascent to her longtime charity efforts supporting the CHRISTUS St. Michael neonatal intensive care unit.
Holland said that, through Company Dance, she has raised around $20,000 for the NICU.
“I love babies, so I landed on the NICU [as a place to donate],” she said. “They’re so helpless and innocent and pure, and when you’re in the NICU, you need more than your parents, and so I wanted to be a part of that.”
Holly summited Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, June 26th, 2024, at 19,341 feet. Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a Natural Wonder of Africa.
Her most recent donation contributed to the purchase of a sophisticated webcam system that allows families to see their babies in the NICU at any time from home—a substantial benefit when inperson visitations are heavily limited for the health of the baby. Before leaving for Argentina, Holly set up a donations page, where people could sponsor her climb. All proceeds went to the NICU.
Altitude and Attitude
Mountaineering is a sport that punishes weakness—mental and physical. It requires gear, grit, and a deep respect for risk. Holly has had to learn it all on her own in the process of becoming the climber she is today. At the heights that Holly climbs, most living things cannot survive. “No trees. No life,” she said. “It’s just you and the mountain.”
Her drive to climb is similar to that of others she has encountered on her adventures. “[Other climbers and I] would sit at breakfast all together and talk about why we’re here,” Holly said. “The theme for everybody was: how far can I push myself? How high can I go? How much pain can I put myself through? What can I achieve mentally?”
That self-daring mindset kept Holly going on Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America, in the Andes of Argentina, towering over the continent at nearly 23,000 feet. The gruelling cold winds bit through even her warmest gear, with temperatures averaging between 0 and 4 degrees Fahrenheit above the 5,000-meter mark. “I cannot express to you the pain I put myself through,” Holly said, recalling the frigid mountainside.
Holly arrived at Camp One, one of the three high camps on Aconcogua, on January 7th. This camp is 16,240 feet. Holly with her team at Base Camp, Plaza de Mulas, about to head up to the high camps for the summit.
submitted photos
Nevertheless, the payoff was worth it. “The view up there is really nice,” she said. “Being above the clouds is pretty phenomenal.”
The Summit Isn’t Everything
Turning back on Aconcagua taught Holly something most climbers take years to accept: the climb isn’t always about the summit; rather, it’s about the accomplishment of going as high as you can, regardless of whether or not a peak happens to be there.
“I missed the summit by 500 meters,” she said. “But I’ll be back.” That climb still took her higher than she had ever gone before, and making the wise decision of turning around only gave her a challenge to work toward for future climbs. “You gotta keep getting bigger. Go forward. Don’t go back.”
For her next climb, Holly has her newfound friends in the mountain-climbing community for inspiration and encouragement. “I have one that wants me to go to Nepal in November to climb Mount Mera, and there’s [a mountain] in France she wants me to go to in June,” she said. But Holly is ever-cognizant of her limitations and sets her sights on realistic goals. “France is a little early—a little bit more technical climbing,” she said. “So I think we’ll wait ‘til Nepal.”
In the meantime, Holly plans to focus on ways to grow her NICU contributions through her future climbs by building her online presence. She described herself as “a little bit social-media shy,” but she is determined to learn how to expand her digital footprint so that she can pursue her two passions with vigor. Others can follow and support Holly via her website, down2roam.com.
submitted photo
Holly is seen here standing at Independencia, 21,400 feet high, on Aconcagua on summit day on January 11th.
by SHANE
photo
DARBY
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
by JENNIFER JORDAN
When it comes to sports, Lucas Wacha has earned his stripes. Raised in Texarkana in a sports-loving family, he played baseball, basketball, and football in youth programs offered by American Legion, Boys and Girls Club, Dixie Baseball, and PGYA. Lucas honed his athletic skills playing football and baseball at Pleasant Grove High School. As a member of PG’s state-winning baseball teams, he was awarded district and all-state Most Valuable Player twice. Lucas was also recognized as defensive Most Valuable Player for Hawk football. He took his talent to college, playing football for the University of Wyoming, earning spots in the top 10 in Wyoming tackles history, as well as the Wyoming alldecade team for 2010–2020. Lucas also played professionally in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, in the Canadian Football League for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and in the XFL for the Tampa Bay Vipers.
We want to reach as many adults and kids and help them reach their full potential. We are here to help you maximize yourself in the best way possible. “ ”
Former professional athlete Lucas Wacha coaches local athletes
Lucas was a star linebacker for the University of Wyoming football team.
Lucas’ training outside of Texarkana led him to realize that our community was missing an incredible opportunity: a dedicated sports training facility. “I would go to train in different places, such as Las Vegas, Nevada, in my offseason of professional football,” he commented. “I would see all these training facilities that the kids and adults had the opportunity to go to. I never had something like this here in Texarkana when I was growing up.” Lucas wanted to give back to the community that raised him. He wanted to provide a professional sports training program in Texarkana. In November 2021, that dream became a reality with the opening of Wacha Sports Resolution.
Wacha Sports Resolution is located downtown at the intersection of Texas Boulevard and 5th Street. Although Lucas did not specifically target downtown as the location, it has become an ideal spot. “Downtown has worked well,” he said. “We have had kids come from all different schools. It’s like the center point for all the surrounding areas.”
Lucas and his co-trainer, Kodi Morriss, train adults as well as children in kindergarten through 12th grade. “I train adults in the morning through lunch and then kids in the afternoon. I train HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts that combine strength, cardio, and muscular endurance,” Lucas explained. “With the kids, I train sportsspecific movements. We work on strength, mobility, agility, and speed.” Kodi, a former U.S. Marine, trains adults all day. “She has a variety of different training methods,” Lucas said. “Kodi works with strength, endurance,
Former U.S. Marine Kodi Morriss is Lucas’ cotrainer. She works exclusively with adult clients.
photo by SHANE DARBY
submitted photo
cardio, and rapid-style circuit training. We train clients for around one hour, Monday through Friday.”
