Fort Worth Magazine - November 2025 by fwtx

THE CAPTIVATING WORLD OF CUTTING /

The City's Magazine

ADAN

BANUELOS

He gets the wins, he gets the acclaim, and he gets the girl. There’s no doubting this cowboy has what it takes to launch the sport of cutting to new heights, but you won't hear him bragging about it.

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FEATURES

Dance In The Dirt Where horse meets herd: Everything you need to know about cutting and horse sense in advance of the National Cutting Horse Association’s Super Bowl riding back into The Unexpected City.

By Brian Kendall

52 The Horseman

Adan Banuelos’ destiny was stamped with cutting horses from day one. Still, he’s carved his own trail through the highstakes world of the sport, all while upholding the proud legacy that shaped him.

DEPARTMENTS

THE FORT

16 City Dweller

Brash bareback rider Rocker Steiner bares all in Teton Ridge docuseries.

22 Calendar

Can love bridge the chasm between us? The timeless tragedy of “West Side Story” comes to Casa Mañana. Plus, Ben Rector and Drake Milligan. And the Parade of Lights, of course.

26 Fort Worthian

Taylor Hardy’s rise as leader of the Fort Worth Film Commission mirrors the city’s rocket-like ascent in the picture game.

30 State Lines Rusk, Texas: pop. 5,362

36 Cowhand Culture

JFK truther Jim Marrs went to the great beyond still weaving the tangled web of assassination conspiracy.

42 The Reverie

Before the economic miracle of AllianceTexas, Fort Worth and Dallas leaders were pushing a would-be miracle on the Trinity River.

Dining Ain’t no diet down the bayou. Hello, Cocodrie’s Bayou Kitchen.

WE COMPOUND:

» Weight Loss Injections

» Ophthalmic Sterile Solutions

» Hormone Replacement Therapies

» Pediatric Medications

» Dermatological Preparations

» ED And Women’s Health Treatments

» Veterinary Medications

Better To Be Lucky Than Right … Right?

Turns out I’m the only person in Greater Tarrant County who does not explicitly know where Rocking P Ranch is located. While my sample size is only a handful of people with whom I recently spoke, I’m not convinced the above declaration is totally false. Of course, I’m also making this absurd statement out of frustration because Rocking P Ranch, home of superstar cutting horses Metallic Cat and All Spice, is precisely where I was supposed to be while the aforementioned handful of people were telling me the ranch was an hour-plus drive (points finger north) that way.

You see, photographer Olaf Growald and I had scheduled a time to snap some pics of All Spice, a mare that recently sold for a record amount of money, and chat with her new owner Bobby Patton for a story in this issue. And, naturally, we were to meet at Patton’s Rocking P Ranch. Wrongly assuming Google would spit out accurate information when I typed “Rocking P Ranch” into the search bar, I had failed to ask Mr. Patton for an address.

Instead, like a good millennial who hasn’t glanced at a legitimate road map in well over a decade, I followed Google’s direction like a bug follows an ultraviolet light behind a metal grid. I never wavered and, more embarrassingly, never even questioned where I was going. But my trust was clearly misplaced; Google had led us astray. (Side note: I don’t suspect Alphabet Inc. purchased advertising, so I simply hope the above tirade doesn’t offend anyone reading this on a Pixel.)

The realization that we were not where we were supposed to be didn’t kick in immediately — the sign at the entrance read “Valley Equine,” and a wealth of stables were clearly visible from the road. Hey, we were here to photograph a horse, after all. And once I recalibrated after profusely apologizing to an understanding Bobby Patton over the phone, I started to get inquisitive about the place where we happened to find ourselves.

“Well, here’s our manager,” a very kind and helpful lady in the accounting department

said. “She’ll be able to answer any of your questions.”

As luck would have it, Valley Equine’s general manager, Lisa Szwejbka, had just pulled up. And, as luck would have it again, Lisa is incredibly affable, and Valley Equine is itself a fascinating story. And, as luck would have it yet again, Lisa is free for the next hour to give me and Olaf a tour of their facilities.

“Got your camera, Olaf?”

“I mean, why do you think I came out here?”

I won’t give too much away (you can read my full story on Valley Equine on page 50), but Lisa provided us with an unbelievable amount of access and information. When we finished, it felt like we had completed a hyper-accelerated equine 101 course; it was borderline overwhelming but, also, oh so freaking cool. And, in the end, this place that was entirely off our radar — but on our Google Maps — wound up being the lynchpin for our feature highlighting the growing sport of cutting and performance horses.

“You know, things always seem to work out for us,” Olaf said at one point.

Perhaps Google is wiser than I thought.

Brian Kendall EXECUTIVE EDITOR

ON THE COVER:

CORRECTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS? Send to executive editor Brian Kendall at bkendall@fwtexas.com.

NEXT MONTH

Photographer Olaf Growald and editor Brian Kendall visited cutting horse trainer Adan Banuelos on his 100-acre property near Granbury, where they received a swift education on the inner workings of a horse ranch.

Fort Worth Gives Here

Janis and Chris White at the Humane Society of North Texas

What’s a favorite uncommon Thanksgiving dish, or twist on a classic, that might be unique to your family?

My mom makes an incredible gelatin raspberry salad with walnuts and cream cheese. I’ll forget the turkey and make a meal out of it — hits the sweet/ tart balance just right.

My mom’s stuffing made with piñon nuts (native to New Mexico) and dried cranberries. She makes it kind of dry, but when combined with a plate full of food and gravy, it’s a standout side that is an annual must!

Sweet potato casserole made with shredded coconut, pecans, brown sugar, and just a little butter … Okay, a lot of butter! It also works as a stand-alone dessert. Everyone that tries it begs for the recipe.

Great Aunt Opal’s squash casserole. I still have the original handwritten recipe from 1979.

owner/publisher hal a. brown

president mike waldum

EDITORIAL

executive editor brian kendall

contributing editor john henry

digital editor stephen montoya

contributing writers malcolm mayhew, michael h. price, shilo urban copy editor sharon casseday

editorial intern maddy clark

ART

creative director craig sylva

senior art director spray gleaves

contributing ad designer jonathon won

ADVERTISING

advertising account supervisors

gina burns-wigginton x150

marion c. knight x135

account executive tammy denapoli x141 territory manager, fort worth inc. rita hale x133

senior production manager michelle mcghee x116

MARKETING

director of digital robby kyser marketing manager corinn crippin operations manager kaitlyn lisenby

CORPORATE

chief financial officer charles newton

founding publisher mark hulme

While most families roast their Thanksgiving turkeys in the oven, we prefer to throw ours into a vat of bubbling oil. Some might call frying a turkey outdoors a bit “redneck,” but for us, it’s part of our Thanksgiving camping tradition. The bird comes out golden, crispy, and delicious — but without fail, someone always asks, “Is this safe?”

Since I’m from Mississippi, one of the things we always had was real Southern cornbread dressing. It takes a good while to get it ready to cook as you have to make the cornbread and chop a lot of things to go in it to make it really tasty. But, oh, is it good.

Mother-in-law’s oyster stuffing.

While my family makes a few uncommon dishes like ambrosia salad and Watergate salad, my favorite Thanksgiving tradition is our creamy, savory clam dip — a must-have at every holiday gathering.

DIGITAL EDITION:

The virtual editions of both current and previous issues are available on our website. Flip through the pages to read more about the great city of Fort Worth by visiting fwtx.com.

FortWorthMagazine(ISSN 1536-8939) is published monthly by Panther City Media Group, LP, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Suite 130, Fort Worth, TX 76116. Periodicals Postage Paid at Fort Worth, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices and undeliverable copies to Panther City Media Group, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Suite 130, Fort Worth, TX 76116. Volume 28, Number 11, November 2025. Basic

Subscription price: $29.95 per year. Single copy price: $4.99

THE FORT

PEOPLE TO KNOW THINGS TO DO PLACES TO GO

“& JULIET” What if Juliet didn’t die at the end of “Romeo and Juliet,” getting a second chance at life and love? The jukebox musical coming to Bass Hall reimagines the story.

WHAT WE’RE

WRITING

ABOUT THIS MONTH:

On page 16 A rebel with a championship cause, bareback rider Rocker Steiner’s professional life on display in a docuseries on The Cowboy Channel. On page 26 Taylor Hardy, leader of the Film Commission at Visit Fort Worth. On page 30 A stop in Rusk, Texas. On page 36 Eccentric Jim Marrs never stopped believing as a JFK truther. On page 42 Fort Worth and Dallas leaders once dreamed of the region as a seaport. Say what now?

by John Henry and Brian Kendall

Baring All

Cameras bringing bareback rider, rising star Rocker Steiner and rodeo into the mainstream.

Despite rodeo being a leading strain in his DNA, Rocker Steiner has taken a curious route to cowboy stardom.

In his youth, rodeo was the furthest thing from this 21-yearold from Weatherford. In fact, it was wakeboarding this kid raised in Austin enjoyed most, dude. And wakeboarding was something, by the way, he excelled at — a seeming prodigy, this wave innovator, on his way to landing a 1080, as they say (I think). His look, too, resembles a surfer bro — long blonde locks and a lid all janky on his dome.

Your head needs to be on a swivel because he’ll also drop an occasional F-bomb on you. He is a lightning rod for fans, who either love him or hate him, partly because, by all appearances, that enduring and endearing cowboy charm of humility is nowhere to be found. Brash is the word I’m looking for.

“Somebody’s got to be the superstar,” he says. “It might as well be me, huh?”

Still, to read only the cover is to overlook the essence of the man. Steiner has a certain wisdom to him that impresses me.

“He is kind of an old soul,” says his dad, former PRCA Steer Wrestling World Champion Sid Steiner. “He’s just a fun guy to be around, man. He’s got a contagious personality, and everybody around him loves him. I don’t have social media, but I hear about the negative comments. It’s just funny to me to hear the things people say about him. Well, they obviously have never met him.”

Would-be enemies and fans alike are going to get an up-close-andpersonal view of Rocker Steiner as he chases National Finals Rodeo fame as a bareback rider.

“Hell on Wheels” is the highly

anticipated, unfiltered docuseries produced by Teton Ridge. A private screening was hosted by Koe Wetsel’s Riot Room last month. You can catch the series on the Cowboy Channel.

“I knew how big of a deal this was going to be, and I knew how important it was to me and my family and the whole sport,” Steiner says. “I think to make it as good as possible, I had to be as real as possible and pretty much just be exactly who I am. I wanted this to be a gamechanger for the sport of rodeo and for me and my family.”

In 2025, Steiner, now a four-time NFR qualifier, became only the third rodeo competitor to win more than $300,000 in a season. He heads to the NFR in December seeking to join a rich family tradition that now spans five generations.

And, yes, that family tradition includes showmanship.

His father’s PRCA Hall of Fame bio speaks prominently of his stage presence as a steer wrestler, even taking the nickname “Sid Rock.” That moniker played a part, his father says, in Rocker Steiner’s given name. Steiner’s grandfather, Bobby, competed as a bull rider and bareback rider from 1968-73. Bobby, also a hall of famer, made three trips to the NFR and was a world champion bull rider in 1973. Sid won a world championship in steer wrestling in 2002. The legacy extends to Steiner’s great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, Tommy and Buck Steiner, founders of the Steiner Rodeo Company.

Rocker Steiner appears primed to take this to a completely different level of stardom. And rodeo needs that.

The idea of the docuseries, says Rocker, was one he pitched. The Cowboy Channel pounced.

“There are so many different personalities [in rodeo] and there are so many different people, but nobody ever gets to see that,” Steiner says. “It’s hard to be fans of somebody that you don’t know.”

It was standing room only inside a large studio tucked in the southeast corner of Niles City Sound, the unassuming Fort Worth space where Leon Bridges recorded his first album, ComingHome.

A decade later, the title feels prophetic.

Three albums and a Grammy later, Bridges was honored by his hometown with the unveiling last month of a new street sign topper bearing his name on the Near Southside.

“Leon Bridges” sits atop the sign denoting the intersection of South Calhoun Street and East Daggett — named for a city founding father — honoring the musician’s lasting impact on Fort Worth and its people.

City leaders, longtime collaborators, and devoted fans crowded shoulder to shoulder in the same room where Bridges’ vintage soul sound first took shape.

“This moment holds so much gravity,” the soft-spoken, humble Bridges said. “It’s surreal to be immortalized right where it all started. I just want to thank my people — the ones who believed in me when it was just a dream.”

After the ceremony, everyone spilled out into the sunlit street, gathering near the corner of South Calhoun to watch Bridges pull the cover from the new sign. Amid some shade from a large tree on the corner, Bridges’ name was displayed to

He’s Staying Home

Leon Bridges’ hometown pays tribute with commemorative street marker.

the sound of applause.

A full circle moment indeed. Bridges, born in Atlanta in 1989 but raised in Fort Worth, graduated from Crowley High School before his voice carried him far beyond the city limits. His rise from local open mics to Grammy-winning artist is now part of Fort Worth’s cultural folklore. Even as his stardom grew, he has never stopped repping his hometown.

“You’ve gone on to spectacular success, but what always comes through is your humility and your love for this city,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. “Every time you speak about Fort Worth, you make sure the world knows exactly where you’re from.”

Bridges’ story is an all-American Dream, going from bussing tables and washing dishes in the local restaurant scene to signing with Columbia and taking off with Coming Home.

“An essential Fort Worth album was recorded right here,” said Tom Martens, Visit Fort Worth’s vice president of creative film and music, gesturing around the packed room. “When we tell the story of this city’s creative energy, we can’t help but talk about this place. Leon, you’ve given us so many stories to share.”

— Stephen Montoya

Laureate List

Historic Fort Worth recognizes John Henry’s preservation work.

FortWorthMagazinewriter and editor John Henry was recognized last month by Historic Fort Worth Inc. with a Preservation Achievement Award for his ongoing work chronicling and advocating for one of the city’s most storied landmarks — Farrington Field.

In August, the magazine’s cover story was “A Love Letter to a Stadium: Save It and They Will Come.”

For Henry, the art deco stadium on the corner of University Drive and Lancaster Avenue isn’t just a sports venue. It’s a civic monument.

Farrington Field is more than steel and stone, wrote Henry, who is the executive editor of sister publication FortWorthInc.Rather, it’s a reflection of Fort Worth’s soul — its schools, its families, its neighborhoods, and its sense of continuity.

Farrington Field, Henry wrote, is “the binding thread in the story of Fort Worth in the last 100 years,” a place that unites the city across age, neighborhood, and background.

Henry’s deep dive into the stadium’s history began years ago, inspired by an imagined visit from Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who once delivered a fiery speech there in 1952. That vision led Henry to explore the stadium’s origins, tracing them back to athletic director E.S. Farrington, whose 1930s dream of a state-of-the-art facility became reality through determination and Works Progress Administration funding.

His research culminated in an expansive narrative linking the stadium’s past to present preservation efforts. When the Fort Worth ISD proposed selling the property, Henry’s reporting helped galvanize public awareness and support. Through the efforts of Historic Fort Worth and allies such as E.S. Farrington’s grandson, the stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places and is now part of a $55 million plan for restoration.

“Old places matter because they’re ours,” Henry says. “Preserving them reminds us of who we are and what kind of city we want to be.”

Modern

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by John Henry

Beltway Meets Big Bend

Legendary Reata Restaurant brings a whiff of West Texas to the swamp.

Bacon-wrapped quail with jalapeño balsamic reduction is the kind of pork barrel politics we can all get behind.

Finally, something that smells good in Washington, which for as long as it has existed has served up steamed politics on its swampy grounds on the daily, leaving Americans, from coast to coast, with serious indigestion.

The righteous Reata Restaurant made a visit to D.C. to cater a private event for U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents Texas’ District 23, which includes Alpine, the birthplace of Reata.

“Taste of Texas 23” featured the rich flavors and culture of the glorious far reaches of West Texas.

“We were incredibly proud to be a part of this event,” said Mike Micallef, president of Reata Restaurant. “Alpine holds a special place in our story. It’s where Reata first opened its doors back in 1995, and it was meaningful for us to represent that part of Texas in our nation’s capital.

The menu included, yes, baconwrapped quail with jalapeño balsamic reduction, beef tenderloin tamales topped with sun-dried tomato cream and pecan pesto, and goat cheese crostinis finished with pecans and hot honey.

Also featured at the event was Desert Door Texas Sotol, a unique distilled spirit crafted from wild-harvested sotol plants found just 60 miles from Reata’s original location in Alpine.

All of this is reminiscent of Walter Jetton in yesteryear. The Fort Worth native became famous as President Lyndon

Johnson’s barbecue caterer. His most notable catering event was the Sparerib Summit just a month after JFK’s assassination. The Sparerib Summit was in Stonewall, Texas, in the high school gymnasium. LBJ hosted West German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard at his ranch in the Hill Country on the Pedernales River.

Jetton’s rise to fame as the “King of Barbecue” began with an invitation from Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, a fellow Texan from Bonham, to cater the Texas State Society dinner in 1951.

District 23 is a vast stretch of more than 800 miles along the southern border. It’s the largest border district in the nation, spanning two time zones and covering more ground than 30 states.

You better bring a water bottle during the summer. The far west portion of the district is the Chihuahuan Desert. It averages 8 to 10 inches of rain annually. The Chisos mountain range, which derives its name from the Castilian word for “enchantment,” is located in Texas’ Big Bend National Park.

Gonzales, a San Antonio native serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, is considered a centrist Republican.

He obviously has good taste in food. Not even his opponents can dispute that. And in politics, opponents criticize everything.

Said Micallef: “We’re grateful to Congressman Gonzales for hosting this celebration of his district and for including Reata in such a special gathering.”

