Brick & Elm | May/June 2023

Center for

As a specialized clinic for residents of the Texas Panhandle, the Center for Mental Wellness provides a warm and welcoming environment for addressing a wide variety of mental health conditions. The licensed providers there use evidence-based treatments to help decrease symptoms and improve overall quality of life.

Conditions may include:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Personality Disorders

• Grief and Loss

• Postpartum Depression

121 Westgate Parkway, Suite 40 Amarillo, TX 79121

PHOTO BY JAMES HAMOUS

With

The Route 66 mystique is part of Amarillo’s history. Get ready to celebrate it.

THE COVER: PHOTO OF A YOUNG COOPER’S HAWK BY VICKI

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

PHOTO BY KAIT BRADFORD BELLMON

PHOTO BY ANGELINA MARIE

AMARILLO’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PUBLISHERS

PUBLISHERS

Michele McAffrey mm@brickandelm.com

Michele McAffrey mm@brickandelm.com

Jason Boyett jb@brickandelm.com

Jason Boyett jb@brickandelm.com

DESIGNER

DESIGNER

Kayla Morris km@brickandelm.com

Kayla Morris km@brickandelm.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kait Bradford Bellmon

Chris Hale

James Hamous

Angelina Marie

Angelina Marie

Scott Thomas

Venice Mincey

Shannon Richardson

Shannon Richardson

Mason Dudley

Shaie Williams

Gray Gillman

Vicki Wilmarth

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

hen I look back over the past few months, it feels like ages since I last wrote an editor’s note, and then at other times the weeks have flown by. In the middle of January, it seemed my days of typing up my last-minute thoughts prior to printing a magazine were over. And then … a miracle.

My longtime writing partner Jason Boyett became my new business partner and Brick & Elm was born. This “hyper-local” magazine was created in meetings at our respective homes, and it’s the compilation of everything we’ve ever hoped a Panhandle-focused publication could be. The community outpouring for our new project has been overwhelming in the best way. My friends and local businesses have sent streams of encouraging messages of support. Now I truly know what it means to say my cup overflows

This is the first of many fantastic Amarillo-centric issues created by a true dream team—Jason and the incomparable Kayla Morris. I’m thrilled beyond measure to share Brick & Elm with you. Thanks for reading.

HWappy two-year anniversary to us! We’re so grateful to our readers and advertisers for the continued outpouring of support that seems to grow and grow. These days, I can’t go anywhere without being stopped about Brick & Elm. Our goal from its inception was to create connection across the city and it’s thrilling to see it happening, little by little (and sometimes, by leaps and bounds!). So, thank you—the response continues to overwhelm me and fill me with joy. It’s a gift to have tangible proof (beautiful proof) of a job well done. We work hard to make every issue better than the last, and that’s the feedback that I hear most often: that Brick & Elm is beautiful, its features have depth, its photography is stellar. I believe our love and dedication to the Panhandle can be seen in our pages. And we’re honored to work with some of the best talent around. I continue to be captivated by this city, its energy, its history, its potential, its kind people. Here’s to you, Amarillo. Let’s keep the momentum and positive changes going.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jon Mark Beilue

Chip Chandler

Chip Chandler

Andy Chase Cundiff

Andy Chase Cundiff

Nick Gerlich

Wes Reeves

Amy Hord

Ruthie Landelius

Ryan McSwain

Patrick Miller

TO SUBSCRIBE: brickandelm.com

Wes Reeves

Karen Welch

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All the best parts of my career began in the Amarillo College Journalism Department. There, in the mid1990s, I learned to write fast. I learned to edit. I learned desktop publishing, design and photography. But what I learned most of all is that I really liked magazines. I ended up the editor of AC’s award-winning campus magazine, AC Current, and fell in love with the process of creating a publication, start to finish.