To support the Boys and Girls Club, Lucas, alongside his siblings and parents, hosted their first community sports camp at Wacha Sports Resolution in January 2024. “My brother and sister [Michael Wacha and Brette Wacha] and I all grew up playing sports at the Boys and Girls Club. When the opportunity presented itself to hold a fundraiser, it was a no-brainer for us,” he said. “None of it would be possible without our parents [Tom and Karen Wacha] and how much hard work they put into making sure the camp was run to the best it could be.” About 250 kids attended the camp, learning a variety of skills, and benefiting from training provided by the Wachas as well as several professional and Division I athletes who volunteered their time. The Wachas plan to make it an annual camp. “Giving back to the community where we grew up means a lot to us,” Lucas said. “It gives us hope that we can reach kids that are in need. We hopefully will continue to grow and reach many foundations that are in need in the future. The third annual camp will be held in January of 2026. The camp will consist of picking two different sports for boys and girls: football, baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, and volleyball. All boys and girls are welcome.”
It is obvious that Lucas cares about youth sports in Texarkana, given his dedication to growing Wacha Sports Resolution. “Hopefully the gym will continue to work with great athletes and will continue to raise the competition of sports in Texarkana. Right now, 32 college
Lucas with his parents, Tom and Karen Wacha, at Kauffman Stadium, where his brother, Michael, is a starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.
submitted photo
athletes and four professional athletes have chosen to come work out at Wacha Resolution,” Lucas said. Youth athletes also train regularly and can participate in seven week-long summer camps.
“Kodi and I will continue to build the best place for adults and athletes to train. We want to reach as many adults and kids and help them reach their full potential. Everyone’s ceiling of fitness, athleticism, and heart are different. We are here to help you maximize yourself in the best way possible.” In the same vein, Lucas is doing just that by giving a professional’s time and talent back to his community.
With the kids, Lucas trains on strength, mobility, agility, and speed.
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
THE 10TH ANNUAL TWICE AS NICE TEXARKANA WINE FESTIVAL BENEFITING THE ALZHEIMER’S ALLIANCE TRI-STATE AREA WAS HELD AT SPRING LAKE PARK ON SATURDAY, MAY 3RD.
BACK: Sheila Collom, Lori Springer, and Katie and Aaron Hixson FRONT: Lori Minter and Monica Minter
Kyl’Lee Cowart, Heather Buster, Davis McDaniel, Chint Murdock, and Randy Roeser
Polly Cook
Sharda James
Kamesha Page and Chesney Baker
Dawn Driskell and Peggy Rosiek
Wes Spicher and Johnny Denali
Jack Lundry and Owen Jones
Diane Cooper, Tiffany Savage, and Paige Parker
Abby Bishop and Janie Bishop
Fred Barlow, Maranda Sprayberry, and Royce James
Robin and Chuck Jordan
Charles Pankey and Tanya Rogers
Joe Yates and Fernanda Hernandez
Madeline Robbins and Malorie Looney
Nykeistra Butler and Sharneshia McGhee
Amy and Tommy McAnally
Lisa Green, Kandis Wise, Kristi Green, and Pam Eaves
Marjorie Moczygemba and Hillary Cloud Garry and Susan Coyle
Alex Cope and Daisy Aguilar
Tabitha and Kris Smith
Joe McIntosh, Jamela Francisco, Derek Sartin, and Whitney Hale
Malachi Smith, Cody Whisenhunt, and Zoe Terral
Shannon Whittington and Samantha Whittington
photo by SHANE DARBY
FATE AND FACEBOOK
by MARY LYNN PATTERSON
When Amy married James “Hooch” McDonald, she never imagined the storm they’d face trying to grow their family—nor how sharing their story would lead them to their greatest blessing.
“We tried multiple months of [fertility medication], plus bloodwork,” Amy said. “We still weren’t getting pregnant.” Further testing revealed IVF was their best option, so Amy began treatment with a reproductive endocrinologist. After weeks of medicine and monitoring, in December 2018, her doctor was able to retrieve 13 mature eggs; eight were fertilized, and three developed into highquality embryos. The couple’s first fresh embryo transfer was unsuccessful. A frozen transfer in March 2019 also ended in heartbreak. Only one embryo remained.
“Our IVF journey was extremely tough—mentally, physically, and spiritually. I started to sink into depression and kept thinking, ‘Why is this happening to me?’” Amy said. The hormones left her mind and body exhausted, but through the struggle, she found strength and began sharing her story to support other women.
“I read somewhere, ‘Strong women aren’t simply born. They are made by the storms they walk through,’” she said. “I feel like my infertility journey made me an even stronger woman and led me to using my voice to help be there for other women who are experiencing their own infertility struggles.”
Amy and Hooch tried to conceive through 17 more medicated cycles, all unsuccessful. Amy was exhausted. “I knew I wasn’t ready to try to transfer the third embryo and wanted to stop all medications,” she said. They needed a break.
In 2022, the couple turned to adoption, initially exploring a national agency—until the $85,000 cost raised concerns. They shared their hopes on social media, launching fundraisers and receiving donations from family and friends.
“
” If we hadn’t shared our story, I don’t think it would have led us to Jameson. And, hopefully we helped others on their own journey.
After two failed private adoptions, Amy received a Facebook message from someone they had known for years. She was pregnant and asked if they were still looking to adopt. “We immediately said yes but were hesitant,” Amy shared. “Yet, knowing the birth mother made it feel like this was meant to be.”
In June 2024, surrounded by family, Amy and Hooch both were in the delivery room to hear the nurse say, “It’s a boy.” Amy turned to Hooch and saw tears in his eyes.
Sharing their infertility struggles online led Amy and Hooch McDonald to the adoption of their son
photo by KYLA RYANN PHOTOGRAPHY submitted photo
Jameson McDonald was born at 11:27 p.m. on June 14th, 2024. “Hooch got to cut the umbilical cord, which was a monumental moment for us, and a memory that will stay with me forever,” Amy said.
Joy quickly turned to fear, however, when they realized that Jameson wasn’t breathing. He had shoulder dystocia and had swallowed lots of amniotic fluid. NICU rushed in. “Eventually we heard a cry—it was the most glorious sound,” Amy said. “Our eight-year journey to become parents was worth every tear, every hormone shot, every doctor visit. Jameson is our answered prayer.”
Less than a month later, Amy went for an ultrasound on an ovarian cyst. Hooch and baby Jameson waited outside. The cyst was there—but so was an embryo. “I remember saying to the sonographer, ‘That’s a freaking baby!’” Amy said.
Over the next several weeks, multiple ultrasounds showed that the embryo wasn’t developing properly. At the final scan, there was no heartbeat.
“Even though it ended in loss, our baby girl knew nothing but love in those few short weeks,” Amy said. “I experienced things I never thought I’d get to—first trimester symptoms, seeing arm and leg buds. The pregnancy was a miracle and a blessing to us.”