Around Cowtown in 8 Seconds

A

smattering of things you might’ve missed

A Principal Honor: Shirley Knox Benton, the first Black woman to serve as principal at Dunbar High School, like Leon Bridges, also received a street-sign-topper honor, in Stop Six. She was also the first Black woman to earn Texas High School Principal of the Year in 2001. Westside Rebrand: As we headed into the last part of October, it seemed as if the City Council was poised to finally take action on renaming at least a part of White Settlement Road, a point of contention for years. The council was scheduled to vote on renaming “a significant portion” of the road to “Westside Drive” — a nod to developers reenvisioning the corridor with the planned Westside Village. Spick-and-Span: The City Council also voted recently to spend an additional $1.8 million to hire more UpSpire workers to clean up homeless campsites around town. UpSpire, run by the Presbyterian Night Shelter, provides job opportunities to people experiencing homelessness or struggling with barriers to employment.

Luxury Merger Put in Drive: Autobahn Fort Worth has officially completed its acquisition of Frank Kent Motor Co.’s Cadillac dealerships in Fort Worth and Arlington, bringing together two giants among North Texas’ family-owned automotive businesses.

Tuition on Us: An anonymous donor family — “proud members of the TCU community” — has provided a scholarship gift of $1.8 million to cover Spring 2026 tuition for all members of the class of 2026 at the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine.

Healing Before Handcuffs: The Institute of Behavioral Research at TCU has received a $7.2 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study “deflection” approaches that connect people with unmet substance use needs to community-based services as early as possible — rather than through arrest or prosecution.

Profiles in Courage: Judge Clifford Davis, Opal Lee, and Norma Roby are among eight Fort Worth and Tarrant County civil rights leaders featured in a newly commissioned documentary directed by Robert Eric Wise in a partnership with the Sid W. Richardson Foundation.

Stars Aligning? A new arena in Arlington? Maybe. Officials say the Dallas Stars have had contact with city officials about moving there. The betting favorite appears to be Plano. Guess we’ll just continue watching on TV.

1-9

‘West Side Story’

The Jets and the Sharks make their way to Casa Mañana with a production of one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals, which features the best choreographed knife fights you will ever see.

Casa Mañana casamanana.org

Black Violin

Though representing only one-quarter of a string quartet, this pair of Grammy-nominated violinists — Wil B. and Kev Marcus — go well outside the bounds of a classical repertoire as they fuse hip-hop with symphonic music.

Bass Performance Hall basshall.com

The Polyphonic Spree

Dallas-based indie chamber rock outfit celebrate 21 years since the band’s breakthrough album, Together We’re Heavy. We suspect they’ll be performing the album in its entirety, which we’re not mad about.

Tulips tulipsftw.com

9-Dec. 6

NCHA Futurity and World Finals

With a pair of key events, there’s no month like November in the world of cutting. The NCHA Futurity represents the first event of the Triple Crown for 3-year-old cutting horses, and the World Finals will feature the sport’s best horses and horsemen regardless of age.

Will Rogers Coliseum nchacutting.com

12-16

‘& Juliet’

The premise: What if Juliet decided not to stab herself after finding her beloved Romeo dead? This coming-of-age, “what if?” musical features a veritable best-of collection of teenybopper faves from the ’90s onward.

Bass Performance Hall basshall.com

13 Ben Rector

The popular singersongwriter, whose tunes “Brand New,” “Love Like This,” and “Drive” have earned him substantial airplay, visits Dickies Arena in support of his 10th studio album, Richest Man in the World. Dickies Arena dickiesarena.com

23 Parade of Lights

The annual downtown parade that officially kicks off the holiday season features over 100 floats. For those who don’t plan on attending, whatever you do, don’t drive downtown on this date — unless you’re a glutton for traffic. Downtown Fort Worth fortworthparadeoflights.org

Lone Star Film Festival

As always, the annual festival will showcase an incredible string of films from local, national, and even international talent. Capping off the fest will be a gala honoring Western icon

Sam Elliot and local musician — and recent Oscar nominee — Abraham Alexander.

The Modern and Bowie House lonestarfilmfestival.com

28 Drake Milligan

One of Fort Worth’s own, this local singer was once a professional Elvis impersonator before landing the role of the King on CMT’s “Sun Records” in 2017. This marks the fourth year in a row Milligan drops by the World’s Largest Honky Tonk.

Billy Bob’s Texas billybobstexas.com

28-29

Home for the Holidays

A Fort Worth holiday tradition, this year’s “Home for the Holidays” brings back former Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya, who will lead the orchestra in holiday classics sung by Shayna Steele and the I.M. Terrell Academy Choir. Bass Performance Hall fwsymphony.org

photos provided by Bass Performance Hall // Dickies Arena // Lone Star Film Festival Oct. 30-Nov.

Ben Rector

Where Every

Food, Friends, Football, there’s always something to celebrate this time of the year. Join us at Quince and experience the best dining patio in Fort Worth, equipped with unique cocktails, live music and river views.

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.

Taylor Hardy

Fort Worth Film Commissioner

By Shilo Urban

Photo by Asia Eidson

In the last decade, Taylor Hardy has risen from humble intern to leader of the Film Commission at Visit Fort Worth — and the city’s ascent in the film business has been just as dramatic. “We’ve worked with over a thousand projects since we launched in 2015,” says Hardy, who is seeing the groundwork she laid 10 years ago come to fruition. “In that time, film production has generated about $1 billion in economic impact and created 50,000 jobs in Fort Worth.”

A Las Vegas native, Hardy grew up surrounded by entertainment before heading to TCU to study advertising and public relations. “I was in the same building as the film school and decided to take a film class, just for fun,” she says. “That was a turning point for me.” Joining the Film Commission just three months after its founding, her first tasks included taking photos of filming locations and reaching out to local businesses. The goal: Attract filmmakers to the city. “Originally we were fighting for one scene in a movie or one commercial,” says Hardy. “Then we started to gain momentum.”

Momentum might be an understatement. Fort Worth is now home to the largest film production campus in Texas, SGS Studios, owned by the award-winning “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan (he filmed five shows in Tarrant County just this year). We also have the largest virtual stage in the state, a 157-foot-wide LED screen at Trilogy Studios.

Several high-impact shows have been filmed in Fort Worth, such as “The Old Man & the Gun,” “A Ghost Story,” “12 Mighty Orphans,” “Miss Juneteenth,” “1883,” “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” and “Landman” — and tourists have taken notice. “About a quarter million new visitors a year come to our city just because they saw us on a TV show. That’s a big change over the past decade.”

Another coup: The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex was recently named one of the world’s six Oscar-qualifying cities, bumping out Miami to join Los Angeles,

New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and San Francisco. This means that movies screened for seven days in a certified Fort Worth theater can now be submitted for Academy Award consideration.

“It’s recognizing that DFW is a major media market.” The Commission’s new Premiere Package awards filmmakers a weeklong screening and red-carpet premiere, plus travel expenses and promotion.

But out-of-towners aren’t the only ones benefiting from Fort Worth’s film boom. “So many of our locals have been able to be part of it,” says Hardy. “For ‘Landman’ Season 2, which just wrapped recently, they hired 1,092 crew members, 192 cast, and over 2,500 extras.” For aspiring crew members, Tarrant County College has a new fasttrack program that offers certifications in hair and makeup, grip and lighting, and set construction. “There are so many ways to get involved,” she adds. “Now is the time.”

With such success over its 10-year journey, the Film Commission has now shifted its focus to sustainable growth. But no success has meant more to Hardy than the people who’ve shared the journey with her. “I’ve been able to grow alongside our community,” she says. “Everyone is very welcoming and supportive, and I don’t think you have that everywhere. It makes me really proud of everybody who worked to bring these shows to life.”

The Lone Star Film Festival comes to life Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 with the longest run and most dazzling star power ever, including Sam Elliott and Abraham Alexander. You’ll also find red-carpet premieres and free events year-round, from networking mixers to educational panels. “We would love to have more people get involved in the film scene. Community is our superpower.”

As for the next decade? “It’s almost hard to imagine what will happen,” says Hardy. “I think we have a really bright future ahead.”

1. On set during filming for “12 Mighty Orphans” at the Masonic Temple. Several locals were hired as background talent to cheer on the Mighty Mites! 2. At the wrap party for “The Senior,” an independent feature film starring Michael Chiklis. 3. Behind the scenes with Nick Utter and team on a marketing video for Visit Fort Worth. 4. My husband and best friend, Logan Spiddle, on our wedding day in 2023! 5. Grateful for my time at TCU where I studied film, TV, digital media and strategic communication. 6. Welcoming the “Good Morning America” team to Fort Worth for a live broadcast from the Stockyards.

On the Brazos River The Best of Both Worlds: Nature & Comfort

Escape to Fuller’s Folly River Ranch, a 350-acre retreat where modern comfort meets the wild beauty of the forest.

Experience Shinrin-Yoku — the Japanese art of forest bathing. Breathe deeply, slow down, and soak in the peace of towering trees and riverside trails.

Stay in a one-of-a-kind lodging — from a Hobbit Treehouse, Magical Treehouse, Luxury Tent and a cozy old farmhouse — each with comforts you’ll love. Spend your days floating the Brazos, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, or simply relaxing under the stars.

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW OUR ELC ME YO FAVORITE O

-HOTSCOTCH #1 FLAVORED WHISKEY IN TEXAS -BOURBON DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL

by Shilo Urban

Rusk, Texas

Population: 5,362

Cloaked in deep, green woodlands of towering pines, East Texas air just breathes a little differently. It smells of earth and moss, of sunwarmed resin and campfire tales. Oaks, elms, and dogwoods add undertones to the untamed wilds and rolling prairies — and in the heart of it all lies Rusk. Like many of the streets in downtown Fort Worth, Rusk was named after a hero of the

Texas Revolution, Thomas Jefferson Rusk (we once had a Rusk Street, which was part of Hells Half Acre — but its reputation was so sordid and scandalous that it was rebranded as Commerce Street).

The Pineywoods surrounding Rusk were home to the Caddo people for over 1,000 years, and you can explore their legacy at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site (20 minutes south of

town). After a tornado destroyed much of the site in 2019, it reopened last year with a new $2.4 million visitor center. Twenty members of the Caddo Nation helped with the project, including five women who raised a new grass house (construction work in Caddo culture was traditionally performed by females). The Caddo built ceremonial mounds, wove intricate baskets, and gave us the name Texas from their word Taysha (friend), spelled by the Spanish as Tejas. Spaniards also left their mark on the area, establishing the first mission in East Texas at today’s Mission Tejas State Park. The structure is long gone, but you can still walk on a mile-long section of El Camino Real de Texas — the Royal Road — from the 1690s. Nearby is the Rice Family Log Home, a replica of an early-1800s pioneer cabin that later served as a stagecoach inn. The park is chock-full of history, although many people come simply to walk through the thickets of loblolly pine trees alongside babbling creeks. Rusk also has a scenic stroll, just two blocks from the courthouse square: a 546-foot-long footbridge in tranquil, leafy surroundings. Built in 1861 to facilitate rainy-season passage (and redone many times since), it’s the longest wooden footbridge in the country. Rusk’s most famous route, however, is found three miles west at the Texas State Railroad Depot. Now a popular tourist train with vintage cars and antique steam engines, it operates a Turntable Run from Rusk through the forest to Maydelle. Most excursions, however, depart 30 minutes away in Palestine, such as the wildly popular Polar Express starting in mid-November. Wear your pajamas, sip lukewarm hot cocoa, and sing “Jingle Bells” at the top of your lungs. Long before it hauled holiday revelers, the railroad transported timber, cotton, and iron ore. And for a moment in time, the neighboring city of New Birmingham was set to become a major industrial area dubbed the “Iron Queen of

Cherokee County Courthouse, built in 1941

the Southwest.” Situated two miles east of Rusk, New Birmingham was established in 1889 and soon began producing 50 tons of iron daily. Millionaires stayed at the fabulous three-story Southern Hotel in the town, which also boasted bottling works, schools, churches, a train depot, and a power plant. But then the 1893 depression hit, and investors pulled out. The ironworks plant closed, and by mid-1893, virtually all the residents had moved away. Only four years after its birth, the “Iron Queen” was declared dead. All that’s left of the boomtown today is a single blast furnace that’s slowly decaying in the pinescented forest outside Rusk, just another passerby in a long line of Caddo, Spaniards, ironworkers, and travelers like you.

Explore Rusk

Savor: Do you savoronion wine … or do you try it out of morbid curiosity? Either way, Maydelle Country Wines brings on the bold with fruit-focused flavors like lemon and ghost pepper-pear. For something more substantial, All Star Bar-B-Q serves up all your slow-smoked favorites plus sloppy Joes and an intriguing rib sandwich (no bones about it). The joint is plastered with Houston Astros regalia and pics of high school baseball teams. If you’re looking for a soy latte, head to the square where The Daily Grind whips up specialty drinks, classic sammies, and treats like peanut butter truffle brownies.

Shop: The Daily Grind is also the place to buy raw and creamed honey from Bulah’s Best Farm, a local apiary that also produces herbal tinctures, propolis remedies, and bee venom facial cream. If you’re really into it, call to schedule a tour of the beehives and elderberry orchard at the family-owned farm. Back at the square, hit Jenny’s Salon & Mercantile for playful gifts like sweet-smelling Tyler Candles. Keep an eye out for special vendor events, like the annual Fair on the Square in May and Reklaw Trade Days, held in nearby Reklaw on second Saturdays from March through December.

Enjoy: Rusk’s diminutive downtown kicks into gear around the holidays, hosting Hometown Christmas on Nov. 29 with local performances and vendors. Catch a play at Cherokee Civic Theatre, which presents “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” on the first two weekends of December. Browse a copy of Rusk’s CherokeeanHerald, Texas’ oldest weekly newspaper (around since 1848). Outside of town, go horseback riding at Train Robber Ranch and visit Jim Hogg Historical Park to see the restored birthplace of Texas’ fight-the-power populist governor.

Snooze: Rusk’s overnight options, while limited, are often nestled in nature. Most stays are shortterm rentals on Airbnb and Vrbo, where you’ll find wooded retreats for indoor/outdoor living with wraparound decks, fire pits under the stars, and stocked ponds with fishing boats. South of town, you can book

a 150-year-old dog trot-style cabin with a swimming pool and pot-bellied pigs to pet — it’s a working ranch with cattle, horses, and chickens. So is Beans Creek Ranch, where guests get up close and personal with longhorn cattle. Pick up fresh beef and souvenir horns to take home, or even a steer.

How to Get There: Drive southwest from Fort Worth on Highway 287 for about 140 miles, all the way to Palestine (you’ll merge with Interstate 45 for a bit between Ennis and Corsicana). At Palestine, turn left onto TX 256 for 4 miles, then turn left again onto US-84 E/E Park Ave. Follow US-84 to Rusk, 29 miles ahead. The entire trip takes around three hours.

Marker for the Zebulon Pike campsite

Vintage steam and diesel locomotives take passengers across the rails of the Piney Woods Route between Palestine and Rusk

Caddo Nation grass house

Celebrating the Inauguration of Daniel W. Pullin

11th Chancellor of Texas Christian University

TCU is a university on the rise, and Chancellor Pullin and the TCU community stand ready to harness that energy to strategically reach new heights.

A time of celebration and reﬂection, his inauguration will mark a new era in TCU’s storied 152-year history. Together, Horned Frogs® will celebrate our shared values of integrity, engagement, community and excellence.

LEAD

ON.

Learn more about TCU’s historic inauguration. TCU.edu/inauguration

Michael H. Price

The Great Kennedy Truther

How a Fort Worth journalist became an emblem of the Kennedy assassination

If adjusted for inflation between then and now, Jim Marrs’ 2010 book TheTrillion-DollarConspiracywould come out nearer a double-trillion, subject to marketplace whims. Marrs had objected to any such title, for that matter. He reckoned that his topic — economic collapse, politically driven — would devalue that figurative trillion dollars to chump change, any day now.

Long acknowledged as the double-dog-defiant journalistic face of the John F. Kennedy assassination of 1963, Marrs had taken his beatings and invited more of the same since his breakthrough book of 1989 — Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy. That historical novel had emerged from 26 years of primary-source research

to become a mass-market publishing phenomenon, and eventually the basis for Oliver Stone’s 1991 film, “JFK.” Jim Marrs (1943-2017) stoked controversy as an energizing resource: The more raucous the razzes from the naysayers, the more emphatic the backlash, the greater Marrs’ sense of encouragement.

And the greater his revenues as a consequence. Marrs told the truth as he knew it and conventionally easy answers be damned.

Jim proposed to call his new-for-2010 book by the title of Zombie Nation. He telephoned me from his office in Wise County to pilot the idea. Didn’t have caller ID yet on the antiquated landline hookup, but the instrument packed a more recognizably urgent ring when Jim Marrs was doing the dialing.

No sooner had I picked up, than Marrs posed a pressing question: “You know that World War II-era movie, ‘King of the Zombies’?” He paused a beat. I veered the train of thought onto a film-history track. “Well, then,” he continued, “would you say that ‘King of the Zombies’ might be more of a social allegory than an out-and-out horror movie?”

“I might,” I answered, easing into my official American Film Institute Fellowship hat. “You mean the 1941 movie ‘King of the Zombies,’ right? More a comedy than a scare-show or a social-message piece — but sureenough an anti-Nazi piece. Unusual for its time, too, before Pearl Harbor, when corporate Hollywood was going easy on the Third Reich in the name of fairplay isolationism.”

“Just what I’d thought,” said Marrs. “A society of zombies, numbed to their own enslavement.”

“Something like that,” I answered. Director Jean Yarbrough had fashioned “King of the Zombies” around the notion that Adolf Hitler’s superstitious flunkies were exploring the crackpot idea of resurrecting cadavers as cannon fodder. Zombies, all right.

“Perfect title for my new book!” Jim said. “Zombie Nation!”

“Still on the Nazi kick, eh, Jim?” I said.

“Naw, no Nazis, per se,” Marrs said. “This is as new as tomorrow — the Third Reich has never really gone away, evolving into a newer New World Order of phantom banking, mind-controlling pharmaceuticals with evasive basic medical care, and a bureaucratic dictatorship. A nation of zombies, that’s what. And we’ve gotten that way without having to resurrect a single stiff! Zombie Nation, all right.”