Here I am again, more than a quarter-century later. For years, Michele and I have worked together telling stories about our city. A few months ago we decided the time was right to launch a new, sophisticated, independent magazine about Amarillo. It feels appropriate that our first issue covers topics like trail-building, business reopenings, creative problem-solving and breathing new life into historic structures. We feel like all of those are metaphors for Brick & Elm, and maybe for print magazines in general.

Two years ago we unveiled a new, local magazine concept called Brick & Elm. Twenty-four months after that inaugural May/June 2021 issue, here we are with our largest issue to date. It includes a cover feature about birding, which I’m pretty sure got pitched in our first magazine conversations. (“We have to do a birding feature and use Vicki Wilmarth’s photos,” one of us said.) I also had the honor of writing about The Range, an audacious plan to catapult what the Panhandle already does well—beef and dairy production— onto an international stage. I’ve spent months asking questions and listening to very smart people like Matthew Garner and Laura Street share about this endeavor. And those are only two of six full features in this issue, plus three special sections—including one about the exciting Texas Route 66 Festival. When readers ask us how the magazine is going, I always tell them that Michele and I are having so much fun telling stories about the region we love. It’s true, and I hope you get a sense of that from the diverse subject matter in these pages.

So here’s to fresh starts and a new way to shine a spotlight on the city we love. Thanks for reading. We’re honored that you’re here with us, at the beginning.

AMARILLO’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

KAYLA

MORRIS

Kayla has been designing professionally for local businesses and nonprofits for more than 10 years. Kayla was raised in the Panhandle and graduated with a design degree from West Texas A&M University. When not designing she loves spending time outdoors with family and friends.

SHANNON RICHARDSON

Shannon has been a commercial/ advertising photographer for almost 35 years. His work can be seen at shannonrichardson.com.

KAIT BRADFORD BELLMON

Kait is the owner of Three Feather Photo Co, a local lifestyle and wedding brand that specializes in destination elopements. She and her husband are raising their son in Canyon, exploring the Panhandle and going skiing every chance they can. See her work at threefeatherphoto.co.

RYAN

MCSWAIN

Ryan is the author of the horror thriller Monsters All the Way Down and the superhero meta fantasy Four Color Bleed He’s written for the best industries in Texas. With his wife and two children, he’s happy to call Amarillo home. You can find him at ryanmcswain.com.

VENICE MINCEY

Venice is a natural light photographer, specializing in senior, family and child photography. Her passion is photographing high school seniors, especially those who might not have the opportunity to have professional photos taken. Venice has been taking photos for more than 20 years. See her work at veniceminceyphotography.com.

KAREN WELCH

Karen is the senior content producer for Panhandle PBS. She joined the station after spending 28 years in print journalism—26 of them at the Amarillo Globe-News. She is the winner of a Regional Emmy Award and more than a dozen individual or team reporting awards. Karen is a local, born and raised in Amarillo, and earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from West Texas A&M University.

JON

MARK BEILUE

Jon Mark worked at the Amarillo Globe-News from 1981 until his retirement in 2018. He spent 17 of those years as sports editor, and the last 12 as the newspaper’s general columnist. Beilue received 16 statewide and national awards for his work. He has written five books—two are collections of his columns, and the other three are on Amarillo lawyers Wales Madden and Robert Templeton, and Canyon girls basketball coach Joe Lombard. Beilue is a native of Groom and graduate of Texas Tech University. He and wife Sandy have two adult sons.

ANGELINA MARIE

Angelina has been a photographer in the Amarillo area for 13 years, specializing in architectural, stylized commercial, and fine art photography. She puts her audio engineering degree to use as editor of the Hey Amarillo podcast. Angelina is co-director of Make Space, a new Amarillo nonprofit focused on helping creatives become successful artists through education and resources. She’s also an avid cat lover. See her work at shorteareddog.com or find her on Instagram.