Jameson gave her strength through the grief. “He made me a mama,” she said. “During the loss, I soaked up his snuggles. Just looking at him gave me peace.”
Today, the McDonalds are confident that Jameson was their “meant to be.” Strangers often comment on how much he looks like them—especially Hooch. “We joke that I passed down my chin dimple to him, since he has a dimple on his chin just like me,” Amy laughed.
Sharing their journey publicly brought healing, hope to others, and a healthy baby boy. “If we hadn’t shared our story, I don’t think it would have led us to Jameson,” Amy said. “And, hopefully we helped others on their own journey. Infertility can feel isolating. I want others to know: your pain is valid. It’s okay to feel however you feel. You are not alone.”
Through faith and perseverance, Amy and Hooch weathered the storm. “It’s rarely an easy road, but the end goal has been the greatest joy of our lives,” Amy said.
The McDonalds on the day of the adoption, with Judge Bryan Chesshir; Amy’s father, Randy Rodgers; and James’ sister, Shelly Richardson.
photo by MOLLY KENDRICK
PHOTOGRAPHY
submitted
photo
ABOUT TOWN
THE RANDY SAMS OUTREACH SHELTER HELD ITS ANNUAL 2 PIANOS DOWNTOWN FUNDRAISER AT CROSSTIES EVENT VENUE ON THURSDAY, APRIL 24TH.
Mary Washington and Vee Collins Darien and Laura LaCroix
Chuck Lincavage and Davis McDaniel Ron Collins and Jo Ann Rice
Ethan Wilson and Nakia Weaver
Dr. Matthew Burks and Dr. Zachary Legan Sylvia and Mike Ingram Sheri and Derek Sartin
Kirsten Guy, Alexandria Oliver, and Dr. Jo Kahler
Fr. David Halt, Jennifer Lacefield, and Dr. James Morris
Judi Sams, Mandy Sams, Janie Sigler, and Scott Sams
Michael George, Kelsey Waggoner, Stephanie and James Syler, Everett Moses, and Sharon Ross
Amy Schulz, Pam Williamson, Raymond Griffin, Gary Schulz, and Ron Burson (seated)
Jaci and Lanse Stephens
Chelsea and Jeff Claybrook
Mandi and Mike Smith
Kurt and Jan Anderson
Thomas and Darla Cigainero
Blair Taylor and Joel Dillahunty
Cody and Kristin Harris
Lee and Greg Davis
COMMUNITY CARE
Support from TSD Logistics empowered former Watersprings Ranch resident Sean Foreback to earn degree at TAMU–T
by ELLEN ORR
As the proverb says, it takes a village to raise a child. Sean Foreback, a recent graduate of Texas A&M–Texarkana, is especially aware of this. His village includes blood relations, chosen family, nonprofit workers, corporate executives, and teachers, all of whom played important roles in his development.
Sean was born in Hope, Arkansas, but for most of his life, he lived at Watersprings Ranch. The stated mission of Watersprings Ranch is to provide homes for children “who have been abused, neglected, and abandoned”—but when Sean moved onto the property at age 5, he was none of those things.
“My birth mother had a lot of severe health issues,” Sean said. “The goal [for most children who live at Watersprings Ranch] is actually to reunite the kids back with their families, but in my particular case, we knew we wouldn’t be able to go back with her.”
Sean’s birth mother, Crystal, took him and his older brother to Watersprings Ranch on the recommendation of her caregiver. The boys remained in contact with her until she died in 2021.
“I knew she loved me,” Sean said. “We spoke with her real often. It hurt her to [relinquish custody], but I’m appreciative of her for doing it. It was definitely the best thing she could’ve done.”
Watersprings Ranch provides an alternative to conventional foster care. Each of the campus’ six residences can house up to eight children, who live with house parents, otherwise known as “house ministers,” who must be Christian and married. The goal is to provide stability and comfort; the homes are designed to operate as “individual family units.”
“They really try to make it as normal of a household as possible,” Sean said. “Obviously, most homes don’t have that many kids in the house, but it still feels as close as you can get to it.”
Though stability is the goal, inconsistency is somewhat inherent to the system: children come and go, as do house parents.
“I went through probably 20 sets [of house parents],” Sean said. “It was kind of sad to see people you get close with leave. But as time went on, I understood that that’s just how it was. You know, people had lives to live, so they gave the time that they could out there, and I was understanding of that. Eventually, I kind of just got used to change.”
submitted photos
Sean with Carla and David Whatley, who operate Watersprings Ranch.
Sean at Christmas at Watersprings Ranch.
Though his own house parents changed frequently for many years, one set of Watersprings house parents remained steady: Larry and Lee Foreback “have been out there for, like, 19 years—as long as I’ve been out there,” Sean said. “[Lee] always said her dream was to have a house full of kids.” When he was 16, Sean and his brother were adopted by the Forebacks.
“It just always felt that way,” Sean said, referring to how he felt like Larry and Lee’s child even before the adoption. “They kind of already treated us like we were already theirs. And one day, we mentioned [adoption] in the car, sort of jokingly, and then [Lee] started crying. She was like, ‘I always wanted nothing more.’”
The Forebacks weren’t the only people who watched Sean grow up. Bruce Whitehead, chairman of TSD Logistics, also had a front-row seat for his development.
“The Ranch has a lot of people that support them, and TSD is one of them,” Sean said. “We do an event with them every year. So I’ve known them for many years.”
As a teenager, Sean wasn’t sure what path he wanted to take after high school, but he listened to the guidance of the adults around him.
“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to college or not, but what really motivated me was the other people who were wanting it for me,” he said. “TSD Logistics and Mr. Bruce—they had a scholarship deal that they were doing and somehow decided I was worthy of the nod. I couldn’t believe it, and I was like, ‘Well, I’d be foolish not to accept it and go to school.’”
Last month, Sean graduated from Texas A&M–Texarkana with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. Throughout his time in college, he lived at the Ranch in their “transitional living” home. Recently, he moved into a place of his own. He has been employed at Red River Army Depot for about a year, working night shifts as a mechanic. He is planning to pursue a second degree—either a second bachelor’s, this one in computer science, or an MBA. He said that he believes that either of these degrees will lead to better career opportunities.