Marrs’ bankable identification with controversy was hardly fleeting. Marrs reentered the bestseller mainstream with 1997’s Alien Agenda: Investigating the Extraterrestrial Presence Among Us, which saw eight printings in less than a year. He did so again in 2000 with Rule by Secrecy, a connecting recent history with ancient mysteries. Marrs and I developed a graphic novel called Oswald’s Confession (2012), a fact-based speculative sequel to Crossfire

But about that Zombie Nation: Marrs said later in 2010, “The publisher scrapped my perfect title. Said it sounded too much like a Stephen King book — a horror title, y’know. Which it is, of course, of the real-life variety. Anyhow, now it’s The Trillion-Dollar Conspiracy.”

The fuller official title proved a mouthful: The Trillion-Dollar Conspiracy: How the New World Order, Man-Made Diseases, and Zombie Banks Are Destroying America. The book has remained in print, and never mind the inexorable shrinkage of the trillion-dollar distinction.

“Still managed to keep the word zombie in there, though,” said Marrs.

Conventional Origins of a Unique Career

James Farrell “Jim” Marrs, a Fort Worth native, had become a reporter for the Denton Record-Chronicle while a student at the University of North Texas. In 1968, he joined the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He spent 1969-1970 as a translator of French and German documents for the U.S. Army. Back at the Star-Telegram, Marrs challenged management with an insistence that the 1963 Kennedy assassination must be a continuing story. He left in 1972 to join the public-relations industry, then returned to the Telegram from 1974-1980.

“They blacklisted me at the Telegram,” Marrs told me after our first meeting in 1983 through the Society of Professional Journalists. “Banished me from the very building, even as a visitor, because I kept challenging the ‘Oswald-done-it’ conclusions. Better not let [editor] Jack Tinsley catch you dealing with me, lest you get the same.” I was working as an editor and columnist for the Telegram. Marrs and I became collaborators on the Society’s annual “Texas Gridiron Show,” a political-satire revue.

When Oliver Stone’s “JFK” came to light during 1990-1991, it became imperative that Jim Marrs, as the film’s local-angle source-author, must be interviewed for the Telegram. As the

newspaper’s syndicated film critic, I stated the case to Jack Tinsley.

“Why, Jim Marrs is a charlatan,” said Tinsley. “An embarrassment to the profession. I’ve barred him from the newsroom.”

“Well, if we’re going to cover Oliver Stone’s picture, then we can’t neglect the originator of the story,” I said. “And a bestselling, home-grown originator, at that.”

I determined that Marrs had maintained an account with the Star-Telegram Credit Union. No figure of authority could banish an investor. The interview proceeded, and the newsroom-at-large welcomed Marrs as a fondly remembered colleague.

Marrs progressed as publisher of the weekly Springtown Current while serving as an executive of First Bank & Trust of Springtown.

And why the backlash? Political analyst Stephen E. Ambrose disdained conspiracy theorists, but he championed Marrs’ reasoning that motives for the Kennedy murder included attacks on organized crime; failure to support Cuban exiles in connection with the Bay of Pigs invasion; the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty; plans to withdraw from Vietnam, to abolish the oil-depletion allowance, and to drop Lyndon B. Johnson from the 1964 ticket; and civil-rights policies.

Marrs remained a defiant moving target. Publishers Weekly, the trade journal, reviewed Alien Agenda by scoffing at the notion that the moon might be a UFO and taking to task his refusal to dismiss the notorious “alien autopsy” films. But Publishers Weekly also hailed Alien Agenda as “the most entertaining and complete overview of flying saucers ... in years.”

Marrs remained a chronic TV-and-radio presence, a perpetual-motion engine of research, until a heart attack felled him in August of 2017. Such were the relentless ambitions — not to mention the sheer showboating generosity — of one of the more vivid personalities Fort Worth has produced.

by John Henry

The Alliance in Texas over Canal Dreams

Kelly Hancock, Fort Worth native and acting state comptroller running for election for a full four-year term next year, was in town last month showcasing the miracle of AllianceTexas.

Hancock was making the rounds across the state promoting ports of entry as pivotal to Texas’ economic strength — the “Good for Texas Tour: Ports Edition.”

He was preaching to the choir about Alliance and Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, which have been everything and more that its visionaries anticipated more than 35 years ago, becoming the dominant logistics hub for the Southwestern U.S.

That’s all part of a report released by the Texas Comptroller’s Office, which showed that AllianceTexas accounted for $834.6 million in trade in 2024. The project has also generated $4.17 billion in cumulative property taxes since 1990, including nearly $344 million in 2024 alone, benefiting cities, counties, and school districts across Tarrant and Denton counties.

AllianceTexas is among 32 official ports of entry in Texas that serve as critical gateways to global trade. Ports of entry within the state of Texas accounted for $1 trillion in international trade in 2024, according to the study.

AllianceTexas is the crown jewel in Fort Worth’s economic crown and exemplifies the power of public-private partnerships — and it didn’t need a canal to shine.

Canals? So, all this spurred my memory of Fort Worth and ports of entry.

More than 90 years ago, civic leaders in Fort Worth and Dallas picked up a

dream of their predecessors of turning the Trinity River into a navigable waterway connecting the North Texas region to the Gulf of Mexico.

Or Gulf of America. Or whatever.

The idea actually began in Dallas in the 19-teens. After a flood devastated Dallas in 1908, a city planner proposed levees for flood control, as well as — a “since we’re spending money, let’s go big” moment — a canal for navigation. That’s right: DFW as a seaport.

Fast-forward to the 1930s. Amon Carter wanted a piece of the action for Fort Worth. He and John Carpenter of Dallas were the driving forces pushing for canalization of the river.

Carter and his Dallas counterparts — since when did Amon talk to them? — kept the canal dream alive through the mid-20th century.

Their sons, including Amon Carter Jr., carried the torch through the 1950s and ’60s, pressing Congress for funding.

By 1965, thanks in part to the support of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Congressman Jim Wright of Fort Worth, the Trinity River Project was officially authorized for construction. (LBJ, in fact, used the issue to try to force Amon Jr., by then publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, to fire reporter Bascom Timmons, according to historian Robert Caro. They agreed to a phasing out of Bascom Timmons, who had caused LBJ to consider picking back up his habit of four packs a day.)

It’s no wonder Houston leaders — especially Roy Hofheinz — were so insistent about keeping major league baseball out of North Texas, given all the commerce DFW had tried to take from them. (Of course, that had noth-

ing to do with the canal.)

The ambitious $1.6 billion canal plan envisioned a 200-foot-wide, 9-foot-deep barge canal stretching from the Gulf to Dallas–Fort Worth, complete with 21 locks, three dams, and raised bridges to accommodate barge traffic, as well as lots and lots more mosquitoes.

Despite the powerful coalition of business leaders, politicians, and newspapers behind it, opposition began to coalesce. Environmentalists and grassroots organizers such as Jim Bush in Navarro County warned of ecological devastation and financial waste.

Their Citizens Organization for a Sound Trinity (COST) rallied conservatives, liberals, and students alike, branding the canal a “billion-dollar ditch.” The word “boondoggle” even entered the debate. Where have we heard that before?

The plan eventually died on the vine in the mid-1970s, despite a lot of work done over the preceding 10 years. It needed help from the local taxpayers, who put a kibosh on the dream.

In March 1973, after a heated campaign, voters in Dallas and Tarrant counties decisively rejected the canal bond issue.

That was that.

Fort Worth and Dallas, however, eventually got their port of entry in the form of an industrial airport.

Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport has been everything and more that its visionaries anticipated more than 35 years ago, becoming the dominant logistics hub for the Southwestern U.S.

All of this area was akin to the wild frontier 40 years ago, all of it, except for cattle and horses, sound asleep seven days a week.

Today it’s an international economic hub, one of Texas’ two intermodal logistics facilities connecting air, ground, and rail.

That is, trade via three modes of transportation, except, notably, water. It all worked out in the end. Amazing how that happens.

And there is a lot more meat on Alliance bone.

A DANCE IN THE DIRT

The object of cutting is simple enough — separate a cow and prevent it from returning to its herd. But when you add in the wrinkle that the horseman must release his or her reins, hell just might break loose.

By Brian Kendall

“A good cowboy always has a better horse at the end of the ride; a poor cowboy will be afoot regardless of the horse.” – Anonymous

Photos by Olaf Growald

THE BEST DAMN SPORT ON FOUR LEGS

AUSTIN SHEPARD, MOUNTED ON A QUARTER HORSE NAMED KITTENISH, HAD JUST SEPARATED A YOUNG COW, ONE WITH AN ALL-WHITE COAT, FROM A HERD CLUSTERED ON THE NORTH END OF A NEARCAPACITY DICKIES ARENA.

It’s the third iteration of The American Performance Horseman, one of Teton Ridge’s big-draw Western events. And despite a lineup that includes country rockers Brothers Osborne, cutting is the marquee event.

Shepard and Kittenish are now positioned between the herd and the cow that’s desperate to return to its herd. Face-to-face, there appears an everso-brief moment of a stare down, as if the cow sized up the thousand-pound Kittenish before quickly coming to its senses — the only way to get back is by going around, not through. And in this

moment, Shepard drops his hand, letting loose of the reins.

Kittenish, for lack of a better term, is on his own.

The young cow, far more nimble than I ever suspected cows could be, abruptly jets to its left, and Kittenish, in a crouching position akin to a runner prepared for the starting gun, mirrors its movements, preventing the cow from returning to the herd. Unrelenting, the cow continues to give it a go, running from side to side with occasional jerky lateral movements or fake-outs in the opposite direction. Kittenish, correctly anticipating every shift and maneuver, appears as if he’s reading the cow’s mind. In the cutting world, they call this “cow sense,” an innate and learned intuition that makes horses excel at the sport. And with every mirrored move-

ment, plumes of dirt fly into the air, and the crowd chants a high-pitched “whoop!” in unison.

It’s a stunning choreography between these two creatures whose domesticated lives have starkly different histories, purposes, and everyday existences. Kittenish, despite matching movements, juxtaposes the cow with his grace, his black mane flopping through the air as he goes from side to side without ever advancing.

This dance goes on for about 15 seconds — there’s no buzzer in this sport, no 8-second minimum or 24-second shot clock, just a feel for when it’s best to move on after proving oneself — and the cow returns to the herd. Shepard picks up the reins, and he and Kittenish repeat the process two more times, separating cows similarly handpicked for spryness before relinquishing all duties to Kittenish.

In the ever-expanding wide world of sports, no competition’s outcome relies more heavily on trust and faith in another being than cutting. And the fact that being also happens to be a horse is a testament to man’s unique relationship with these incredible animals. Of course, one could argue most nonindividual sports require a certain amount of trust in teammates. But, as a teammate yourself, you have a certain amount of control in the outcome of any competition. This is similar to other equine sports like horse racing and show jumping, where the person in the saddle has both hands on the reins and, thus, a fair share of control over the horse and whether they win or lose.

In all of athletics, team or equine or otherwise, cutting is an anomaly. To use a football analogy, once the rider lets loose of the reins, he or she is merely a coach — a glorified spectator with a lot at stake — and the horse is a quarterback with the game on its shoulders. In this moment, it’s pure trust.

Of course, none of this is to say the rider — the cutting horse trainer — is lacking in contribution. Quite the opposite. Not only is separating (cutting) the cows a key component and judged criteria — they’re looking for smooth and

clean cuts without disturbing and dispersing the herd (a three-point penalty) — but the trainer must also avoid the natural temptation to clutch the reins with their free hand once the horse is working the cow. Any reining or visible cueing, according to the NCHA judges’ scorecard, is a one-point penalty.

Also, someone had to train the horse to get that damn good at cutting. While there’s a genetic component to cow sense, this intuition has to be properly coaxed out of a horse, which typically takes two years of patient training.

Yeah, they’re regular horse whisperers. (More on this on page 52.)

WHEN CUTTING WAS JUST A FOAL

One of the fascinating things about rodeo events and Western sports, in general, is that they stem from real-world applications. The events one sees at such competitions — save for 130-pound fellas hopping on the backs of bulls — is a literal job one would find on a working ranch. For instance, you gotta secure calves for branding and doctoring (insert roping event here); you gotta break-in horses (bronc riding); and when you break-in that horse, you gotta be damn good on it (barrel racing).

Cutting is no different.

In the 19th century, large herds of cattle would gather and graze in the open ranges. These herds almost universally included strays that wandered off from other large freegrazing herds or ranches. In such large herds, you were bound to see quite the assortment of brands. Thus, mass roundups would occur twice a year, giving ranchers an opportunity to reclaim their lost cattle.

Given that these roundups required cowboys to regularly separate a single cow from a herd and keep it apart, it was certainly advantageous to possess horses that excelled at cutting and working cattle — those that had good cow sense. Such horses were intelligent, agile, reflexive, and dependable. In other words, the best of the remuda.

On its face, this

The Main Events

The World’s Most Convenient Sport for Fort Worthians

NCHA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FUTURITY (3-YEAR-OLDS): First of the NCHA Triple Crown events, $5 million purse, Nov. 10 – Dec. 6, 2025, at Will Rogers

NCHA SUPER STAKES (4- AND 5/6-YEAR-OLDS): Second of the NCHA Triple Crown events, $3 million purse, March 18 – April 11, 2026, at Will Rogers

NCHA SUMMER SPECTACULAR (4- AND 5/6-YEAR-OLDS): Third of the NCHA Triple Crown events, $2 million purse, July 11 – Aug. 1, 2026*, at Will Rogers

THE AMERICAN PERFORMANCE

HORSEMAN: Teams competition that includes reining and reined cow, $1 million purse, July 2026*, at Dickies Arena

*Dates not yet confirmed

roundup task, requiring delicate skill from both horse and horseman, might’ve seemed a strange fit for a sport. It lacked the physical risk or sacrifice of bull or bronc riding, and it didn’t require the speed of calf roping or barrel racing. This task was a tedious slow burn, but its craft and artistry were admired by horsemen and horse enthusiasts alike. The West Texas town of Haskell (a three-hour drive from Fort Worth) was the first to get this memo, hosting the maiden cutting event in 1898. Spurred on by a hefty purse of $150 (nearly $6,000 today), the event drew thousands of spectators and attention from the likes of the Dallas Morning News and the Kansas City Star — the Star-Telegram was eight years out from hitting the presses.

Bottom line: This brand-new sport was

Weatherford, the Cutting Horse Capital of the World

Sticking to its roots, this town of nearly 40,000 continues to bank on the equine sport.

While we’ve never tested the hypothesis of throwing a rock in Weatherford to see if it hits a cutting horse trainer — far too risky an experiment — we suspect there’s at least a modicum of truth to such a statement. Whether there’s something in the water or this town has saddles in their baby strollers, Weatherford is undeniably the center of the cutting industry.

“We’re the Cutting Horse Capital of the World, and it’s a designation we carry around the cutting communities worldwide,” Weatherford Mayor Paul Paschall says. “It was a name given to us by local ranchers in the late 1980s for our world-renowned horse trainers, and even those involved in the cutting industry in ancillary services like veterinarian services, medications, feed, et cetera, et cetera. The reach goes far and wide.”

While the name might’ve started in the 1980s and stuck in the 1990s, it has roots that date back to the city’s establishment in 1856, when the town quickly became a center for ranches and horse breeders.

Today, it’s home to over 70 cutting horse ranches, including the likes of Crown Ranch, Slate River Ranch, Taylor Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch, and the recently for sale TR9. Then there’s Silverado on the Brazos, a community that has its own arena for cutting events and is home to several notable trainers.

For many, cutting is just a part of everyday life. It’s a refuge for those who reject the big-city life but still require the occasional trip to Fort Worth. Despite its proximity, the town has long avoided the influence of the metroplex, choosing to stubbornly stick to its roots as a traditional Texas town steeped in the Western lifestyle.

According to Paschall, that’s precisely what those in the cutting industry find most appealing about their town.

“I think the values align,” Paschall says. “It’s heritage. It’s hometown. It’s hospitality. The values that the equine industry carry, our community carries, too. As many parts of the world have taken one roadway, this area has maintained strong family values, strong churches, strong schools, and strong volunteer and service groups, and I think it just fits. We’re the right hand and the left hand is the equine industry, and our hands fit the same glove really.”

picking up steam.

Fast-forward 20 years, and our very own Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, then the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show, hosted the first cutting horse exhibition in an arena. The showing proved so popular that the powers that be added the event to its annual slate of rodeo events the following year.

The subsequent decades would see a major, and almost unwieldy, boost in the sport’s popularity. According to the National Cutting Horse Association, “By 1946, there were so many cutting horse contests being held, under so many different sets of conditions and rules, that a group of 13 cutting horse owners met at the Southwest Exposition and Fat Stock Show and decided to form an association to establish standard rules and procedures for holding such a competition.”

And, thus, the NCHA was formed. Headquartered right here in Fort Worth, the NCHA is the nation’s primary governor, promoter, sponsor, and producer of over 1,300 cutting events that cover

the gamut of professionals, amateurs, veterans, celebrities, and everything in between. According to the NCHA website, these competitions, cumulatively, attract over 130,000 entrants and shell out over $39 million in annual prize money.

But among this legion of events are three that the NCHA dubs the “Triple Crown”: World Championship Futurity, Super Stakes, and the Summer Cutting Spectacular. One could call them the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont of cutting, and we will. These are the events that create legends and etch winners’ names in stone, where the stakes are highest ($9 million in prize money annually), and the best of the best perform. But, unlike the triple crown of horse racing, NCHA’s big three all take place in the same venue: Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Coliseum.

Given Cowtown’s role in the genesis of the sport, we argue it stands to reason that Fort Worth monopolize such events. And the local economy, which gets a

boost of $119 million (according to NCHA), would have a similar argument.

In 2023, Globe Life would host the inaugural The American Performance Horseman, an event that brought the equine sports of cutting, reining, and reined cow horse together for a team event with a $1 million purse. Done in conjunction with The American Rodeo, it was likely the first performance horse event that had the energy of a rock concert. The competition, keeping the same format, would move to Dickies Arena this year, where horsemen competed to a near-capacity crowd.