WES REEVES

Wes was raised in Wellington and has lived in Amarillo since the early 90s. He serves as chairman of the Potter County Historical Commission and as a member of the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission board of directors. Through his writing, poetry, storytelling and community involvement he seeks to engage people of all ages in appreciating the diversity and richness of the Texas Panhandle experience, past and present.

NICK GERLICH

Nick is Hickman Professor of Marketing at West Texas A&M University, where he has taught since 1989. He led the College of Business in their transition into online teaching in 1997, and has taught more than 125 online courses since then. In his spare time, he travels around the country, including his beloved Route 66, in search of vintage signage and other outdoor advertising. He can be found on Instagram @nickgerlich.

SHAIE WILLIAMS

Shaie is a portrait photographer with a passion for storytelling. He shoots for a number of local media outlets, and enjoys wedding, commercial and nonprofit event photography. See his work at williamspics.smugmug.com.

VICKI WILMARTH

Vicki is a longtime Amarillo employment law attorney. She has a degree in journalism from Baylor University and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. When she is not practicing law, Vicki is usually rambling around the Texas Panhandle, observing and photographing wildlife, especially birds. You can see her photos and read about her birding adventures at texaspanhandlebirdnerd.com.

JAMES HAMOUS

James “Hap” Hamous is a native Nebraskan and retired physician who has lived in the Texas Panhandle for 40 years. His hobbies include tennis, fly fishing, photography and bird watching.

CHRIS HALE

Chris is an FAA licensed drone pilot and photographer. He is the owner of 806AERIAL, which has been providing aerial imaging and video services to Panhandle construction, industrial, real estate, agriculture and broadcast industries since 2016.

The Amarillo entertainment scene will heat up to scorching levels in early summer with the debut of a major new national festival, plus a slate of anticipated concerts, the return of the outdoor music season, an exciting series of fundraisers and other events, and a full-fledged return to summer movie season.

Here are your highlights for May and June, and don’t forget to subscribe to the free Brickly newsletter for my weekly entertainment picks all summer long.

May

BAD MAGIK MUSIC FESTIVAL: Nine bands will headline the city’s biggest Memorial Day Weekend festivities, along with a wide selection of vendors, food, family activities and more (May 28, Sam Houston Park, Line Avenue and Western Street). Other musical highlights for the month include ’90s rockers Bowling for Soup (May 4), Texas country icon Pat Green (May 11), up-and-comer Corey Kent (May 12) and Stoney LaRue (May 13), all at Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Drive; local favorites Travis Roberts & The Willing Few (May 13) and Americana singer Jesse Daniel (May 26) at The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave.; Red Dirt faves The Damn Quails (May 12) at The Golden Light Beer & Wine Garden, 6014 S. Western St.; and country band Colton Jesse & The Hooligans (May 5), Texas rockers The Dirty River Boys (May 12) and TexMex/ Zydeco fusion band SqueezeBox Bandits (May 27), all at Hoot’s Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road.

EVENTS

CINCO DE MAYO FAJITA FESTIVAL: Get your sizzle on at this celebration of Mexican culture and, of course, some mouthwatering food (May 5, Starlight Ranch Event Center). Other events to save the date for include the Hey Amarillo Podcast’s 300th episode celebration and live recording (May 5, Sunset Center, 3701 Plains Blvd.); Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum’s Bella Notte A Venezia fundraising gala (May 6, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon); Amarillo Sod Poodles home stands against the Midland RockHounds (May 9 to 14) and the Springfield Cardinals (May 30 to June 4) at Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.); Chamber Music Amarillo’s Amarillo By Morning fundraiser (May 19, American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, 2601 E. Interstate 40); Amarillo SPCA’s barkingly fun Muttfest (May 21, Starlight Ranch); and Family Fun Festivals’ Summer Kickoff (May 27, Starlight Ranch).