Wherever else Sean’s path takes him, he will carry with him the wisdom and confidence instilled in him by his parents, benefactors, teachers, and mentors. In particular, he cited Gina Leeper, the executive director of Open Roads (TSD’s sister company), as a primary influence.
“She was definitely the number-one help and support system as far as me finishing college,” he said. “One semester I went into [the office], and I didn’t say a word. Before I went in, I was thinking to myself, ‘I’m about to disappoint them and let them down.’ I was going to be like, ‘I’m sorry. I can’t do it. No more. This is too stressful.’ Anyway, so I walk in the door, I didn’t say anything to her, and as soon as she opens the door, she’s like, ‘Sean, just stick through. Stick with it. You’re going to be happy you did it.’ She’s been a shoulder to lean on, and she’s been there for me, mentally, financially, all types. She kept me going.”
Sean with Gina Leeper, executive director of Open Roads and Sean’s “numberone help and support system.”
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
TEXAS A&M–TEXARKANA ALUMNI GATHERED AT THE ROOFTOP REUNION AT THE FARMERS BANK & TRUST VISTA ON THURSDAY, APRIL 24TH
Donna Chatman, James Bramlett, Will Humphrey, LeAnne Wright, Bryce Brooks, and Dr. Robin and David Hickerson
Dr. Venus Lillis and Jeff Hinton
Craig McDuffie and Scott Covington Lorna and Robert Tyson
Nicole Raley, George Carpenter, and Will Humphrey
Dr. Ross and Lilia Alexander
Dani Hamblett, Rachael Potter, and Jill Whittington
Lauren Beckham and Caroline Beebe
Donnie Spriggs and Dr. Lisa Myers Miranda and Jose Arredondo
Michael Bollinger and Vallerie Klingbeil Dewalla Smith, Winnie Haynes, Elaine Willis, and Bobbie Player Bryce Brooks, LeAnne Wright, Burns Barr Jr., Amber Lawrence, and Jay Davis
PIE AND PE PLE
The sense of smell is intricately connected to our memories, perhaps more than any other sense. For Rev. Jaimie Alexander, the senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in downtown Texarkana, the smell of a pie baking whisks him back to his childhood, a time he fondly remembers watching his grandmother create the most delicious pies imaginable.
Growing up in Heber Springs, Arkansas, Jaimie smelled pies being made in Alexander’s Restaurant, the cafe his grandparents owned. His father took over after his grandfather passed away, but his grandmother, Evelyn Alexander, continued to bake pies at home until she physically couldn’t anymore.
“She took pies to people all the time, and that was just a part of her world,” Jaimie said. “So that’s always been a part of my world.”
by PHOEBE WARREN
As Evelyn aged, her grandson observed a charming habit of her pie-making: she would always carve out a slice from the pie she baked for others, saving it for herself. With a chuckle, Jaimie remembered his grandmother’s words: “They don’t care if I take a piece out. I want a piece, too!’”
With a solid culinary foundation, Jaimie went on to become a church cook. As a devoted member of the United Methodist Church, he felt a divine calling towards ministry and pursued his studies at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. In 1991, he was appointed as a pastor for his first church. It was an easy decision to move to Texarkana in 2017, where several of his family members lived.
Rev. Jaimie Alexander builds community through baking classes
Jaimie demonstrating his skills for Tiffany Wilson.
Genie Knox and Rochelle Gray at one of Jaimie’s classes.
Attendees showing off their pie crusts.
Cecil “Slick” Alexander, Jaimie’s grandfather and owner of the cafe.
Evelyn Alexander
Jaimie with Evelyn
photo by SHANE DARBY all other photos were submitted
Despite Jaimie’s active participation in his church and the wider Texarkana community, he always carves out time to bake pies. For Jaimie, pie-making transcends mere pastime; it embodies a profound metaphor for life, encased in a rich, flaky crust.
“So I have all these rolling pins,” he said. “Not one of those rolling pins is alike, but they all have the same purpose: to roll dough. That’s how we are as a body of Christ. We have our similarities. We’re all a little bit different. But, we all have the same purpose, and that’s to worship and praise Jesus and be a part of the body of Christ.”
Pie-making became a refuge for Jaimie during a particularly challenging period in his life. Last August, he experienced the unexpected death of his brother due to a violent crime. At the same time, he was caring for his father, whose health was steadily declining. By December, his father’s needs demanded all the attention Jaimie could provide, preventing him from beginning Bible study classes at his church, which were in high demand. However, several people in the church had also been asking Jaimie to teach them how to make
pie crust, and that’s when the dough started rolling.
“I thought, you know, I can do some pie crust classes, because that’s easy,” Jaimie said. “And I’ve taught things before, so I just put it out there. Well, all of a sudden, I had more people than I could really manage, and people from out in Texarkana wanted to take classes. The oldest person that took a piemaking class was 96, turning 97 in a few weeks. She jokingly said that when she got to the pearly gates and Saint Peter asked her if she could make a pie crust so she could get to Heaven, she wanted to be able to say yes.”
Jaimie’s pie crust class now brings together participants ranging in age from their early 20s to late 90s. They’ve affectionately been named The Holy Rollers after a humorous Facebook comment from one of Jaimie’s friends. Though he is also open to sharing some of his filling recipes, Jaimie said that the main goal of the classes is to help students master the technique of making the perfect pie crust, which participants can then take home to complete their pies and share with others at their own tables.
Jaimie provides most of the materials needed in the class, including rolling pins from his extensive collection, each with its own special story attached. The tiniest rolling pin in the mix is the one his grandmother used. Attendees only need to bring an apron, a pie plate, and their eagerness to learn. Those taking a class from Rev. Jaimie Alexander will learn not only how to make the perfect pie crust, but also how to bring people together.
Jaimie’s collection of rolling pins.
ABOUT TOWN
CASA & TCAC HELD THEIR ANNUAL COLORFUL 5K AT SPRING LAKE PARK ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH.