I have a feeling we’re not in Haskell anymore.

A Quick Glossary Cutting Words

COW SENSE: A horse’s natural ability to read a cow’s body language

CUT: To separate and extract a single cow from the herd

HERD HOLDER: A rider who assists in holding the main herd in place so the cutter can separate a cow cleanly

HOT QUIT: When a rider stops working a cow before its clearly turned away — a costly penalty

PUT YOUR HAND DOWN: When a rider drops his or her hand onto the horse’s neck, signaling that he or she has no control over the horse’s movements

TURNBACK HORSE: A rider who assists in keeping the cow from running too far across the arena

WORKING A COW: When the horse is engaged in mirroring and controlling a cow’s every move to keep it from returning to the herd

While cutting has no doubt changed over the past 80 years — giant arenas, improvements in veterinary medicine, $5 million price tags on horses, to name a few — there’s one thing that’s remained constant: It all comes down to the horse — the best in the remuda.

WORKING TIME: The period (2 minutes and 30 seconds) allowed for a cutting run

HANDS DOWN, THE BEST During a discussion with a fellow attendee of The American Performance Horseman, I admitted to typecasting the sports of cutting and reining as “rodeo events that come with a high net worth and an extended pinky.” They’re more akin to a red-carpet event than the pyrotechnics of Bulls’ Night Out, I thought.

While the fellow attendee didn’t disagree with my assessment, it wasn’t lost on me that, in the middle of my statement, the crowd’s cheers during the stellar cutting run of Austin Shepard and his horse Kittenish were so loud I had to pause before completing my thought. It was as engaged a Fort Worth audience as

I have ever seen. And, yes, you can color me surprised. It wasn’t long ago that one would have scoffed at the idea of a cutting event with a high-decibel crowd and Morgan Wallen blaring through the loudspeakers of a 14,000-seat arena. What happened at this year’s The American Performance Horseman at Dickies Arena was a shining example of Western performance sports’ incredible surge in popularity. Cutting, for better or worse, is shedding its exclusive vibe and entering the mainstream.

One could easily credit the oft-cited “Yellowstone” effect — the rise in the popularity of the Western, thanks to Taylor Sheridan’s mastery of creating binge-worthy shows for Paramount — and we’re certainly aware of its massive impact on American culture. And while the combination of “Yellowstone,” Bella Hadid, and pop stars going country might’ve opened the door to society-atlarge’s awareness of cutting’s existence, the sport’s recent graduation to a fullfledged arena sport is for one reason alone: It’s fun as hell to watch.

Though equine sports will always

remain associated with high rollers and exclusivity — it takes an ability to access certain means to participate (aka horses are expensive) — this shouldn’t preclude one from enjoying watching it. And despite not having the two-minute adrenaline rush of fellow equine event the Kentucky Derby, the crowd participation (the in-unison, high-pitched “whoop!”), large purses (six-plus figures), and rise of legitimate superstars (Adan Banuelos) take the quiet confrontation between the horse and cow and make it an electric experience.

HOW TO BREED A CHAMPION

At any of NCHA’s triple crown events, you’re bound to see horses whose first stops were at Stephenville’s Valley Equine.

THERE’S A WINDOWLESS ROOM AT VALLEY EQUINE, A HORSE BREEDING FACILITY NEAR STEPHENVILLE, THAT’S HOME TO A PLETHORA OF PRICEY MICROSCOPIC ORGANISMS THAT WILL SOON TO BE MAILED AROUND THE GLOBE. While they might not look like much now, these organisms have the potential to one day turn into champion cutting horses, reining horses, and barrel racers.

While on this October afternoon, Valley Equine houses well over 100 horses, these clean and roomy stables aren’t their permanent homes. Most horses at this facility are here for one purpose: breeding.

To remind everyone how this works, and if you’ll pardon the explicit language, this means collecting eggs from mares, semen from stallions, creating embryos from the two, and placing this embryo into the uterus of a sur-

rogate mare. This process is a sort of equine form of IVF, and it’s how most competitive performance horses came to be. For Valley Equine’s part, from conception to birth and on to their sale as yearlings, the facility is well equipped to handle, complete, or deliver every stage.

And by deliver, we also mean they literally ship stages of the process — globally. Whether it’s embryos, semen, eggs, or yearlings, their horses’ genetic jackpots are in high demand.

Top Earning Sires of All-Time

“Overseas, it’s mostly all over Europe and Australia,” Valley Equine general manager Lisa Szwejbka says. “Their reining season offsets ours. Our season will go from Feb. 1 to July 15, and theirs will begin Sept. 1.”

As it’s currently not breeding season in Texas, a time Szwejbka calls sales season, the 100-plus horses on the property during our

October visit happen to be here for other reasons — some were even pregnant. During breeding season, Valley Equine will have 300-plus horses. While these horses are no longer training for cutting or reining, they’re far from retirees; they haven’t been put out to pasture. They still have one more job to do.

One horse that’s had a permanent stable during this time is Metallic Cat, the 2008 Futurity champion who has sired horses that account for $63 million in winnings, the second most ever — right behind his father, High Brow Cat. He might also be the most famous horse in cutting, thanks to a brief yet important cameo in “Yellowstone.” The Futurity World Championship will carry his name — officially the NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity.

Carrying what seems like a fail-safe genetic makeup, an embryo slapped with the name Metallic Cat fetches a pretty penny. In late December 2024, an embryo by Metallic Cat and DT Sugar Chex Whiz broke records when it sold for $64,000.

Concerning the creation of such embryos, Szwejbka poses a very pragmatic question, “If you know something’s going to potentially win you money and do well and be successful, why would you not create it?”

While the family trees of all breeding horses are researched and gone over with the proverbial fine-tooth comb, Szwejbka says Valley Equine will also send out for tests to ensure horses don’t have any potential genetic disorders.

“It’s one thing that quarter horses and Arabians tend to have problems with,” Szwejbka says. “We send it off to UC Davis, AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) and request an equine disease panel. And they’ll send it back and tell us whether they’re carriers or not. And, from there, a client can make their decisions.”

THE

AMERICAN QUARTER

HORSE

IS THE

CUTTING HORSE

As we enter the stables that Szwejbka says only house cutting horses, she says that it’s the funniest side of this world.

Universally, cutting horses are quarter horses; they’re the ones with the cow sense. “Not only are [quarter horses] strong, but they’re also smart,” Szwejbka explains. “They can do multiple different things at any given opportunity. Some of the best ones outsmart a lot of people, too.”

Regarding physical attributes, Szwejbka says, “They’re also not 17 hands. You’re not having to get ladders to get on top of them. And I just like an easy keep. I want something that’s going to be intelligent, but also intelligent enough to make sure that I stay on the back.”

Quarter horses were bred for the distinct purpose of handling cattle, requiring trainability and short bursts of speed and agility — sounds like cutting.

Some of the most fun they have at the Valley Equine facility is watching all of the performance horse events and seeing the horses they knew as yearlings, or maybe even embryos, competing, winning, and, well, making them proud.

“If [competitors] have any of our mares’ or any of our stallions’ names, we’re like, ‘That’s our baby!’ And it is quite a giant chunk of them that we recognize.”

THE HONCHO AND THE HORSEMAN

Adan Banuelos has accomplished everything a professional cutting horse trainer could possibly hope to achieve. And while many hype him as the man to take the sport to new heights, don’t blame him if his next chapter is a little more personal.

By Brian Kendall

Photos by Olaf Growald

PART I: A BIRTH IN THE SADDLE

Adan Banuelos rode horses before he was even born.

This statement is not an exaggerated joke to explain Adan’s otherworldly ability to ride, train, and communicate with equines, paving the way for more cutting titles than he can even count (seriously), his becoming the youngest Mexican American to be inducted into the National Cutting Horse Association Hall of Fame, and many labeling him the sport’s first superstar. No, he quite literally rode horses before anyone on this planet knew his birthday. Even if he had yet to experience the sun on his skin or the sweet musk of a stable, Adan felt the thrill of being in the saddle while in his mother’s womb. And regardless of when one first throws a leg over a saddle, attached to an umbilical cord or not, any horseman will tell you that getting back into those stirrups is an itch that will remain for the rest of one’s life. For Adan, he had that itch at birth.

“I guess my mom was seven months pregnant and still riding whenever she was going to have me,” Adan says. “And after that, I didn’t know anything else. So, this was my favorite thing to do from day one.”

Before you go around Googling whether it’s safe for a pregnant woman to ride — it’s not as taboo as you might think — remember that life on a horse ranch, which is how Adan grew up, is the antithesis of a snuggly suburban or convenient city existence. There’s no clock punching, trigger warnings, or YouTube streaming. It’s a life of break-of-dawn mornings, hard work, and calloused hands. And one earns those callouses by straddling horses, even when pregnant. And according to his mom, Tiffani, whom Adan calls the steady hand behind the scenes, once one fully embraces this lifestyle that

she readily calls chaotic, it’s not something one leaves with any ease. Such work becomes a craving or even an obsession — a hole that constantly needs filling.

“I think the horse part is what [causes the craving],” she says. “And I think you’re born with it. I think there are people that are born with this innate sense of wanting something more. Wanting a deeper connection with something and making this connection through more than just verbally speaking. And I think some people, when they realize it’s the horse, once they’re drawn to it, they can’t go back.”

“And Adan?” I ask. “Was he born with it?”

“I don’t know if he had a choice,” Tiffani says. “But he was very in tune with horses from a very young age.”

Whatever you wanna call it — language, ESP, mind-reading, horse-whispering — Adan has a gift of being able to understand and communicate with horses. And there isn’t a sport in the world where being in tune with a horse — having harmony, synchronicity, and rapport with one’s equine counterpart — is as consequential than in the sport of cutting.

“The cutting horse industry is the only horse sport that you put your hand down; you’re not steering this horse,” Adan says. “And so that means it takes a lot of reading minds and reading the energy. Cowboys don’t talk about energies and chakras and vibrations. But I believe in them, and I always have.”

For those who don’t know or understand cutting (and jumped the previous eight pages to check out this profile on Adan), here’s a quick 101: After the horse and trainer separate a single cow from its herd, the trainer cedes authority to the horse, whose job is to prevent the isolated bovine from returning to the herd. What ensues

is a duel of anticipation, with the horse — in a very unhorse-like crotched position — slinging from side to side, mirroring the cow’s every move to impede its return. Horses that excel at this have what industry folk call “cow sense,” a natural ability to read and react to cattle instinctively. While many quarter horses are bred for this purpose, cow sense needs to be carefully coaxed out of a horse through training, which is where people like Adan come into play.

When one watches the choreography between the horse and cow, and the nonverbal exchanges between trainer and horse, there’s a distinct artistry and poetry to cutting — it’s not the fierce unruliness of rough stock. And this is likely why Adan speaks so poetically about the sport. For a self-described person who struggles with shyness, Adan’s words don’t flounder on the subject of cutting.

“It takes two years to teach a horse before you ever show up in public; I don’t like using the word training because you’re a teacher, you’re a life coach to a horse,” Adan says. “And when you show up to your first competition, you better hope you did a good job teaching and you treated that horse right because, if you didn’t, it’s going to tell on you. It’s important to remember that it’s these horses who decide to put food in my fridge and give me a name and give me a life, an opportunity.”

Adan’s list of industry accomplishments includes over $7 million in lifetime earnings, claiming the 2020 NCHA Futurity Championship, becoming one of the youngest ever inductees into the NCHA Hall of Fame in 2017, capturing The American Performance Horseman titles in 2023 and 2024, and ending 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022 as the leading NCHA Open rider. Add to this, his longtime girlfriend, Bella Hadid, is one of the most popular fashion models in the world — more on this later — leading to coverage in the likes of Vogue and Vanity Fair, and it’s no wonder people are hyping him as the sport’s first superstar.

PART II: A SUPERSTAR CUTTER

Adan and I had already met in-person a couple of times, once at an amateur cutting event, where he was assisting clients, and another at his horse ranch near Granbury, aptly called Adan Banuelos Performance Horses, where we photographed him for this issue.

During these meetings, we’d have short bursts of interactions that mostly amounted to an exchanging of pleasantries, shooting the shit, and my cracking up over his string of self-deprecating comments. “Damn, that photo looks good, except for the face. But there’s nothing we can do about that.”

But when it came to requesting time for an interview, he’d tell me, “I could do it now, but I gotta tell ya, it’s not gonna be worth a damn. I’m much better over the phone.” Okay, phone it is. “And no Zoom,” he insisted.

A few hours later, he calls me from his truck — I can faintly hear the image rumbling from his Dodge dually — and 20 minutes into our conversation, we begin chatting about his wins at The American Performance Horseman at the massive Globe Life Field, his new-found fame, and his girlfriend of nearly three years, Bella.

“That first time I rode into Globe Life [Field], my agent had four legs and spoke no English and put me on the map,” Adan says.

“And now, I’m, like, dating a freaking supermodel. I’m in love with a supermodel. At first, I thought, let’s just see what she’s like. Then I find out she’s a freaking angel, and she gets as nervous as I do. That’s why I wanted to do this [interview] in the truck because, if I’m not on four legs, dude, I’m not that strong. But I’ll f***ing scare some people on four legs. But if it’s just me and no horse, I don’t know what to say sometimes.”

There’s an authenticity to Adan that’s, if you’ll pardon the cliché, refreshing. And he also presents a slew of dichotomies. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so secure about their insecurities, so comfortable with their anxieties, or so charismatic when describing their social awkwardness.

While I pick up on the shyness and occasional yet fleeting bouts of nervousness, Adan still comes across as confident as hell. He has an effortless swagger that appears void of machismo. Whether my vision is being clouded by the fact he’s a man who’s at the top of what he does — and what he does happens to be badass — could be up for debate, but I don’t think so.

He’s also quick to deflect praise (“horses have done more for me than I’ve ever done for horses”), extremely well-mannered (he called me sir a few times despite our being the same age), and seemingly very empathetic, especially toward his horses. And in a world where there are questions over reclaiming masculinity or what it means to be masculine, et cetera, et cetera, Adan might be a guy who checks all the boxes on both sides of the aisle.

Of course, Adan’s shyness and self-deprecation were nowhere to be seen when I saw him in July during The American Performance Horseman at Dickies Arena. This marked the first time I had ever seen Adan during those 150 seconds when he’s most in his element — on a horse in a cutting competition.

Going into it, I knew of him — by now, it seemed everyone knew of him (for one reason or another) and, well, it showed. No knock on any of the other competitors — the crowd was engaged throughout the event — but Adan’s performance had a certain electricity that was unmatched. A frenzy, as if people were cheering for the home team — though most notable cutting horse trainers are from the area.

The atmosphere, in a near-capacity Dickies Arena, is unlike any that has ever been seen at a cutting competition. Tell someone 10 years ago that a cutting and reining event packaged with a country rock concert and pyrotechnics would draw over 10,000 people, and they’d tell you to rein it in, cowboy. But this is the state of the sport. Call it the “Yellowstone” effect or give credit to whomever you wish, but the recent surge in popularity of cutting is undeniable. And I’d argue, after witnessing The American Performance Horseman, Adan and Bella deserve some credit for the growth, as well.

And if the sport is truly on a path to the mainstream, who’s going to take it there? As I posit in my question to Adan, every sport needs someone like a Michael Jordan or a Shohei Ohtani to carry the mantle and give the public a rooting interest, to take it to the next level of popularity — to be a superstar. Could this be Adan for cutting?

“Some people, and people that manage our association, say things like that to me,” Adan says. “But I’ve always been bad at taking compliments. Of course, it makes me feel good, don’t get

me wrong, but there are a lot of people busting their asses off and grinding. Everybody works hard. And I would hate it if I ever accepted that.”

Truth is, despite his wins, and despite his status, Adan’s simply not a competitive guy. At least, not in the way you might think; his definition of winning doesn’t include trophies and cash prizes.

“In my opinion, winners aren’t necessarily the people that always come out on top,” Adan says. “To me, a winner is someone who, on their worst day, is still going to open the door for someone and say, ‘Yes ma’am,’ ‘No ma’am,’ and whatnot.”

PART III: A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES

Seeking a better life for himself and his 13 siblings, Ascencion Banuelos, Adan’s father, was 13 years old when he ran away from his home in Zacatecas, Mexico, and illegally crossed the border into the U.S. — risking his life to cross the river after a journey of nearly 1,000 miles. A young teenager in a foreign land with no money or means to survive meant he had to lie about his age to get a job at a dairy farm, where he worked 19-hour days milking 400 cows twice a day for minimum pay. According to Adan, every six months, he received only a handful of days off.

Growing up with horses his whole life — his family didn’t have cars or trucks in Mexico — Ascencion got a job at a horse barn during his days off, where he was first introduced to cutting, an industry that would change the fortunes of his entire family.

“My dad’s my best friend,” Adan said during an interview for Teton Ridge’s “Window to the West” series. “And he’s also kind of a hero. Knowing he ran away at 13 … all to get to horses, all to get to [providing his family] with the opportunity, to get me to this point, it’s a very special feeling.”

Ascencion would go on to become a highly decorated cutting horse trainer, who became the first Mexican American inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame. And his way of teaching — his motto and moral compass as a horseman — has clearly been an important influence on Adan.

“I would tell Adan, I’d rather stay friends with my horse than to go get a big check and have that horse hate me,” Ascencion said in the same “Window to the West” documentary.

As the son of a horseman, this, of course, meant Adan would grow up on a horse ranch and, there, he would receive a horse ranch education.

“I made it to the second day of the third grade,” Adan says about his time in classroom settings. “That’s how far I made it. And then I started working. I guess people would say it’s working, but me, I just wanted to get out of school. So, the fact that I had recess all day, every day, doing what I love to do since then.”

No school lessons, no textbooks, no tests, no computers, no prerequisites, and no fake fire drills. But also, no understaffed schools, no overcrowded classrooms, no cyberbullying, and no boredom. Instead, Adan was invested in the thing he already knew he was going to pursue for the rest of his life: horses.

It’s not your typical schooling, but it is no doubt an education.

“I never really played Nintendo or PlayStation or Game Boys or whatever,” Adan says. All those things were horses to me. And from a very young age, every day I try to beat my high score, not neces-

sarily in a show pen or in a competition, but just how much better could I get my horses from the time I was probably 9 or 10.”

Tiffani, Adan’s mother, recalls the time she became certain he would become a horseman.

“I had a teasing pony that you could barely get a halter on, and one day, out of the blue [Adan] says, ‘I want to break that pony.’ And I said, ‘I’ll get you a pony. We can find you a pony.’ And he says, ‘No, I want to break that one.’ And he, the boys, and his uncle put in the time, he built him a little tiny snaffle for this little heathen horse — and it was a heathen — and he broke that one. And then he was just kind of hooked.”

As Adan puts it, at the horse ranch, full of family and friends, “there weren’t any employees, there wasn’t work, there wasn’t days off.”

Perhaps as an homage or even a way to recreate this time that Adan calls some of the happiest days of his life, he purchased his current horse ranch and training facility in 2018 — a 100-acre plot near Granbury that was previously a breeding facility.

“My office is huge,” Adan says, “and it has sandy floors, and I make it rain, bro, every day. It’s beautiful. And just because my office has sandy floors doesn’t mean that I’m not somebody.”

At this facility, they train 90 horses at any given time.

You see, in this sport, Adan doesn’t necessarily own the horses he trains. While he and his team care for their stabled horses, feed them, shoe them, train them, and more — a horse takes a village — they’re owned by other, sometimes very wealthy people who have entrusted Adan and his team to coach up a champion.

Among the heavy hitters Adan has as clients, they include Alice Walton, heiress to Walmart, and Bobby Patton, co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, just to name a couple.

“It’s a gratifying feeling that people like that, who could afford the best at anything — they could have bought a yacht, they could have bought a NASCAR — and they purchased horses and picked me to entrust with their investment … it’s incredible.”

Adan puts his foot in the stirrup more than anyone else — his words, not mine. And even said he got on 76 horses in a single day. And, yet, he still doesn’t feel like he’s worked a day in his life.

“The fact that I’m lucky enough to get paid for it is just a huge blessing,” Adan says. “And God’s taken care of me in so many ways, from [helping me avoid] injuries to providing amazing opportunities. I am a strong believer in that.”

PART IV: A LIFE-CHANGING TRAIL RIDE

There was a lot of tabloid chatter and headline-making in the celebrity gossip columns — somewhere Adan likely never envisioned his name would end up — in October 2023: “Bella Hadid Spotted In Fort Worth, Texas, Holding Hands With Cowboy.”

Grainy videos and out-of-focus iPhone pics went viral, Cowtown did a collective squeeee, and even Fort Worth Magazine’s resident celebrity headline reader shot me the story via email.

Though he knew it by the time this TMZ story hit the web, when Adan first met Bella, his knowledge of her Fashion Week catwalks, magazine cover poses, and Instagram follower count was the grand total of zilch.

Bella, in case you’re unaware, is a pretty damn famous fashion

model — which does indeed equate to a supermodel — who regularly appears in magazines (normally on covers) and has modeled in campaigns for Dior, Versace, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Victoria’s Secret, and Michael Kors, just to name a few. She also grew up on a horse ranch in Santa Barbara, California, and excelled at English horseback riding.

One week, Bella’s mother, Yolanda, invited her daughter to Fort Worth to take a breather from work and attend cutting horse show, where Yolanda’s boyfriend had horses that were competing. Adan, a mainstay at most cutting events, was of course present. Thus, Bella and Adan were in the same room, and the two naturally got to chatting and hit it off.

To recap: Adan had just spoken to one of the world’s most famous supermodels, and he was none the wiser.

This naivety would quickly dissipate when those around him, including his sisters, made him aware of her celebrity status. But neither Adan’s cowboy vocation nor Bella’s life on the runway would discourage the other from keeping the channels of communication open.

“[After we first met,] we talked three or four times over a week,” Adan says. “Then I invited her to the ranch, and we went on a trail ride, which I never get time to do, but because it was with her, I was like, ‘Okay, we’re going on a trail ride.’” Bella would accept under one condition: That her family could come, too.

“You could tell me the Grinch was your uncle, and I would also invite him,” Adan jokes.

I think it was the same for her where she was kind of over a lot of people putting pressure on her.”

Despite what one might see as an opposites-attract relationship, this is far from the truth. The pair have undeniable parallels: growing up on horse ranches; a busy, travel-heavy work schedule; a deep fondness for and interest in equine sports; and, most importantly, genuine humility. Seeing them interact during an amateur cutting event where Adan coached Bella on her rescued horse, Angel, I couldn’t help but sense a solid balance of infatuation and giving each other shit. “I don’t know what [Adan] said to you, but he’s lying about his age,” Bella said to me jokingly. “He’s actually 40!” (As best I’ve gathered, he’s 37, by the way.) And I’m guessing this solid riff game doesn’t come from living a year and a half with Adan in a fifth wheel — yes, this happened. No, I sense it’s something Bella brought to the table from the get-go.

During this trail ride and, well, in the years since, the pair let down their guards to one another, shared vulnerabilities, and talked about those deep subjects and feelings one only shares with someone for whom they truly care.

But Adan wasn’t sold on the fact that he’d see her again. With Bella due to leave that day on a flight to who knows where, as the two were preparing to say their goodbyes, Adan got off his horse, gave her a flower from the ground, and said, “Hey, I may never see you again, but I’m going to regret not asking you. And I don’t care if it’s on the cheek, but if you’ll go to the top of the hill over there, behind that tree, and let me give you a kiss, even on the cheek, I would be very grateful.”

As promised, Adan would kiss her on the cheek, and Bella would not catch her flight that day. And she’s remained in the area ever since.

Today, Adan and Bella, clearly in love, have been together for almost three years.

“I was in a place in my life where I had to kind of cut the bullshit out; I was no longer trying to impress anybody,” Adan says. “And

Interestingly, Adan and Bella have managed to not only enter one another’s worlds, but have had a profound impact, as well. Bella, already a natural on the horse and, according to Adan, similarly born with an innate ability to communicate with and sense her equine partner, has taken up cutting and received NCHA Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, given to the highest rookie earner for the calendar year.

“I think she was born in love with something like this, but after spending all that time during her career in a much different world, I think she thought it was a fairytale and would never happen,” Adan says. “Horses were her first love and, yeah, I think she decided to give her career a hundred percent so that she could find her way back to horses.”

And Adan, for his part, has helped bring the world of Western sports to New York Fashion Week, when he and Bella held a cutting horse demonstration in the middle of Gansevoort Street — with dirt and everything, y’all.

For a next act, both have already publicly talked about wanting kids, and it’s something Adan expressed to me during our interview. “Tell you what, I’ve wanted a kid for so long, I didn’t even care if I had a woman,” Adan said half-joking. For now, it appears Adan’s waiting for a little bit of consistency and lining up his and Bella’s schedules to ensure they can “do a good job by them.” But kids seem destined to happen.

Toward the end of our interview, while reflecting on the serendipitous moment of his and Bella’s meeting and his life since, Adan knows just what deserves his enduring appreciation, and repeats his debt of gratitude.

“I’m happy that horses introduced us. Again, I owe more to horses than horses owe to me, that’s for sure.”

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SHELTER IN A TIME OF STORM

At the Humane Society’s Equine Ranch, the broken find rest, the hungry are fed, and trust returns, one gentle step at a time.

By John Henry | Photo by Richard W. Rodriguez

N OT FAR FROM WHERE THE CHISHOLM TRAIL PARKWAY AND COUNTY ROAD 913 MEET IS A REFUGE WHERE TIME SLOWS AND PEACE RETURNS TO THE WEARY AND WOUNDED.

This is the 33 acres of the Humane Society of North Texas’ Equine Ranch Program in, aptly, Joshua, just a short drive from town down the tollway. Here, horses who have suffered abandonment or neglect are rescued and adopted out as companion horses to forever homes.

Just as Joshua led the Israelites from wandering into a promised land, the equine ranch leads neglected or mistreated horses from hardship into safety — their own promised land.

Most of the 80-100 horses sent here are older — more than 20 years — with a well-earned retirement their entitlement. Almost all here — there are 23 currently — have been removed from their former homes by law enforcement because of cruelty or surrendered voluntarily by families who can no longer afford to care for them. In addition, many come here with illness.

This is the largest such facility in North Texas.

Autumn is in a pen nearby, the newest arrival at the ranch. Hunger has carved its signature where muscle used to dwell, but her spirit has clearly returned. Her disposition is happy. Another curious horse walks toward us to say hello. Autumn ambles over to greet her new friend.

Autumn knows she is in a safe haven where she no longer has to worry about where her next meal or drink of water will come from. She grows confident each day that this is not only a second chance at life but her best chance to live well.

She knows she can trust again. She knows she will be loved here.

Since launching in 2015, the Humane Society of North Texas has rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed more than 1,000 horses as companions.

Wonderful things happen here. It’s all about relationships made between man and horse, and horse and horse. Horses are amazing beasts, a gift from the Almighty to be in service to mankind, even though he doesn’t deserve it.

Longtime horse trainer Steve Stevens is the equine director, while his wife, Amanda, is the head trainer.

Nonprofit equine rescue is a vocation they’ve been at for eight years. They were inspired to do this after Amanda’s cancer diagnosis “with a very poor prognosis” 11 years ago.

“The horses saved her life,” says Steve. “We truly believe that. And from that kind of point on, we wanted to make our mission to really help these horses that have given humans so much.”

Amanda explains further: “I found that through my experience going through my treatment for breast cancer and even into my survivorship, dealing with all of the anxiety and PTS that I went through, that nothing really unlocked my emotions the way the horses did. I had two babies that I was raising, so I always had to be strong during the day. But the horses were the one thing where all of a sudden I could just cry and be myself. Horses don’t judge us. They just want to connect. They can offer this companionship to humans and peaceful interactions. They’re wonderful creatures in helping us get into the moment and let everything else go away.”

The ranch in Johnson County is outfitted with an 11-stall barn, covered arena, four quarantine pens, multiple pastures, and storage facilities. The Humane Society has been at this site for 10 years.

Between January 2023 and August of this year, the Humane Society placed 180 horses and donkeys into homes. If, for some reason, the new home doesn’t work, the ranch will gladly take the horses back. That, Steve says, has happened fewer than a handful

of times since he and his wife arrived three years ago. The average stay here is 92 days.

“What’s more important than length of stay, which is important, is getting the horse to a good place,” says Andrew Fortunato, HSNT vice president of development. “They’re fully healthy physically, they’re vaccinated and chipped and doing all the things that make the horse adoptable. And so they can be successful.”

This work is expensive, of course. HSNT operates the ranch through donors and grants. The organization is launching a $15 million fundraising campaign, structured in three strategic phases, which includes expanding pastures and building a “barndominium” to provide space for education, events, and on-site accommodations, strengthening both community engagement and operational capacity.

Many donate and adopt.

“A lot of that has to do with the amazing state of Texas,” Steve says. “A lot of people love horses and have the property to take ‘em in. Maybe their other horse lost their companion, so they’re looking for a companion for their horse.”

The horses are sent off with a foundational program, a series of basic exercises that HSNT makes sure the new homes know. With horses that might be younger, “we find people that are qualified to continue with their process.”

Takoda is a great example of the work done here. A “beautiful” white Appaloosa, Takoda was a cruelty case who arrived here by way of law enforcement. He was skin and bones and blind in both eyes. He was so weak, he could barely walk. He eventually had both eyes surgically removed.

“The gentleman who hauled him to us said he didn’t think Takoda was going to make it,” says Amanda.

Takoda, though, did make it, demonstrating a will to live and get better. Like all the horses here, there is an intake procedure that includes a vet visit.

“Once he got into the stall and started eating … I feel like it was just a few bites,” Amanda says, “all of a sudden his head lifted up. He started to nicker and whinny.”

It was as if he was again finding his voice.

“You could just feel that he was just so relieved to have some food. It makes me want to cry,” Amanda says. “And once he started to put on the weight, we found that he was so affectionate to people and so loving and gentle. He was just a gentle giant.”

Most importantly, Takoda found a best friend. Jack Black took Takoda under his wing. To this day, Jack Black leads Takoda around the barn and pasture. That relationship was why they couldn’t be separated. They had to be adopted together. And they were. Steve shows me a video of the first day the two spent at their adopted home, in Central Texas, I believe he told me.

“This is literally their first time in the pasture,” says Steve. “And you can see, although he’s fully blind, he knows how to follow Jack.”

Says Amanda: “He’s continuing to touch lives every day. He’s one of the most content, happy horses I’ve ever met. And I’ve known a lot of horses.”

Philanthropy is one of the ways we carry out our mission of Celebrating Fort Worth and Making It Better. Over the last 26 years, Fort Worth Magazine has proudly partnered with more than 225 different Tarrant County nonprofits, contributing over $16 MILLION in cash and in-kind donations.

Yes, ACH provides bilingual counseling for kids ages 6-17 and families at no charge. We can help.

ACHservices.org/rhrl 817-335-HOPE (4673)

YMCA OF METROPOLITAN FORT WORTH

In 2024, the DRC Solutions team served 1,856 people on the streets and helped 373 individuals and families find housing.

2,400

So far in 2025, we’ve evaluated around 2,400 people for housing solutions; reunited 59 people with loved ones; housed 95 people who were experiencing unsheltered homelessness; and prevented 178 households from falling back into homelessness.

More than 2,551 people remain homeless today in our shared Tarrant County home. Your gift gets the real work done- let’s go!

Charity Guide

Putting together a comprehensive list of every Fort Worth-based charity would be an exercise in futility — there are nearly 7,000 nonproﬁts in Tarrant County. Not only would this be a bear to compile, but it would also prove overwhelming for our readers. So, instead, our editors have put together a list of charities that we feel is a good place to start. Eventually, our hope is that locals who get the philanthropic itch might widen their scope of giving, and we guarantee there’s a charity within Greater Fort Worth that aligns with your niche. All of the following charities and foundations are registered 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt organizations. With the caveat of this not being comprehensive, we’d love to hear your feedback and include additional charities in our online version. For any suggestions, please email our editor at bkendall@fwtexas.com.

Note: Names in Red are Foundations

ANIMAL WELFARE

American Paint Horse Foundation apha.com

Cowtown Friends of Fort Worth Animal Care and Control cowtownfriends.org

Don’t Forget to Feed Me dontforgettofeedme.com

Humane Society of North Texas hsnt.org

Saving Hope Animal Rescue savinghoperescue.org

The Saving Hope Foundation saving-hope.org

ARTS & CULTURE

Amon Carter Museum of American Art cartermuseum.org

Amon G. Carter Foundation agcf.org

Art Bridges Inc. artbridgesfoundation.org

Art Tooth arttooth.com

Arts Fifth Avenue artsfifthavenue.org

Arts Fort Worth artsfortworth.org

Ballet Frontier of Texas balletfrontier.org

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History fwmuseum.org

Fort Worth Opera fwopera.org

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra fwsymphony.org

Fort Worth Youth Orchestra fwyo.org

Gallery of Dreams galleryofdreams.org

Jubilee Theatre jubileetheatre.org

Kimbell Art Museum kimbellart.org

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth themodern.org

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame cowgirl.net

National Juneteenth Museum nationaljuneteenthmuseum.org

National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame cowboysofcolor.org

Panther City Artists panthercityartists.org

Performing Arts Fort Worth basshall.com

Slaughter Family Arts Awards sfaawards.org

Spotlight Cast & Crew spotlightcastcrew.org

Texas Ballet Theater texasballettheater.org

Texas Center for Arts and Academics artsacademics.org

Texas Girls' Choir texasgirlschoir.org

The Art Station theartstation.org

CHILDREN

A Wish with Wings awww.org

ACH Child and Family Services achservices.org

Alliance for Children allianceforchildren.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters bbbstx.org

Boy Scouts of America Longhorn Council longhorncouncil.org

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County bgcgtc.org

Camp Fire First Texas campfirefw.org

Child Care Associates childcareassociates.org

Children's Charities of Fort Worth childrenscharitiesfw.com

Christ's Haven for Children christshaven.org

Clayton Youth Enrichment claytonyouth.org

Community Storehouse communitystorehouse.org

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) speakupforachild.org

First Tee Fort Worth firstteeftworth.org

Gill Children's Services gillchildrens.org

Gladney Center for Adoption adoptionsbygladney.com

Heroes for Children heroesforchildren.com

HOPE Farm hopefarmfw.org

Lena Pope lenapope.org

Make-A-Wish North Texas wish.org/ntx

Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth rmhfw.org

Santa Fe Youth Services yapinc.org/santafeyouthservices

Spark Worldwide sparkworldwide.org

The Cowtown C.A.L.F. Program cowtownmarathon.com

The Homes for Children thehomesforchildren.org

The Parenting Center theparentingcenter.org

The WARM Place thewarmplace.org

Young Life fortworth.younglife.org

COMMUNITY

6 Stones 6stones.org

Community Frontline communityfrontline.com

Creel Family Philanthropies creelfamilyphilanthropies.com

Double Eagle Charities doubleeaglecharities.com

Downtown FW Initiatives Inc. dfwi.org

Fellowship of Christian Athletes fca.org

Fort Worth Chamber Development Foundation fortworthchamber.com/about/chamberdevelopment-foundation