Chalon Roberds with Sarah and Dawson O’Malley
BACK ROW: Jennifer Crabtree, Joe’Ann Wright, Adison Wright, and Kyl’Lee Cowart FRONT ROW: Annistyn Crabtree and Bradleigh Wright
BACK ROW: Vashil Fernandez and Dr. Doug Brubaker FRONT ROW: Heather Brubaker, MJ Brubaker, and Kasey Coggin
Norma King and Heather Pritchett Jessica Kelley and Hannah Jarrett Karen Coulter and Redd Witcher
Taylor Lopp, Tara Brewer, Bralyn Wilson, and Angela Gutierrez
Rebecca Brown, Malenda Cree, Patricia Smith, and Joey Keilbach
Mindi Wheat, Jenny Crow, and Brittney Wren
Elizabeth Whitt and Lucy Whitt with Holly Stouffer and Emily Stouffer
Dr. Robin Hickerson, Justin Sutton, and Chloe Young
Teagan Neal, Lindsey Sullivan, Rynn Neal, Lindsay Caldwell, and Sophie Caldwell
Wanda McInnis, Hannah Williams, Sarah Sullivan, and Jessica Trusley
Kambria Fennell, Molly Daves, Dawn Cantrell, and Ashley Cantrell with Aniston Fennell
ON AND OFF COURT
by DR. ROBIN ROGERS
Community coaches profoundly influence the lives of young people. Tia Barry, a girls’ basketball coach at We Are Washington, knows this well. She has spent the majority of her adult life serving as a community coach, working with kids to develop teamwork, communication, life skills, and athleticism.
Tia and her husband, Mondo, have been married for 28 years. Both work at We Are Washington in the evenings, after they spend their daytime hours employed by the Texarkana Arkansas School District. Tia is a substitute teacher at Kilpatrick Elementary, and Mondo works in the Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) program at Arkansas High. After the final bell, the Barrys head to We Are Washington, where Tia works with young girls in athletics, and Mondo acts as the organization’s site director. Together, they take great pride in helping kids find purpose and fun in after-school activities. Recently, Tia was awarded The Lion’s Share Award by Washington Athletics in acknowledgement of her continual work as a coach and a mentor to countless girls over the years. Tia has been at We Are Washington since its opening in 2021, and she was a volunteer coach for decades prior; she and Mondo even ran an entire community basketball league for 12 years with no outside funding. Doing good for kids is just how the Barrys operate.
“We have done sports our whole lives,” Tia said. “I graduated from Arkansas High in 1989; I was a three-sport athlete, playing volleyball, basketball, and running track. After playing basketball at SAU–El Dorado (now SAU Tech), I came home and have been working with the kids ever since.”
Before We Are Washington, Tia volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club, but when We Are Washington opened in 2021, Tia felt called back to a place she already knew well; Tia actually attended fifth and sixth grades at Washington Middle School. These days, she can be found on campus every afternoon from 4 to 8 p.m., coaching basketball to young ladies who are excited about all of the activities going on at We Are Washington, including their basketball league.
“The main thing about We Are Washington is after-school hours; we are keeping kids off the street,” Tia said. “Then, we hope to build relationships with them. A lot of them got stories. Everybody’s got a story, and some are worse than others. So, we try to reach out and help them the best way we can.”
Tia coaches three teams for girls in grades three through six. Tia said that it takes a lot of effort to organize a league, but volunteers help, and they figure out how to get other youth teams involved to rotate play between November and January.
“Last year, Liberty Eylau participated, and we had some teams from Atlanta come,” she said. “Ashdown, Prescott, and Hope played with us, too. We have a van and a 24-passenger bus to take teams out.”
During the school year, We Are Washington receives around 60 kids off the school bus each day who stay until 7:30 or 8 p.m. Kids are fed dinner in the cafeteria, and then they participate in classes, activities, and sports. During the summertime, the number of kids jumps to around 100, and more organizations get involved to keep the kids engaged.
Coach Tia Barry mentors girls at We Are Washington
Coach Barry gives the Lady Lions a pep talk.
submitted photo
Part of my goal is to help the kids mentally as well as physically. Before every game, we say the Lord’s Prayer.
“During the summer, we have different churches coming in. They teach the kids about God; a lot of them don’t know [about God], because they are not being taught that at home,” Tia said. The activities are mostly run by volunteers, and Tia said that volunteers are one resource that they can never get enough of. Community members from all parts of the Ark-La-Tex have volunteered to help in spots where they have knowledge.
“We have a woman who comes in to help the girls with volleyball, and someone just started working with the kids on track [and field activities],” she said. “We have football and T-ball, and I heard something about soccer. Our organization grows when more people get involved, and the kids need everything offered here.”
From afternoon meals in the school year to breakfasts and lunches over the summer, We Are Washington nourishes the minds and bodies of many young people. While Tia loves coaching her girls, she also recognizes how important the other classes are to the kids’ wellbeing, whether those are hygiene classes, cooking classes, math refreshers, or religious education opportunities.
“Part of my goal is to help the kids mentally as well as physically,” Tia said. “Before every game, we say the Lord’s Prayer. I want to teach them that you have to have him in everything you do. Now whenever we get in a huddle, the kids want to say it. And when one of my athletes gets stuck in remembering, I don’t even have to help them out anymore. Now, the other kids help them out. It’s great. For 32 years, before every game, my teams have been saying the Lord’s Prayer.”
Committed to giving her kids a sense of identity and purpose from playing team sports, Coach Tia Barry works hard to provide a safe and stable presence for all of the kids she encounters on a daily basis at We Are Washington.
Coach Barry with the Lady Lions at the Lonestar Kick-Off Classic Tournament.
Tia Barry with her husband, Mondo, and two of their children, Dante and Fortunate. Not pictured is Shenekqua.
Another win for the Lady Lions in a 2025 Tournament.
submitted photos
EXQUISITE INTERIORS
THE PERFECT ANGLE
story by PHOEBE WARREN photography by SHANE DARBY
Dr. Jim and Beth Worthen bought their dream home in 2023, in the gorgeous Riverlands subdivision of Texarkana. Originally from Louisiana, the couple had endured the heartbreak of losing their house to Hurricane Ida and were ready to start anew. Jim shared that, from just looking at the pictures of the 3-bed, 3.5-bath estate, they realized they had found their perfect home.
The home’s exterior instantly commands attention with its fascinating architectural angles. Its appearance shifts subtly based on your vantage point. For example, when approaching from the street or gazing directly at the entrance, the house appears to be nestled comfortably into a valley. In contrast, when viewed from the back patio, it seems to be perched on a hill, overlooking the land below.
The layout of the house is also captivating. Guests are welcomed by a set of concrete steps that guide them to the sagegreen house, enveloped by vibrant greenery. Upon entering the foyer, they can easily access the living area, guest bedrooms, and tranquil garden retreat outside.