Fort Worth Chamber Foundation fortworthchamber.com/about/chamberfoundation

Fort Worth Promotion and Development Fund fwpdf.org

Hope Prison Ministries hopeprisonministries.org

LVTRise lvtrise.org

Near Southside Inc. nearsouthsidefw.org

North Texas Community Foundation northtexascf.org

Sid W. Richardson Foundation sidrichardson.org

The Big Good thebiggood.org

The Morris Foundation themorrisfoundation-fw.com

United Community Centers unitedcommunitycenters.org

United Way of Tarrant County unitedwaytarrant.org

UpSpire upspire.org

Volunteers of America Texas voatx.org

DISABILITIES

Autism Treatment Center atcoftexas.org

Bobby Norris Roundup for Autism roundupforautism.org

Note: Names in Red are Foundations

Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas dspnt.org

Easterseals easterseals.com

Goodwill North Central Texas goodwillnorthcentraltexas.org

Guardianship Services, Inc. guardianshipservices.org

Helping Restore Ability hratexas.org

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Cheryl's Voice cherylsvoice.org

One Safe Place onesafeplace.org

SafeHaven safehaventc.org

The Women's Center of Tarrant County womenscentertc.org

EDUCATION & LITERACY

Academy 4 academy4.org

Arise Africa artisafrica.org

Carroll Education Foundation carrolleducationfoundation.org

Communities in Schools Greater Tarrant County cistarrant.org

Fort Worth Public Library Foundation fwlibraryfoundation.org

Fort Worth Save Our Children Learning Center fwsoc.org

Fortress YDC fortressfw.org

Happy Hill Farm happyhillfarm.org

Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail chisholmtrail.ja.org

KinderFrogs kinderfrogs.tcu.edu

LinkED Link-ed.org

Nicholas & Louella Martin Charitable Fund northtexascf.org

Paslay Foundation paslayfoundation.com

Rainwater Charitable Foundation rainwatercharitablefoundation.org

Rivertree Academy rivertreeacademy.org

Tarrant Literacy Coalition tarrantliteracycoalition.org

Tarrant To & Through (T3) Partnership t3partnership.org

Texans Can Academy - Fort Worth texanscan.org

The Miles Foundation milesfdn.org

The Welman Project thewelmanproject.org

ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION

Botanical Research Institute of Texas brit.org

Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center naturecenterfriends.org

Streams and Valleys, Inc. streamsandvalleys.org

Tarrant Coalition for Environmental Awareness dpjc.org/teca

FAMILY

Camp John Marc campjohnmarc.org

Pure Adventure pureadventure.org

HEALTH & WELLNESS

AIDS Outreach Center aoc.org

All Saints Health Foundation allsaintsfoundation.bswhealth.com

Alzheimer's Association alz.org

American Cancer Society acshpfw.ejoinme.org

American Diabetes Association diabetes.org

American Heart Association heart.org

American Lung Association lung.org

Black Dog Charity blackdogcharity.com

Bras for a Cause brasforthecause.com

Breakthrough T1D (Formerly JDRF) breakthrought1d.org

Cancer Care Services cancercareservices.org

Cancer Support Community North Texas cancersupporttexas.org

Carter BloodCare carterbloodcare.org

Community Healthcare of Texas CHOT.com

Cook Children's Health Foundation cookchildrens.org

Crohns & Colitis Foundation, North Texas/ Oklahoma Chapter chronscolitisfoundation.org/chapters/ntexas

Cuisine for Healing cuisineforhealing.org

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation cff.org

Fort Worth Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Coalition fwaya.org

HSC Foundation unthsc.edu/give

Jewel Charity jewelcharity.org

Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation jordanharrisfoundation.org

JPS Foundation jpshealthnet.org/foundation

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society lls.org/rdrv

Leukemia Texas leukemiatexas.org

LifeGift lifegift.org

Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth lighthousefw.org

March of Dimes marchofdimes.org

Me Squared Cancer Foundation mesquaredcancerfoundation.org

Mercy Clinic of Fort Worth mercy-clinic.org

MHMR Foundation mhmrtarrant.org

Moncrief Cancer Institute moncrief.com

Muscular Dystrophy Association mda.org/office/north-texas

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) namitarrant.org

National Kidney Foundation kidney.org/offices/nkf-serving-texas

NICU Helping Hands Foundation nicuhelpinghands.org

Once Upon a Time Foundation onceuponatime.org

Project 4031 project4031.org

Recovery Resource Council recoverycouncil.org

Rutledge Cancer Foundation rutledgecancerfoundation.org

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC) stjude.org

Susan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth komengreaterfortworth.org

Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance tcmsalliance.org

Texas Health Foundation texashealth.org/en/foundation

The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth ymcafw.org

Wings of Hope wingsofhopeequitherapy.org

Note: Names in Red are Foundations

HOUSING

Fort Worth Housing Solutions fwhs.org

Operation Relief Center orctexas.org

Samaritan House samaritanhouse.org

Tarrant County Homeless Coalition ahomewithhope.org

The Development Corporation dctctexas.org

Trinity Habitat for Humanity habitat.org

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The Net thenetfw.com

Unbound North Texas unboundnow.org/ntx

MILITARY & FIRST RESPONDERS

Airpower Foundation airpowerfoundation.org

American Warrior Association americanwarriorassociation.org

Association of the United States Army (AUSA) ausanorthtexas.org

Bike the Blue biketheblue.org

Chris Kyle Frog Foundation chriskylefrogfoundation.org

Cowtown Warriors cowtownwarriors.com

Fort Worth Police Foundation fwpolicefoundation.org

National Medal of Honor Museum mohmuseum.org/the-museum

S.T.E.P.S. With Horses stepswithhorses.org

The National Leadership Foundation nationalleadershipfoundation.org

Tunnel to Towers Foundation t2t.org

WPI Firefighters' Fund wpiff.org

POVERTY & HUNGER

Arlington Life Shelter arlingtonlifeshelter.org

Catholic Charities Fort Worth catholiccharitiesfortworth.org

Community Enrichment Center cechope.org

Community Food Bank food-bank.org

Cornerstone Assistance Network canetwork.org

DRC Solutions drc-solutions.org

Family Pathfinders of Tarrant County pathfinderstc.org

Fort Worth HOPE Center fwhope.org

Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange gracegrapevine.org

MANNA Worldwide mannaworldwide.com

Northside Inter-Community Agency, Inc. nicaagency.org

Presbyterian Night Shelter journeyhome.org

South Central Alliance of Churches fwscac.org

Tarrant Area Food Bank tafb.org

The Fort Worth Foundation thefortworthfoundation.org

The Salvation Army of North Texas salvationarmyntx.org/north-texas

Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County ugm-tc.org

SENIORS

Aging and Disability Resource Center of Tarrant County tarrantcountyadrc.org

Gold Tone Senior Citizen Show Choir goldtoneshowchoir.org

Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County mealsonwheels.org

Serving Our Seniors servingourseniorstexas.org

Sixty & Better sixtyandbetter.org

SPECIAL INTEREST

Colleyville Garden Club colleyvillegardenclub.org

Foodie Philanthropy foodiephilanthropy.org

Fort Worth Classic Guitar Society guitarsociety.org

Fort Worth Garden Club fortworthgardenclub.org

Fort Worth Report fortworthreport.org

Historic Fort Worth Inc. historicfortworth.org

Leadership Fort Worth leadershipfortworth.org

Lone Star Film Society lonestarfilmfestival.com/join-film-society

Moslah Shrine moslahshrine.org

National Cutting Horse Foundation nchafoundation.org

Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth recouncilgfw.com

SCORE fortworth.score.org

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association tscra.org

Texas Angus Association texasangus.com

Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame tchof.com

The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever tggce.org

Transform 1012 transform1012.org

WILDLIFE & ANIMALS

Fort Worth Ducks Unlimited fortworthdu.com

Fort Worth Zoological Association fortworthzoo.org

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center fossilrim.org

International Rhino Foundation rhinos.org

WOMEN & GIRLS

Center for Transforming Lives transforminglives.org

Colleyville Woman's Club c-w-c.org

Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains gs-top.org

Girls Inc. of Tarrant County girlsinctarrant.org

Junior League of Arlington jlarlington.org

Junior League of Fort Worth juniorleaguefw.org

Ladies’ Auxiliary of Arlington cinderellacharityball.com

Mansfield Women's Club mansfieldwomensclub.org

National Charity League – Fort Worth nationalcharityleague.org/chapter/fortworth

Southlake Women's Club southlakewomensclub.org

Texas Women’s Foundation txwf.org

The Woman's Club of Fort Worth thewomansclubfw.com

Women's Policy Forum womenspolicyforum.org

Girl Scout Cadette

NOT JUST A MUSEUM...

The National Juneteenth Museum will shine as a place of learning, joy, and remembrance—honoring the proud heritage of Fort Worth’s Historic Southside and giving the nation the landmark home of Juneteenth it has waited for.

In addition to the immersive exhibition galleries, the Museum campus will house:

• 250-seat performance auditorium

• Black box flexible space

• Entrepreneur’s learning center

• Food hall for local foodpreneurs

We’re building national monument, lifting a community, and honoring our champion, Ms. Opal Lee... all at the same time.

Your gift moves us one step closer to opening day.

nationaljuneteenthmuseum.org

@juneteenthmsm

@juneteenthmuseum

To donate, scan the QR code or go to bit.ly/donatenjm

CHOWTOWN

LOCAL EATS AND RESTAURANT NEWS

The Mont’s New Menu

One

food

WHAT WE’RE CHEWING OVER THIS MONTH:

On page 78 After getting his culinary feet wet in Fort Worth, Louisiana native Jesse Gibson takes his Cajun recipes to North Richland Hills, where he’s opened the excellent Cocodrie’s Bayou Kitchen. On page 80 FortWorth Magazinereader fave Sweet Sugar High Craft Burger Co. finds a new home for its killer burgers in south Fort Worth. On page 82 Beloved plant-based pizzeria Pizza Verde makes its flavorful return to west Fort Worth.

of the hottest new restaurants in Fort Worth has unveiled its new fall menu, which includes

colorful beet-cured salmon. Catch up on other

news in our monthly Chowtown Lowdown column.

by Malcolm Mayhew

Home on the Bayou

After getting his start in Fort Worth, Louisiana native Jesse Gibson takes his authentic Cajun flavors to North Richland Hills with Cocodrie’s Bayou Kitchen.

If you know Jesse Gibson through his pop-ups, food truck, and now excellent restaurant in North Richland Hills, you know food, for him, isn’t just food. It’s a reflection of where he comes from.

“I’m from Houma, Louisiana, specifically Dulac,” Gibson says. “It’s a small fishing community near a place called Cocodrie, and that’s where people from town have their

vacation homes. They go fishing, clean their fish, cook for their friends, and throw big parties. It’s a whole culture built around food and gathering.”

That sense of community runs through the veins of Cocodrie’s Bayou Kitchen, which Gibson opened this fall after years of hustling in Fort Worth, running catering events, pop-ups, and a food truck under his brand, The Wild Cajun.

“I was a little nervous about the concept,” he admits. “I’ve always been in the food industry, but not like this, not running my own restaurant. But I just came out of a meeting with my staff, and I told them: ‘This is a big ball of Play-Doh. Tell me what you think will make this better. We want to be around for a long time. I don’t want this to be a sizzle in the pan.’”

Cocodrie’s shares a building with Sparks, a longtime local sports bar that Gibson’s silent partner owns. The combination, he says, has breathed new life into the space.

“We’re trying to make it the new go-to spot on Rufe Snow,” Gibson says. “North Richland Hills doesn’t really have anything like this, and honestly, there’s nothing like this in North Texas. When you come in, there’s no Texas memorabilia. You’re back in South Louisiana. When you walk out, you can be back in Texas all you want.”

The menu is both familiar and inventive. Gibson serves staples like po’boys, étouffée, boudin, and gumbo — the latter made the traditional way, slowly, with roux cooked in-house. But he’s also put a playful spin on Cajun classics.

“People expect the usual stuff, and I can give them that all day long,” he says. “But I got a little creative with the names and flavors. Like our Swamp Poppers. They’re frog legs tossed in a housemade buffalo sauce we make with Louisiana Hot Sauce. People always say frog legs taste like chicken, so we leaned into that.”

Another creative dish is the Rouga-

Photos by Thanin Viriyaki

Big ol’ crab legs at Cocodrie’s Bayou Kitchen

rou Wrap, a Cajun-inspired burrito stuffed with shrimp or chicken tenders, lettuce, tomato, jalapeno, and housemade ranch. “The rougarou is a Cajun folk creature, like a werewolf,” Gibson says. “The wrap’s so good it’s kind of sinful, like the rougarou’s gonna come get you for eating it.”

Then there’s The Kitchen Sink, a crowd favorite that incorporates many of Gibson’s signature items.

“It gives you a little bit of everything,” he says. “Jambalaya with a blackened redfish fillet, étouffée on top, four fried shrimp, and a boudin ball. It’s a great portion and under $30; it’s a great value.”

The gumbo, a point of pride for Gibson, is made from scratch daily.

“We don’t cut corners,” he says. “There are ways you can make a gumbo faster, but that’s how you end up with something lacking. We make our roux in-house, use it across all our gumbos, and cook them in small batches — 5 to 10 gallons a day of each kind.”

Even the ingredients are a direct line to his home state.

“Everything we get, aside from our vegetables, is imported from Louisiana,” he says. “Even if it’s made somewhere else, it’s sold by a Louisiana company. We use Gambino’s bread, Blue Plate mayo, and sausage from a New Orleans company. It’s important to me that what people taste here really comes from there.”

Gibson and his family have been a part of the food and restaurant industry for years. After moving to Texas in 2017, he followed in the footsteps of his family, many of whom work in the fish and shrimp distribution industry, and began selling shrimp out of a friend’s garage — shrimp he bought from his father’s dock in Houma.

“I carried around a 5-pound block of shrimp until I found someone to buy it,” he says, laughing. “That was at Burgundy Local on West Seventh. The owner told me to break it down into 1-pound packages and he’d sell it. From there, I started selling on

Facebook, then farmers markets, then crawfish boils during the season. That’s what really got me going.”

Cocodrie’s Bayou Kitchen, Gibson says, is the culmination of years of hustling — and a deep homage to his home state and cuisine.

“I built this whole place while I was homesick,” he says. “I just want to bring people home with me. When I walk in there, I don’t feel like I’m at work. I feel like I’m home. I’m not going out of my way to make it special, but somehow, it is.”

Cocodrie’sBayouKitchen,5209RufeSnowDrive., NorthRichlandHills,facebook.com/cocodries

Cocodrie’s catfish po’boy on Gambino’s French bread

Cocodrie’s opened this past summer in North Richland Hills

Pepper jack boudin eggrolls with a spicy curry dipping sauce

Louisiana native Jesse Gibson is bringing his home state flavors to North Richland Hills.

by Malcolm Mayhew

Grill Power

A tiny burger food trailer called Sweet Sugar High has turned into one of the most popular burger spots in Fort Worth.

When you hear the name Sweet Sugar High, you might expect cupcakes or candy, not some of the most crave-worthy burgers in the city.

The name may spark a bit of confusion, but for Fort Worth husband-and-wife owners Catherine and

Juan Fernandez, that name is their baby, a reminder of the years of resilience and reinvention that carried them to where they are today.

That journey has paid off in full: In last month’s Fort Worth Magazine Best Of issue, the Sweet Sugar High Craft

Burgers Co. food truck was crowned by readers Best Burger Joint and Best Food Truck, solidifying their place among the city’s culinary favorites.

Catherine says the name Sweet Sugar High was never meant for burgers. Back in 2018, Juan had registered it for a very different — and perhaps more appropriate — business: a CBD café inspired by his time at the DFW Academy of Cannabis Science in Dallas. He says he envisioned a cozy community hangout serving calming teas, infused coffees, and scratch-made desserts — his version of comfort food.

But life took him in other directions, and the café never materialized, and the name sat on hold — until 2020 came along.

Like so many families during the pandemic, Catherine and Juan faced job loss and uncertainty. Juan lost his gig working at Pinstripes, and shortly thereafter, the couple had their youngest child, their fifth.

Fear has a funny way of making some people want to fly headfirst into the direction of it, and instead of bracing for the worst, the couple daringly took on COVID, launching a food concept while others in the food and bev business were dropping like flies.

By October 2020, Sweet Sugar High was reborn as a pop-up venture serving Fort Worth’s favorite cuisine: barbecue.

“We leaned on what we knew best — comforting flavors and Southern hospitality,” Catherine says. “Our combined influences shaped our original menu, which featured Southern barbecue — smoked meats, scratchmade sides, Southern desserts.”

Later that year, eager to experiment and expand their menu, they added a menu item whose popularity had yet to explode: smash burgers. Not just any smashburgers, mind you, but smashburgers made with the supremely rich wagyu beef. “Within months,” Catherine says, “they completely took off.”

Juan, who handles most of the cooking for the couple’s endeavor,

Photos by Thanin Viriyaki

How sweet this is: Sweet Sugar High Craft Burger Co’s signature smashburger

says his love of food was shaped early on by his mother, Bicenta, and aunt, Esther, who sold homemade gorditas, tortillas, and tamales from their kitchens. Catherine brought her own family legacy to the mix: For years, her father, Mike Forrester, and grandfather, George Forrester, ran George’s Pit BBQ in Granbury.

The Chowtown Lowdown

The owners of Goldee’s Bar-B-Q recently put out their first cookbook, Goldee’sBar-B-Q:ACookbook.Released last month by the University of Texas Press, the book is more exciting than its name. In it you’ll find many of their signature recipes, along with some gorgeous photography. The 256-page book also shares practical tips and techniques for anyone eager to up their backyard barbecue skills. Woven between the recipes and how-to guides are stories about how the restaurant’s founders — longtime friends Jalen Heard, Jonny White, Lane Milne, Nupohn Inthanousay, and Dylan Taylor — came together to open their award-winning ’cue joint. Formoreinfo,hitupgoldeesbbq.com

In the running for one of my favorite new Fort Worth restaurants, The Mont recently unveiled its new fall menus — one for the main dining room, the other exclusively for those who linger at the bar or on the restaurant’s attractive patio. The latter menu includes hand-held items such as chicken liver pate, deviled eggs, grilled shrimp skewers with mojo sauce, Wagyu beef tartar and a burger with black garlic aioli, truffles, and raclette. New dishes on the main dining room menu include tagliatelle pasta with parsnip velouté, smoked caviar, argan oil, and Parmigiano Reggiano; The Cluck, a fried half chicken with sorghum molasses and poblano cornbread sauce; black grouper with charred turnip and fennel herb nage; venison schnitzel and cabbage; and a 24-hour braised Wagyu short rib with truffle-celeriac pavé and bordelaise. New desserts include a buttermilk tarte and housemade doughnuts with cinnamon sugar, maple glaze, and dulce de leche. 3729SaintAmandCircle,themontfw.com

Mary Perez called me a few weeks ago to tell me she’s found a new home for her long-running/always-on-the-move Enchiladas Ole restaurant. She’ll soon take over the Magnolia Avenue spot recently vacated by Cat City Grill, at 1208 West Magnolia Ave. But it won’t be the same ol’ Ole. It’ll have a new name, Enchiladas Ole Express, and the menu will combine her two loves: Mexican food and barbecue. As you may or may not recall, because keeping up with Mary is like trying to outtalk an auctioneer, she opened a barbecue spot on Camp Bowie earlier this year. But she’ll close it this month to focus on the new Magnolia Avenue spot, which will specialize in both her namesake dish and smoked meats. Look for it to open by year’s end.

Glad to see Chicago native-turned-Fort Worthian Tab Core is back to selling his fantastic Chicago eats here in Fort Worth. After moving his Core of Chicago restaurant from the South Side to the East Side, then trying his luck in Dallas, Core has once again landed in Fort Worth, this time at the Texaco station at 701 N. Henderson. There, he’s serving authentic C-town fare, including his calling card: Italian beef sandwiches. He’s open seven days a week. Go check him out. facebook.com/thecoreofchicago

Juan Fernandez working Sweet Sugar High’s grill

Owners Catherine and Juan Fernandez

by Malcolm Mayhew

Photos by Thanin Viriyaki

Second Slice

Pizza Verde, a cherished plant-based pizza joint on the city’s West Side, is open once again, thanks to a little help from its friends.

When Pizza Verde closed its doors earlier this year, it wasn’t just the vegan community that mourned — it was everyone who knew a perfect slice when they tasted one. After all, the cozy, inventive restaurant, which opened four years ago at 5716 Locke Ave., on the city’s West Side, offered pizzas of such great quality, in seemingly endlessly imaginative flavors, the “vegan” label began to fade, leaving only what mattered most: truly great pizza.

For husband-wife owners Jennifer and Landon Cabarubio, the decision to close was gut-wrenching but, at the time, unavoidable.

“We started off the year solid,” she recalls. “But after mid-January, the economy started getting wild — tariffs, layoffs — it was clear there

was a correlation to the drop in sales. People are struggling, and we understand that. We tried to ride it out, but it just kept getting worse.”

Pizza Verde has always run on slim margins. “This is a passion project,” Jennifer says. “Not something we do because it’s making tons of money.”

So, when conversations about closing began, Jennifer thought that was the end of the story. But the community had other plans.

In what felt like a Hail Mary, she took to social media, asking if anyone would be interested in investing to keep Pizza Verde alive.

The response, she says, was overwhelming. “Ninety-nine percent of the people who reached out were customers,” she says. “Landon and I were just so humbled and touched.”

Within weeks, a half dozen individuals had signed on as partial owners. “It’s wild,” she says, laughing. “We have people involved who are all over DFW. One’s in real estate, another works in social media. They’re all people who genuinely love what we do.”

With new backers in tow, the restaurant recently reopened after a short hiatus, now with a slightly reimagined model. During the week, the kitchen buzzes with a frozen wholesale operation, shipping out Pizza Verde’s signature pies to retail partners like Reverie Bakeshop in Richardson. From Thursday to Sunday, the restaurant opens its doors again to the public.

The new lease on life means new menu items. Among them is a fritto misto, a plant-based play on the traditional Italian fried seafood dish. A new house salad comes with leafy kale and a housemade Italian vinaigrette. For pizzas, Jennifer recommends the Calabrese, topped with plant-based meatballs, chili oil, garlic, calabrian chilis and vegan honey — the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and spicy. A good way to finish: cashew-based cheesecake.

To drink, there’s beer and wine, along with housemade rosemary lemonade. Jennifer says they roast the lemons to add a little extra flavor and make rosemary simple syrup using their own rosemary bush.

In November, they’ll launch a wine and cheese night.

For the Cabarubios, the restaurant’s revival has been both humbling and inspiring. “At some point, I had to put my control freak aside and not see investors as a bad move,” Jennifer says. “The people who are backing us kept telling me how much Pizza Verde meant to them. These aren’t people who are looking to make a buck. These are people who believe in us and what we’re doing, and I can’t tell you how moved we are by that.”

Pizza Verde, 5716 Locke Ave., pizzaverdetx.com

Pizza Verde utilizes a wood-fired pizza oven for its tasty creations

Aaron Iron Works, Inc.

History | Aaron Iron Works, Inc. has been serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, as well as Texas and its surrounding states, since opening in 1985, and for 40 years has continued to produce exceptional work— flourishing through a range of economies and always keeping customer satisfaction a top priority. A commitment to industry excellence, safety, and quality has advanced this company from a local supplier of home driven products, such as hand-forged driveway gates and railings, to a competitive

player in the fastidious and demanding world of commercial construction, extending its reach to include structural elements as well as decorative.

What Sets us Apart | Our ability to design, engineer, and create gives us the full capacity to handle any and every part of the fabrication process, making us a one-stop shop for all metal projects from I-Beams to forged rails. This complete business structure, additionally, gives us an edge with the knowledge and expertise to

“For 40 years, Aaron Iron Works, Inc. has forged a legacy of excellence— turning steel and craftsmanship into structures that stand the test of time.”

ensure our products are produced and delivered with optimal efficiency and premium quality.

Pictured | This hand-fabricated stair and railing system is the centerpiece of the Grapevine Convention and Visitor Bureau’s new facility and was designed by Architexas, a Dallas-based architectural firm. This project involved the creation of hand-forged I-beams, a custom cast poured stair system, and hand-forged railings. The engineering, detail, and craftmanship on this beautiful work begs the question: “Why call anyone but Aaron Iron Works, Inc. to handle your project?”

Pictured: Stephen Stratton, VP and Todd Brock, President

HOME

THE INSPIRING LIVING SPACES OF YOUR FELLOW FORT WORTHIANS

LUTHER LAKE COLONIAL Developers wanted more homes. Persistent nature wanted a lake. Luther Lake won, but so, too, eventually did the Hoves, whose stunning, newly-built Colonial Style home sits adjacent to it.

Lake Life in Ridglea

The elusive Luther Lake gets a new build in the form of a stunning Colonial.

By Brian Kendall Photos by Richard W. Rodriguez

The 10-acre lake where Kerri and Eric Hove’s recently built, Colonial-style home rests was never meant to exist. According to initial plans for expansions of the Ridglea Hills neighborhood, the property now consumed by a deceptively large body of water was meant to be full of homes. But a stubborn natural spring forced developers to accept nature’s scheme, and in 1947, Luther Lake, named after developer A.C. Luther — credited as the “Father of Ridglea” — came into existence.

“[The developers] tried to plug [the natural spring],” the home’s builder, Christian Pearson says, “and it just kept bubbling up and bubbling up. And they were finally, like, ‘We give up. It's going to be a lake, and we're going to build houses around it.’”

The properties surrounding the lake, 33 in total, are unlike any you’ll find inside Loop 820. Heck, they’re probably unlike any you’ll find in the entire metroplex. The homes are legitimate lakeside dwellings in a sought-after, well-matured neighborhood that’s

an earshot from Camp Bowie and a hop, skip, and jump from the hubbub of downtown — the perfect merger of town and country, accessibility, and tranquility. In other words, the most convenient getaway the city has to offer. Sit on one of the boat docks, feet dangling in the water, and you might even convince yourself you’re in a miniature version of the Catskills.

So, it stands to reason these homes rarely hit the market — the type of coveted real estate passed down from generation to generation. Thus, when a home finally did erect a “For Sale” sign, Kerri and Eric Hove, longtime Ridglea residents, were quick to scoop it up. After all, such a move, even one merely down the road, had long been on their minds.

As a youngster, Eric lived just down the road from the Luther Lake, where he would create fond memories feeding ducks with his mom and sneaking in to fish from an inner tube. So, to one day own a home in this nostalgic setting was always Plan A for the Hoves.

A traditional Colonial build comes with its share of architectural problemsolving, including the home's rigid, square footprint, which means a home designer must be clever with how they use space. According to homeowner Kerri Hove, the original home on this coveted Luther Lake property rested much closer to the street and had a pool house in the back. The new build removed the pool house, which obstructed a view of the lake, and set the home closer to the water.

“We all had this emotional attachment to [the lake],” Kerri Hove says. “So, we said if a lot ever came up or our house ever came up on Luther Lake, we would be interested.”

While the Hoves’ home is a new build within the historic Ridglea Hills neighborhood — which is filled with houses built decades long ago — the home’s stunning Colonial façade manages to catch one’s eye while remaining true to the architecture seen within the neighborhood.

Built by Christian Pearson of Provender Homes with interior design by homeowner Kerri and her friend, Kristin Wallach of Fresh Design, the home has an unmistakable timeless quality with plenty of modern and personal twists.

“I love mixing traditional with contemporary pieces,” Wallach says.

For instance, one might find a room with an antique door but a modern light fixture. “But it works because they talk to each other,” Wallach explains. “They feed off each other. And that’s just how Kerri and I put together the whole house.

“The best interior design projects that I work on are projects where we come up with a vision for the entire house. From the minute you walk through the door, the entire house is cohesive.”

"Because of the home's location [on Luther Lake] with all of the greenery, vegetation, and water, we used a lot of greens and blues and floral patterns to bring the outside in," interior designer Kristin Wallach says. "A lot of things in the house play off the fact they're on a lake, but we didn't want to create a lake house. We wanted to create an upscale home that was on the lake."

Yes, this is the family crest emblazoned on the center of the pool table. With a husband and two sons, this game room is what Hove calls the boys' hangout. But the subtle addition of pillows with dragon-adorned fabric adds a welcomed feminine touch.

(Above) The impressive trim work from the primary bedroom continues into the primary bath. (Below) Bright colors and elements of nature bring an upstairs reading room with an impressive balcony to life.

"[Kerri] wanted a very romantic [primary] bedroom," Wallach says. "Where the rest of the house has a ton of color, she wanted this bedroom to be like a hotel suite. And I love the trim work. Trim work can take a room from nothing spectacular to amazing. It turned out beautifully."

by Brian Kendall

When Luxury Turns White Hot

Southlake-based realtor

Randy White opens a new luxury division within his brokerage, and he doesn’t see multimillion-dollar home sales slowing any time soon.

Few people speak as passionately about real estate as Randy White.

One might think after nearly five decades in the business, he’d be burned out — or at least a little tired of talking about market conditions, interest rates, and school districts. But his enthusiasm hasn’t wavered.

According to the Southlake-based realtor, he’s been in the business so long that he recalls a time when saying one is in “luxury real estate” would’ve been met with looks of confusion.

“There of course was luxury at the time, but we didn’t call it that,” White says. “I’ve always kind of done it and been known for it locally, but I always tried to keep [my doing luxury] under a bushel.”

Well, we can say that the bushel has officially been lifted.

After years of handling multimillion-dollar transactions, this past spring White announced the creation of a dedicated luxury division within his brokerage firm, Randy White Real Estate Services. After all, it was no longer such a secret that White was the go-to guy for buying or selling luxury residential, which White defines as any home or property over $2.5 million in the Southlake area.

“I figured I might as well press the issue and get more of it,” White says. “And I’d argue that sector of the market isn’t being handled in the excellent way it deserves. I really understand the luxury market and the numbers, and the service

involved, and I have the connections and relationships for it.”

Born and raised in Haltom City, White moved to North Richland Hills before ending up in Southlake well before it became the epitome of an affluent suburb that it is today. “The joke is that I moved to Southlake the minute they had a subdivision that had city water and city sewer,” he says. “And that was 35 years ago.” So, one would assume he’d build such connections over time. But since White had already been selling luxury despite no marketing efforts, why now create a separate division and reverse one’s strategy from “mum’s the word” to talking to journalists about it?

The decision both takes advantage of the current market and identifies and ensures agents who possess the knowledge and skillset to sell luxury, sell luxury.

“Luxury is hot right now, and the entry level’s not,” White says. He attributes this to the affluency of America and fluidity of cash in our system. Every generation comes in with a higher expectation and a different understanding of convenience and opulence. And every subsequent year, people are simply living better than they did in the past — think about how your parents lived and think about how their parents lived. “You ate what you shot or what you grew, and you lived in an outhouse or you had an outhouse,” White exclaims when talking about his own parents.

One can see this growth in luxury with the bevy of new, high-end developments sprouting up at a high rate. White mentions the new Discover Land project Maverick and the upcoming Bluejack Ranch in Aledo, which will also include a Tiger Woods-designed golf course, as a pair of developments that have piqued his interest.

And with so many people entering the luxury market, White’s dedicated luxury division is primed to capitalize. But what does it take for an agent to cut the mustard in White’s luxury division?

“I’ve got a small, qualified luxury team around me who are knowledgeable, have a deep understanding of the market, understand numbers, have excellent communication skills and confidence,” White says. “And it’s also important they have a good relationship with the real estate community. If you’re selling a home, other Realtors have the buyers, and you want them to be attracted to you and your property. They have to want to do business with you.”

Since this change in strategy, White has also taken on a different role at his brokerage. After attending training in Huntington Beach, California, last year, White walked away with a new perspective and a new path for growth.

“I’m a lifelong learner, so I’m always into receiving good training,” he says. “And I left this training [in Huntington Beach] with the goal to run my brokerage like a real CEO. I’m no longer just a realtor.

“I don’t know if I want to put this in print, but I’m a CEO, and I love it.”

Explore stunning imagery of remarkable local home projects. Each project’s unique character, craftsmanship, and vision are vividly showcased on the following pages for your inspiration. Dive into the world of design, architecture, finishes, fixtures, outdoor spaces, and more, where the beauty and inspiration behind each home are expertly captured. The information in this section is provided by the advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth Magazine.

Buzz Custom Fence

2025 Dream Home in Montrachet

The 2025 Dream Home in Montrachet demanded a one-of-a-kind, custombuilt fence and gates to enhance the look of the incredibly beautiful, classic 7,000-square-foot home. Buzz Custom Fence enclosed the 1 ½-acre lot and homesite with a highend, custom iron fence. What makes this project memorable and striking is the back fence style and design that enhances the incredible view of downtown Fort Worth as well as the existing trees and tree lines. Since this sloped lot is located on solid rock, it was challenging to complete all digging requirements to set posts and anchors while maintaining a straight-line look of the fence. It required ingenuity and usage of intricate fence components. The wow factor in this project

is the way fence blends in with the surroundings, landscape, and the home itself. It enhances the look of the lot and design of the house. This project showcases Buzz Custom Fence’s ability to design, build, and install a unique custom fence to fit any style of architecture or lot configuration regardless of the terrain or other difficult environmental challenges.

Project Profile

The Kitchen Source Modern Elegance at the Lake

The client wished to bring a more contemporary and transitional feeling while keeping some of the original Mediterranean and oldworld architectural elements within the space. Marrying these two styles with different design elements allowed The Kitchen Source team to modernize the home while maintaining the original charm. Selecting a stained finish for the kitchen islands to complement the original stained finishes of the millwork throughout the rest of the home is one example of how this was achieved. From the variety of metals at the hood area, the base of the island, plumbing fixtures and hardware, to the mirrored stainless-steel doors incorporated into the cabinetry, a collaboration of metals gives

unique definition to each design element.

The natural stone material on the countertop was mitered on the island not only for the island sides to create architectural detailing but also seamlessly integrated into forming the prep sink. The outside face as well as the interior is fabricated in all stone material giving a striking seamless look. The floorplan of the first floor was redesigned with better flow and use of space. With the removal of existing headers and walls, the kitchen and dining space were opened to the most coveted view from inside the home, which is the lake. Sleek lines create the backdrop of this project with textural materials softening the space that makes it very inviting.

Semmelmann Interiors

The Colorful Conversationalist

The Colorful Conversationalist is a vibrant family home where bold pattern meets architectural precision. Designed for a couple who love to entertain, the home balances crisp white oak floors and abundant natural light with expressive moments of color — especially the wife’s favorite deep teal, inspired by Sherwin-Williams Country Squire. Every space is rooted in hospitality and elevated by custom design details, from the dramatic game room bar to the mosaic shower inlay and doublearched steel doors.

This modern eclectic home merges clean lines with couture-level construction and vibrant materials, creating an aesthetic that feels both fresh and refined. Statement lighting, layered textures, and bold wallpapers add personality, while thoughtful architectural

elements — like the custom hood and fireplace wall echo — ground the design in cohesion and flow. Velvet stools, expressive vanities, and layered lighting reflect the studio’s signature approach to lifestyle-driven design.

Each room tells a story of contrast and character, shaped around how the family gathers, hosts, and lives. Entertaining spaces like the wet bar and dining room were intentionally designed for connection, making the home feel curated yet deeply personal. The uniqueness lies in how personality is embedded in every detail, balancing radical creativity with technical expertise. The result is a home that celebrates organic glamour, bold expression, and the magic that happens when construction and creativity collide.

Semmelmann

Project

Vintage Floors + Finishes Elegance Ensuite

A sanctuary of refined luxury, this private ladies’ bath blends timeless elegance with modern comfort. Designed for relaxation and rejuvenation, it transforms daily routines into indulgent rituals. Inspired by the tranquility of a resort spa, the space is an immersive retreat where every surface elevates the experience. Bathed in soft natural light, a freestanding soaking tub takes center stage. Light dances across polished marble-look floors, contrasting beautifully with the textured tile feature wall behind the tub. The ambiance is serene, sensual, and sophisticated.