The primary living space is a nod to nature. The striking stone accent wall rises to the ceiling. The warm wooden shiplap ceiling beautifully compliments the dominant stone features, while abundant natural light floods the open area, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere. This wide open space also contains a loft, with a metal and wooden staircase leading up to it. This loft is among Jim’s preferred areas, serving as a home for his instruments, recording gear, and musical collections. In the center sits a sleek black drum set that belongs to Jim and Beth’s son, Bryan; the bee decal on the bass drum symbolizes Bryan’s initial. Jim’s passion for music inspired the home’s sound design, featuring a speaker system that extends throughout the interior and out onto the patio.
Back on the lower level, the kitchen and dining area continue the harmonious blend of wood and stone. The dining room features a charming wooden hutch, while the kitchen boasts wooden cabinets for ample storage. In one corner, exposed shelves add a touch of visual interest to the room. A large sliding glass window in the kitchen opens up to the outdoor kitchen just beyond, enhancing the flow between the two spaces. Beth appreciates the convenience of entertaining here, as the open layout offers plenty of seating and relaxation spots and also allows her to effortlessly pass food through the window to guests enjoying the patio outside.
Beyond the dining area is a cozy transitional space, which Beth and Jim call “the reception area.” It features a console table with an abstract painting above it—a housewarming gift from their friend Dale Newkirk, an artist from New Orleans.
The reception area leads to the primary suite, which contains a dark wooden sleigh bed with neutral bedding, contrasting beautifully with the eggshell-blue walls. The bathroom contains a large stone shower, soaking tub, and spacious walk-in closet. A door in the suite opens to a small back patio, one of Beth’s favorite spots. “We wake up, have our coffee there, let the dog out; it’s a relaxing space,” she said. The Worthens dog, a Blue Lacy named Daryl, has plenty of room to play while the couple prepares for the day.
The design of the home is intended to lead visitors toward the main outdoor patio. Featuring a complete outdoor kitchen and large stone fireplace, this area is ideal for unwinding, whether basking in the sun or savoring the cool evening air. The oasis is complete with a softly trickling fountain and vibrant potted plants adorning the area. Jim and Beth cherish this part of their home the most. “Some of our favorite moments here are Friday nights,” Jim said. “We cook, eat dinner, and listen to music outside. We take turns [with song selection] since we have slightly different music tastes.”
The residence boasts a beautifully minimalistic design, allowing its inherent beauty to stand out without the need for extravagant embellishments. The Worthens explained that they do not feel the need to try to “fill the space” with trinkets, decor, and furnishings; from the outset, Beth was determined to create a less cluttered environment than what they had in their former residence, and Jim supported her choice. Ultimately, the couple let the home “speak for itself,” and that decision was the perfect angle.
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
THE TEXARKANA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF JARVIS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY LIVING LEGENDS AWARD BRUNCH WAS HELD AT LIBERTY EYLAU ISD ON SATURDAY, APRIL 19TH.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
Lisa Godfrey
Donna Dounley and Robert Jones
Representatives from Jarvis Christian University and the Texarkana Alumni Association of JCU
Billy Bland
Arthalia Hardy
Jo Ann Rice
Jean Matlock
Robert Jones
Denis Washington
by BAYLOR M c LELLAND
MEET E MAIKE GIESE
very foreign-exchange program brings students from across the globe to new places they’d most likely never get to see otherwise. The experience allows them to visit exciting countries, meet new people, and bask in different cultures. One question asked often to Maike Giese, a German exchange student who attended Arkansas High School this past year, was, “Why come to Texarkana?”
Maike is from the small town of Okel, a rural area with no grocery stores, where she would have experienced a “less interesting” school year. She said that, aside from a standard physical education course, theater, and a small robotics class, there isn’t much variety in the German school curriculum. But at Arkansas High, she’s been given the opportunity to pursue news broadcasting, track, robotics, and tennis.
“At the beginning of the school year, I looked at the sheet with all the classes I could take and wondered what ‘AV Productions’ meant,” she explained. “After the first week of school, a friend took me to one of her favorite classes with one of her favorite teachers. I didn’t quite know what to expect, but Mr. Akins [The RazorbackTV teacher] took me in so friendly that I knew I didn’t have any other choice than to change my schedule and take the class.”
Maike had her mind set on attending as many football games as she could this year. With RazorbackTV, she ended up not only watching the games but being a part of them. She was a regular member of RazorbackTV’s “Stream Team” this past football season, even going to the first round of playoffs to film.
Maike attended a signing for robotics funding in Arkansas with teachers Laila Miller and Chris Brisco and fellow student Nick Brown.
While a robotics course is offered in Germany, Maike had never thought about it professionally until this year, after attending several competitions and even travelling to NASA for the state-level competition this past April. “I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to go if not for Mr. Brisco, and I loved going to Houston,” she said. “I actually talked to the University of Houston, and if I get a full ride, I might go there for college, so you might be seeing me there in two years.”
Maike was enrolled at Arkansas High as a junior but will experience two more years of schooling once she returns to Germany later this month. Maike plans on pursuing engineering after high school. After her experience with RazorbackTV, she’s also considering a future in media productions.
Being involved in so much on campus will allow you to make new friends, a key part of the foreign-exchange program. But a big worry for Maike was how to do that. “I make a lot of jokes and am a sarcastic person, but if I don’t know people, I’m not like that,” she explained. “I don’t want to say the wrong things because I don’t know what your humor is. I kind of had to change how I walk up to people. It’s kind of like coming out of my shell a little bit.”
A key part of every foreign-exchange student’s stay in America is host families, with Maike leaving one host family earlier this year. “My mom likes me for me,” she explained. “But in a house family, I feel like you always kind of have to present yourself.”
However, when you make friends through something like tennis, those relationships build more naturally. During tennis season, Maike met Hannah Skinner, and the two became instant friends. They are almost inseparable now, spending time together on and off the court.
“We went to homecoming together, we got ready for homecoming together, we had sleepovers, hosted a Friendsgiving,” she said. “We always had each other’s back.”
The two became so close, in fact, that when Maike was looking for a new host family, Hannah offered up her home for the rest of the year. “She’s my sister,” Maike explained. “I feel like we are kind of soulmates. You don’t have to be romantic to be soulmates; we’re
platonic soulmates.”