Step into a spacious, spainspired walk-in shower wrapped floor-to-ceiling in marble-look porcelain

tiles. The classic allure of natural stone meets the durability of modern materials. A ceiling-mounted rainfall showerhead creates a gentle cascade, while a recessed niche keeps essentials within reach.

This bath offers a quiet escape where time slows and serenity reigns. It’s not just a place to cleanse — it’s a space to breathe, reflect, and be enveloped in calm. Every detail speaks of beauty and tranquility, from the curated finishes to the harmonious layout. A seamless blend of elegance and comfort, this ladies’ bath redefines what it means to unwind in style. It’s a personal haven where luxury is felt in every moment, and the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

Absolute Stone & Tile, Inc.

A Sophisticated, Napa Valley-Inspired Countryside Estate

Inspired by the serene beauty of Napa Valley, this home exemplifies elegance with its curated stone and tile selections, meticulously crafted by Absolute Stone & Tile, Inc.—one of the premier stone manufacturers in North Texas. The kitchen serves as a striking focal point, where the Vent-A-Hood, set against large tile surfaces, harmonizes effortlessly with the cool, gray-toned palette. The island countertop acts as the heart of the space, uniting color, texture, and functionality into one breathtaking composition. The various granite combinations of colors, and how they all flow together make this project unique. However, the undeniable showstopper is the sunken wet bar in the main area of the home and the impact it makes as you enter the home. Absolute Stone & Tile, Inc. worked in close partnership with both the designer and homeowner, transforming dreams into reality.

Stone & Tile, Inc.

Closet Factory DFW

Curated Harmony: A Dual-Tone

Custom Closet

Our client, Ashley, contacted us to save her from a dysfunctional closet; she needed a space that matched her vision, style, and budget. During our consultation, we explored her needs — drawer space, shoe storage, a handbag display, and a side for her husband. She originally wanted all wood, but we balanced cost and design with a warm woodgrain and white combo, even coordinating the wall color to enhance the aesthetic. The two-tone palette adds depth and character, making the closet feel custom and cohesive. Every closet project is unique because every client is unique. Our design style reflects theirs — we collaborate to create a space that feels like it’s always belonged in their home. The result? A beautiful, functional closet tailored perfectly to Ashley’s lifestyle. Project designed by Closet Factory Senior Designer, Shelli Dierck.

Fort Worth Billiards Superstore

From Pool to Pinball: Crafting a Family Arcade Experience

Over six months, Fort Worth Billiards transformed a warehouse into an elegant game room retreat for a family. The centerpiece is a Brunswick 8-foot Black Wolf Pro Gully Pool Table, surrounded by Brunswick Premier Foosball and Air Hockey, Smash 7.0 II Table Tennis, six Stern pinball machines, and a Ms. Pac-Man Galaga Pixel Bash arcade. This diverse lineup balances luxury and fun, allowing multiple entertainment stations to coexist without crowding. Our tailored approach combines premium products and exceptional service to realize each client’s vision. Whether in a home, warehouse, or unique venue, we customize layouts and selections to suit lifestyles, creating showstopping entertainment havens that vividly affirm our versatility and steadfast commitment to bringing dream game rooms to life.

Grand Openings Windows & Doors

Light Gray Window Elegance

This stunning residence incorporates tons of natural light and bold color contrasts. Departing from the conventional black window color palette, the light gray windows introduce a fresh, modern aesthetic that enhances the home's distinctive character. The thoughtfully chosen window colors and divided lites add another layer of uniqueness, setting this project apart. The exceptional build team brought a clear vision to life, ensuring the window and door package complemented the architectural intent. Their meticulous attention to detail and commitment to originality resulted in a home that stands out from the ordinary cookie-cutter designs. Built to specification from an almost endless combination of options, Grand Openings Windows and Doors bridge the gap between normal and distinctive.

Grand Openings

Project Profile

Gutierrez Painting

817.829.9524

gutierrezpainting.net

Gus Gutierrez Gutierrez Painting

Gutierrez Painting brought this midcentury modern kitchen to life with a fresh look. The upper cabinets, painted a soft blue-gray, exude a calming elegance while offering a refreshing contrast to the island base’s warm, light wood tone. This two-tone effect anchors the space, highlighting the kitchen’s architectural beauty. White walls and trim brightened the space, paired with a satin finish for durability. These choices harmonize beautifully with vintage elements like a stained-glass window and gold hardware, creating a seamless blend of retro charm and modern functionality. Each surface was meticulously sanded and layered to ensure a flawless, blemish-free finish, meeting the high standards of this upscale remodel. Gutierrez Painting turned this space into a testament to craftsmanship — where vintage meets modern in perfect harmony.

Kitchen Revival

HGC Residential Development

A Dream Street Home by HGC

Built by HGC Residential Development in 2022, this home exemplifies modern luxury fused with timeless Tudor elegance. Designed to maximize Montrachet’s stunning views, it features four distinct outdoor living spaces and a highly functional floor plan, tailored for everyday living and entertaining. The exterior’s classic architecture is mirrored inside with smooth finishes, sleek full-overlay cabinetry, and refined details like wallpapered accents, paneled walls, and coffered ceilings. Rich textures and thoughtful design elements create a warm, inviting atmosphere throughout. This residence showcases HGC’s dedication to craftsmanship, innovation, and enduring design. It stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to creating exquisite living spaces that balance artistry, comfort, and exceptional quality construction. A true reflection of HGC’s design excellence and attention to detail.

Project Profile

Passion Lighting Lighting the Dream Home

When visitors toured this year’s Dream Home, they were surrounded in a luxury experience shaped by meticulous design and craftsmanship. Part of this breathtaking ambiance was Passion Lighting, whose professional input ensured every fixture contributed to the overall vision. Drawing inspiration from California’s Napa Valley, the project embraced a “rustic meets contemporary” style. The lighting choices played a pivotal role in bringing this vision to life, with fixtures featuring visually captivating textures and shapes that left a lasting impression on guests. Among the many highlights of the home, the dining room stood out as a true showstopper. Here, two stunning linear chandeliers mirrored each other, creating a trendy and awe-inspiring focal point. This bold, innovative lighting design underscores Passion Lighting’s ability to craft chic, impactful environments that resonate with contemporary luxury.

Renova Custom Woodworks A Concisely Elevated Kitchen

This project highlights the quality craftsmanship and the collaborative approach Renova takes to creating high-end cabinetry. The beaded inset cabinetry, the centerpiece of this project, creates a luxurious appearance which is complimented by the stone countertop and matching backsplash, the uplit glass cabinets, and the bar cabinet. Seamlessly incorporating appliances with hidden panels elevates the overall look and feel of an open-concept design, providing an upscale aesthetic that compliments the dining and living rooms. The wow factor is the bar cabinet with cremone bolts and mesh, setting this part of the kitchen off from the rest. These special elements required close coordination between the cabinet maker and interior designer. Our collaborative work with Meredith Warnock Interior Design provided creative cabinetry solutions that fit the needs of the homeowner.

WinterGreen Synthetic Grass Aledo Prep Playground Project Profile

A vibrant commercial playground was recently completed at Aledo Prep School, designed with safety, accessibility, and fun in mind. Collaborating with the equipment installers, we ensured our turf met strict safety standards. We install fall pads under our turf to provide a safer landing in case of falls. The turf is ADA-compliant, allowing children of all abilities to play freely. A standout feature is the striking Blue Tryke path — a unique turf color and texture that creates a fun, rideable loop around each play set. Compared to mulch or poured rubber, our turf offers long-lasting durability, visual appeal, and low maintenance. It’s built to impress and protect, transforming outdoor spaces into inclusive, engaging environments. At Aledo Prep, our turf brought both functionality and a wow factor, creating a beautiful, safe space where kids can be kids.

Wright At Home / Adrian W. Wright Designs

Celebrating 25 Years with a Fresh New Look

Wright At Home is celebrating 25 years with a fresh new look back on Camp Bowie. Our newly remodeled space is smaller, smarter, and filled with warmth and charm. Every product tells a story, and every corner invites connection. We’ve created a cozy, modern atmosphere that feels like home — perfect for browsing gifts, gathering inspiration, or simply stopping by. This move wasn’t just about location; it was a chance to reimagine our brand and offer a variety of styles, much like my interior design business. With transitional elements and architectural character, the space especially appeals to those renovating older homes nearby. Wright At Home continues to evolve, always blending comfort with modern style. Come experience the difference — we’re loving every square inch.

Wright

Home

Adrian W. Wright Designs

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation

A Tradition Of Care You Can Trust™

VNA Hospice and Supportive Palliative Care

To schedule your free in-home informational visit, please contact us at (817) 398-3881, email gethelp@ vna texas.org or visit vna texas.org

Serving premium roasted nuts, fan-favorite mixes, and gourmet treats from the heart of Fort Worth. Perfect for gifts, events, or everyday snacking.

Explore our wide selection of nuts, chocolates, and gift baskets today!

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (required by 39 U.S.C. 3685). Title of Publication: Fort Worth Magazine Publication No. 1536-8939 Date of filing: 10/17/25. Frequency of Issue (Monthly) Number of issues published annually: 12 Annual subscription price is $29.95 Complete mailing address of Publication: 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Ste.130, Fort Worth, Texas 76116 Complete mailing address of Headquarters of general business office of publisher: Panther City Media Group, LP, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Ste.130, Fort Worth, Texas 76116. Names and complete mailing address of Publisher and Editor, Publisher: Hal A. Brown, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Ste.130, Fort Worth, Texas 76116; Editor: Brian Kendall, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Ste.130, Fort Worth, Texas 76116; Owners: Panther City Media Group LP, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Ste.130, Fort Worth, Texas 76116, Hal A. Brown, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Ste.130, Fort Worth, Texas 76116. Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amounts of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None Tax status: has not changed during preceding 12 months Publication Title: Fort Worth Magazine Issue date for circulation: 9/1/2025 Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months. Total no. copies printed (Net Press Run) 13,249. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution (By mail and outside the mail) Mailed Outside-County Paid/Requested Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 1,579. Mailed In-County Paid/Requested Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 4,943. Sales through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution outside USPS: 2,385. Requested Copies by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS: 0. Total Paid Distribution (Sum of 15b, (1), (2), (3) and (4): 8,907. Total Non-requested Distribution: 3,569. Outside County Copies stated on PS Form 3541: 73. In-County Non-requested Copies included on PS Form 3541: 221. Non-requested Copies Distributed through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail: 0. Non-requested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: 3,275.Total Non-requested Distribution (Sum of 15d, (1), (2), (3) and (4): 3,569. Total Distribution (sum of 15c and 15e): 14,116 Copies not Distributed: 12,476. Total (sum of 15f and g): 13,846. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by 15f times 100): 71%. Requested and Paid Electronic Copies: 571. Total Requested and Paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a): 9,478. Total Requested Copy Distribution (Line 15f) + Requested/ Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a): 13,047. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Both Print & Electronic Copies) (16b divided by 16c x 100): 72.6%. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: printed (Net Press Run) 12,612. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution (By mail and outside the mail): Mailed Outside-County Paid/Requested Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 1,542. Mailed In-County Paid/Requested Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 4,364. Sales through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales and Other Paid or Requested Distribution outside USPS: 2,320. Requested Copies by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS: 0. Total Paid Distribution (Sum of 15b, (1), (2), (3) and (4): 8,226. Total Nonrequested Distribution: Outside County Copies stated on PS Form 3541: 251. In-County Nonrequested Copies included on PS Form 3541: 566. Nonrequested Copies Distributed through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail: 0. Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: 2,814. Total Nonrequested Distribution (Sum of 15d, (1), (2), (3) and (4): 3,631. Total Distribution (sum of 15c and 15e): 11,857. Copies not Distributed: 988. Total (sum of 15f and g): 12,845. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by 15f times 100): 69%. Requested and Paid Electronic Copies: 386. Total Requested and Paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Requested/ Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a): 8,612. Total Requested Copy Distribution (Line 15f) + Requested/ Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a): 12,243. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Both Print & Electronic Copies)(16b divided by 16c x 100): 70.3%. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requester Publication is required and will be printed in the November 2025 issue of this publication. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner: Hal A. Brown Date: 10/17/2025. I certify that all information furnished in this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and Imprisonment and/ or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

FOR HOME OR OFFICE

Embrace art as unique as Fort Worth’s heritage with Fort Worth Magazine’s exclusive fine art images. From our pages to your walls, now available for you to own and appreciate.

Fine art prints from our award-winning photographers are now available. Get yours today at art.fwtx.com or scan the QR code on your mobile phone.

Flamingo_Fort Worth Zoo Animals Gallery

Calendar Reveal

Bras for a Cause

The VIP Bras for a Cause Calendar Reveal, held at the DFW Car & Toy Museum, was an unforgettable evening filled with energy, creativity, and community spirit. Proceeds from the event benefit Baylor Scott & White Foundation, Cancer Care Services, Careity Foundation and Hearts and Helmets. A heartfelt thank-you to our presenting sponsor, REN Capital Partners of Texas. The celebration for the main Bras for a Cause event was on Oct. 17 at River Ranch Stockyards.

Beverly Branch, John Ahrens, Merril West, Lyn Walsh, Leon Henry

Charlie &Amanda Lauersdorf

Channy & Adrain Salazar

Biranna & Jacob Peoples

Janice Simpson, Pat Ford

Brandon & Michelle Watson

photos by James Martinez

Cowtown Ball

American Cancer Society

On Sept. 26, the American Cancer Society hosted the 32nd annual Cowtown Ball at Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards. Presented by Texas Oncology, Fort Worth’s premier Western-style gala welcomed guests for a memorable evening of purpose-driven celebration, blending cowboy charm, community spirit, and heartfelt commitment to the fight against cancer.

The evening kicked off with an exclusive VIP sponsor party sponsored by Gary Blake and Rick Maxey, followed by the main gala and concert. Madison Sawyer served as the emcee for the night, guiding guests through an elegant dinner, lively dancing, and a performance from breakout country artist Max McNown. McNown delivered a show that captured both the spirit of the Stockyards and the hope at the heart of the ACS mission. The evening’s entertainment was sponsored by The Dove Foundation.

This year, the event raised $685,000 for ACS programs in the DFW area, funding critical services such as lodging and transportation for patients undergoing treatment, as well as life-saving cancer research and screenings.

Ken Huffman, Paul Dorman, Robin Froeschke, Cynthia Farquharson

Shelly Johnson, Lori Farr, Cindy Henagan, Melissa Tyson, Cindy Whitener, Deana Bridges, Stacey Dove, Mel Wallace, Carol Andrews, Katie Schwausch, Ann Roels, Max McNown

Marc & Amber McGurren

Sainty & Eric Nelsen

Maggie McMurchie, Pete & Shannon Giuliani

Ronda Stucker, Gary Blake

photos by Canon Elizabeth Photography

GIVE BACK

GREATER FORT WORTH’S CHARITY/SOCIAL EVENTS

Nov. 5

Education is a Girl’s Best Friend Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy

TBD

Nov. 6

Strong Foundations Speaker Series Lena Pope - Rooted Together Amon Carter Center

Nov. 7

TBD

Girls Inc. of Tarrant County

TBD

Nov. 7

Adoption Rocks

Gladney Center for Adoption

Gladney Center for Adoption Backyard

Nov. 8

25th Anniversary Gala

Hispanic Wellness Coalition The Fort Worth Club

Nov. 13

Courage to Climb Clayton Youth Enrichment The Social Space

Nov. 13

Lights of Love

Community Healthcare of Texas Courtyard of Western Towers, 6100 Western Place, FW

Nov. 13

Mayor’s International Dinner Fort Worth Sister Cities International Fort Worth Convention Center

Nov. 14

IMPACT 2025

Project 4031

Ashton Depot

Nov. 15

10th Birthday Party The Welman Project

Amphibian Stage

Nov. 15

Lost ‘N Sound Near Southside, Inc.

South Main Village, Various Venues

Nov. 23

OF BRAVERY YEARS

SALUTING THE ARMED FORCES

Kicking o on January 2nd at 12 PM, this year's Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl is celebrating 250 years of bravery from our U.S. Armed Forces. Tickets go on sale after Selection Sunday on December 7th.

01.02.26 | 12PM CT | AMON G. CARTER STADIUM

These are a few of my favorite things…

$200 Provides essentials for cooking skills classes for children with autism.

$ 100 Gives an atrisk reader 4 hours of literacy attention.

$25 Vaccinates and microchips one homeless shelter pet.

$1000 Funds research for less-toxic cancer therapies.

$ 62,428 Contribute to each organization and each project in The Catalog.

$160 Nutritious meals delivered to a client for one month.

$25 Feeds a hungry pet living with an owner who is experiencing homelessness.

$1000 Provides financial coaching for a veteran transitioning to civilian life.

$450 Covers the cost of one meal for all families during their stay.

These are 9 of the 125 great ways to help in the community this year through The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever®. Each organization has matching funds available through The Catalog to make your contribution go even further. For more information visit tggce.org or call 817-922-8297.

Your Cit Y. unfiltered. Your Cit Y. unfiltered.

Local manners say a Fort Worthian should never gloat, but we reckon there’s only one way to have the city at your fingertips.

Subscribe today.

Photographer Olaf Growald snapped this photo on the dirt at Dickies Arena on the weekend of Sept. 26, when the Texas Rattlers, the Professional Bull Riding team based right here in Cowtown, hosted its fourth “Rattler Days” event — the team’s only home turf competition for the year. Despite cross-state rival Austin Gamblers snapping the Rattlers’ home undefeated streak at Dickies, the team still came out victorious in two of its three matchups for the weekend and remain in third place heading into championship weekend in Las Vegas, which begins Oct. 24. The PBR — sponsored by the U.S. Border Patrol, which is not to be confused with another, hot-button acronym — kicked off its team competitions in 2022. Having already claimed a PBR Teams title in 2023, the Rattlers are gunning to become the first PBR team to hoist multiple championship banners.

@ogrowald

PHOTO BY OLAF GROWALD