Maike’s also found a family through Kaden Nine, another junior on the tennis team. They attended homecoming and prom together, along with several other activities in and out of school. “Falling in love was not on my agenda, but sometimes it just happens,” she said. Now, with her time in America coming to a close, she looks back on all that’s happened this year. “If you live here, I can see why you think that there’s nothing special about this place, but there actually is,” she said. “People are always like, ‘Oh, why did you come to Texarkana? There’s nothing here to do.’ But there really is so much. You’ve lived here your whole life; of course it’s not special to you. I didn’t, and I think this place is so special, and I always will.”
Baylor McLelland is a junior at Arkansas High School. He is a reporter for the RazorbackTV program and content creator on his YouTube channel, “BaylorWuzHere.” He plans to graduate in 2026 and pursue a college degree in film.
Maike with her host sister and best friend, Hannah Skinner.
Labor of Love
A Well-Spent Saturday
by ROBIN PROCTOR
As an aspiring homesteader, I spend a vast amount of my time kneedeep in dried cow manure, brandishing the farm implement of the day, gleaning the tomato plants for tomato suckers, admiring the beautiful yellow blooms on the squash plants, peeking under the leaves of the cucumber plants looking for the first babies, and collecting eggs. Each growing season brings hope that this will be the best year yet. My mornings often start around 6:30 a.m. (but never without coffee first). The normal attire for the morning usually resembles that of an apocalyptic survivor: pajamas layered with a sweatshirt; crazy, unbrushed hair reminiscent of a toddler; and, of course, my red rubber boots. The Morning Glories—a.k.a. the chickens— are always up with the break of dawn, singing their morning song, which is likely titled, “Hey Lady, Come Open the Coop Door and Feed Us.” What begins as a peaceful morning account of the garden quickly becomes, “Time to get to work; after all, these weeds aren’t going to pull themselves!” Trust me when I say that the “labor-to-earning” ratio is very skewed, confirming that this journey truly is a “labor of love.”
Yes, it would be easier to push a shopping cart down the aisles of produce from who-knows-where, coated with who-knows-what, harvested who-knows-when. But where’s the fun in that? Have no fear: the Saturday farmers market is here to save the day! It’s time to turn off the television or iPad, put on your comfy clothes (you’ll find no judgement), and throw the kids in the family truckster. You and your family are about to embark on a fun, hands-on experience right here in the four states area. We are blessed with three farmers markets, each with their own style and fun.
So why visit the farmers market? The most obvious answer is that the food is fresh, and fresh means tastier. I know
this firsthand. My dad loved to tell the story of his prized tomato. An avid gardener while I was growing up, he had watched this luscious piece of fruit grow larger every day, just waiting for the perfect time to pluck it. Apparently, early one morning, I had escaped from his watchful eye, as I often did. After frantically searching for me between the garden rows, he found me sitting in the dirt, devouring his prized tomato, fresh off the vine. So, of course I appreciate the farmers market, where the tomatoes are warm and ripe and smell like you just brushed against the leaves of a tomato bush. The many varieties of cucumbers offered are crisp with rich green skin, and the strawberries are sweet as summer sugar. The eggs have yolks as gold as the sun with an unmatchable flavor. The farmers behind the tables have most likely been awake before the sunrise, picking, sorting, and preparing to proudly present the product of their time and labor.
When you support your local farmers markets, you support your local economy. Supporting your local farmers helps offset the expense of gardening and caring for livestock. I know firsthand that gardening and keeping chickens are very costly endeavors! Local farmers aren’t there to get rich. They are filled with pride to display what they have cultivated. These hardworking individuals are there to answer any questions customers might have, and their customers keep them in business. So, shop local! Support your farmers markets.
Farmers markets offer so much more than fruits and veggies. They are filled with crafts, laughter, swapping stories, sharing recipes, dogs parading in their finest attire, and enduring friendships. Displays of homemade jellies and jams are proudly presented by the ones who made them. Baked goods, such as homemade cinnamon rolls or sourdough bread, are still warm and fly off the table
fast. These are communities, and every time you visit, you get to be a part of them.
I firmly believe that the best reason to support the farmers markets is to educate the next generation. Having an abundance of fresh eggs, I offered to share some with a friend. He replied laughingly, but with all sincerity, that his family wouldn’t eat them because they came from a “chicken’s patootie.” I asked him where they thought the eggs in the store came from; according to him, those were viewed differently. Surprisingly, this is not an uncommon opinion of many people. Our little ones need to know that the food doesn’t magically appear on the store shelves or originate in the back of delivery trucks. Thankfully Binning Farm, located in Maud, not only provides the traditional farmers-market delights but also gives children the opportunity to see farm animals firsthand. They encourage children to explore and watch turkeys, rabbits, quail, chickens, and Dexter cattle. Imagine a child’s face seeing chickens in their nesting boxes laying eggs, or tasting real honey that has just been collected and even chewing on the honeycomb as a special treat. Binning Farm also offers homesteading lessons for children of all ages. These are lessons that stick! They nurture curious minds and healthy habits while making the important connection between the farm and the food on their table.
I love the homesteading lifestyle. I grow food, I can, I preserve, I freeze, I bake, I raise chickens and sell eggs. I love sharing with others the food I grow and the knowledge I gain. I mill fresh flour and hope to soon make it available to others at the farmers market. I wake up early, and I work hard, and I love most every minute. But I am not self-sufficient, nor do I want to be; on Saturday mornings, I choose to support the “labor of love” of other farmers by visiting the farmers market. So, this weekend, grab a basket or tote bag, and head to the market nearest you. Fill your bag, shake a hand or two, and even share a story. I hope to see you there!
Farmers Markets in our Area
Texarkana Farmers’ Market
• Downtown, next to the federal courthouse
• Saturday, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Gateway Farmers Market
• 602 Jefferson Ave.
• Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Binning Farm’s Vendor Sale
• 6277 FM 2149 E, Maud, Texas
• Third Saturday of the month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
LEADERSHIP
Jada K. Abner Farmers Bank & Trust Company
Penny K. Everett Express Employment Professionals
Madeline Haak Total Medical Supply, Inc. and We are Washington
Derek Jenkins Pleasant Grove ISD
Wes Bennett Self Employed (PuroClean)
Chris Fuller Self-Employed (Prep Baseball Report)
Brandon Haynes Graphic Packaging International
Lora Johnson Simmons Bank
Ashley Grimes Boyles KBB Consulting, LLC
Morgan Gaddis 1221 Endeavors
Steven Hollibush Caddo Area Council –Scouts BSA
Neal Kiser Pleasant Grove ISD
Chip Chipman CHRISTUS St Michael Health System
Brandy Eldridge Assembly Line
Jordan “Gibby” Gibson Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Mekayla Garrett Four States Fiber
Lloyd D. Jackson, Ed.D. Texarkana Arkansas School District
Selena Jefferies Texas A&M University –Texarkana
Hillary Cloud Texarkana Chamber of Commerce
Nicole Cox Guaranty Bank & Trust, N.A.
Jasmine Cree Texarkana Odyssey
TEXARKANA
Brittany Knowles Texana Bank Cole Law Edward Jones
Amber Lawrence Texas A&M University –Texarkana
Derek J. Murphy Texarkana ISD
Brooke Stone City of Texarkana, TX
Kaycee Lomax Red River Credit Union
Morgan Pritchett Daines Insurance
Linda Taylor Ground Floor Collective
Kalyn Lumpkins Complete Computing Solutions
Patrick Reynolds Southern Insurance Group
Jordan Thornton Texana Bank
Heather Connell Lybrand Wholesale Electric Supply Co
Oscar O. Moreland, IV Vanco Systems, Inc
Lori Springer State Bank
Jaci Roberts Berry Norton + Wood, LLP
Christy Tidwell Texarkana ISD
Carol Trumble Mayo Manufacturing
Jamie Tye Community Healthcore
Barbara Walker Texarkana Convention Center and Hilton Garden Inn
Michelle Warren Texarkana Water Utilities
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
THE 4 STATES REGIONAL ART CLUB GAVE TWO ART SCHOLARSHIPS AT THEIR MEETING AT HOSPICE OF TEXARKANA ON SUNDAY, MAY 4TH.
Jeannie Edwards, Agnes Fields, and Barbara Yowell
Nancy Coe, Barbara Cole, and Chanlee Long
Bonnie Johnson, Glenna Bennett, and Sherri Waters
Lisa Norton and Dr. Angela Melde
Karen Sorsby and Beverly Adler
Kathleen Pate-Rives
Emily in
CA COMMUNITY OF LOVE & FRIENDS
by EMILY GAMMON
ommunity isn’t built overnight. If anything, I’ve learned that it takes time to find your people. My husband and I spent most of our 20s figuring out life by ourselves, not really sure where we fit into the world. And can I just say: your 20s can be a weird time in life. There are so many different seasons and changes that can happen in that decade. Almost no one the same age is in the exact same phase, and there’s still this “you’re so young” undertone that follows you around like you really don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.
Joey and I got married at 20, while we were still in college. There were very few people around us who were on that same timeline. We finished college around 21, thinking we were gonna set the world on fire, but my goodness did the world have some lessons for us. At 24, when we had our first son, many of our friends were still dating or just barely engaged, while we were already four years into marriage. We never seemed to find a good fit for a community of close friends in our 20s.
I’m hesitant to say—maybe I should knock on wood—but when I entered my 30s, things finally seemed like they were starting to settle. At 30, age no longer matters. The playing field is leveled, and 30s, 40s, and beyond, we are just all out here waking up and grinding through each day, rinse, repeat. You have a decade of real-world experience and some street creds, and you’ve realized that no one truly knows what they’re doing. The best we can do is find a friend, vent, laugh, see what their similar experiences are, and keep on going.
We have found the greatest community through a Bible-study class at FBC Texarkana called Parenting with Purpose. We are all on a similar parenting journey with aligned goals of fostering a love for the Lord in our children, but we are all varying ages, and so are our kids. The best parts are getting to learn from those in seasons ahead and to laugh with those who are in a chaotic phase of parenting like we are.
Beyond that, I personally have built a community of ladies who have much more experience of motherhood and life under their belts than I do. These ladies range from 50 to 80 years old, and they live vicariously through my chaotic stories of raising four babies while also enjoying and relishing in their emptynestedness. The encouragement that typically follows every conversation is, “Soak it up. It goes too fast.”
As our community of love and friends has grown in the last couple years, I’ve learned that most of our 20s were spent alone because we didn’t put
Jane Kate was welcomed into the world on April 24th.
in an effort to be community to others. True community shows up, big or small. We weren’t doing that, so we weren’t receiving that. I recently saw a video that said, “Where is our casserole generation? We have forgotten the impact of a welltimed casserole, dropped by the house of a friend who could just use a little help.” That is community—and I need to be a better “casserole friend.”
On April 24th, we welcomed our sweet baby girl, Jane Kate. She is more than I could have dreamed or imagined. Juggling three other kids’ schedules—in the midst of what I like to call the “End of School Hunger Games”—with a newborn has been . . . quite a transition. We hit the ground running with field days, programs, field trips, and awards assemblies. I can’t fathom being in all the
Pastor Bryan Bixler visiting the hospital to read Psalm 139 over the baby.
places and at all of the things without our village of people who come and help.
When we got home from the hospital, we had surprise dinner meals delivered by friends for days and days. Another day, groceries showed up. We had friends pick up our big kids from school, friends who came to the hospital and prayed with us and read scripture over our baby, and boxes of diapers and wipes stacked taller than me on our doorstep. These are our “casserole people,” literally and figuratively—people being the personification of the hands and feet of Jesus and giving so selflessly to my family. We have never felt so much gratitude and so loved in our lives.
Listen, if you don’t have this type of community, let me encourage you. It’s out there! Texarkana is full of the best, most giving people. We have tons of organizations that give you a place to plug in where you will directly be impacted by the friendships you make. I’d love for you to join me at Parenting with Purpose at FBC Texarkana. Maybe you’re looking to be involved elsewhere—we have great organizations all over town for business owners, families, volunteerism, the arts, and more! Texarkana is full of community partnerships that would love to have you join them. Remember, for true community, it takes involvement . . . and it only takes one casserole to make a difference.
Emily Gammon is a fourth-generation Texarkana native and the owner of Texarkana Party People, a local business dedicated to celebrating life’s big moments. She’s married to Joey, and together they’re raising four children—John Carter, Jack, Jace, and Jane Kate. With a life that’s always fun, busy, and unpredictable, Emily is excited to share her experiences of motherhood, small-town life, and everything in between in her column.
Cindy Shackelford and Robin Thomas delivering dinner.