ARTS

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL: King’s sensational music career, from her days as a songwriter-by-hire to her breakout as a solo artist, are covered in this well-loved jukebox musical that closes out Amarillo Little Theatre’s season (May 4 to 21, Allen Shankles Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle). Other arts highlights to watch for include the Broadway Spotlight Series closer, Fiddler on the Roof (May 9-10, Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.) and PPHM’s Lots of Love, Gisella exhibition celebrating the folk artist from Taos Art Colony (opening May 20).

MOVIES

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3: The last few Marvel Cinematic Universe films have been rather lackluster, so maybe the concluding chapter of this space jam will get things back on track (May 5). Other

openings to watch for include senior rom-com Book Club: The Next Chapter, romantic drama Love Again and animated family film Rally Road Racers (all May 12); vroom-vroom sequel Fast X and family drama Monica (both May 19); and live-action remake The Little Mermaid, war film Kandahar, action comedy The Machine, comedy-drama You Hurt My Feelings and comedy About My Father (all May 26).

June EVENTS

TEXAS ROUTE 66 FESTIVAL: In the lead-up to the Mother Road’s centenary in 2026, Amarillo will launch this new festival, incorporating events both old (including the Coors Ranch Rodeo and Coors Cowboy Club Cattle Drive and several outdoor concerts) and new (like a kick-off celebration June 2 at Hodgetown and the official festival on June 10 along Historic Route 66). Look for more at VisitAmarillo.com (June 1 to 10) and on p 65 of this issue. Other events to watch for include the Cactus Cove Cornhole Open (June 2-3 at Starlight Ranch); Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto (June 11 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium); the annual Juneteenth celebrations in North Amarillo; Panhandle Pride festivities (June 24 at Starlight Ranch); Amarillo Sod Poodles home games against the San Antonio Missions (June 13 to 18) and the Tulsa Drillers (June 28 to July 3); the Will Rogers Range Riders Rodeo (June 29 to July 1) and Smile Big’s Neon Nebula event with headliner Eureka O’Hara from RuPaul’s Drag Race and We’re Here (June 30 at Starlight Ranch).

Visit brickandelm.com for Chip’s expanded event coverage and movie reviews. Better yet, subscribe to our email newsletters for breaking entertainment news every week!

MUSIC

SOUNDS OF THE SUMMER: Amarillo’s outdoor music season blossoms once again, including Starlight Theatre (May 30 to Aug. 1 in Sam Houston Park, Line Avenue and Western Street); June Jazz (Tuesdays in June at Amarillo College); High Noon on the Square (Wednesdays from June 7 to July 26 at the Old Potter County Courthouse, 501 S. Fillmore St.); and Music in the Gardens (June 1 to Aug. 31 at the gardens, 1400 Streit Drive). Other major concerts will include the Diamond & Gold

CHIP CHANDLER

Chip is the city’s arts and entertainment expert, having covered area events since 1998. Stay up to date on local happenings with Chip’s Can’t Miss picks in every issue.

tribute to Neil Diamond (June 1 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.); the Canadian River Music Festival with headliners Sawyer Brown and Pecos & The Rooftops (June 10 in Canadian); Texas country greats Wade Bowen (June 16) and Mike Ryan (June 23), both at Starlight Ranch; a Selena Forever tribute concert (June 16 at Ocho Segundos, 5331 E. Amarillo Blvd.); Texas songwriters

extraordinaire John Baumann (June 15) and Joshua Ray Walker (June 18), both at Golden Light Cantina; Americana duo GoldPine (June 2), an Amarillo Songwriters Night (June 3), Esquire Jazz (June 10) and the Kenzie Crabtree Band (June 17), all at Starlight Canyon, 100 Brentwood Road.

ARTS

ARTAFTERDARK: Texas country singer-songwriters

Charlie Shafter and Matt Martindale will perform at Amarillo Museum of Art’s summer party, celebrating the opening of art exhibitions by longtime friends Jun Kaneko and iconic songwriter Terry Allen. The party also includes food, drinks,

gallery hunts and hands-on artmaking (June 9 at AMoA, 2200 S. Van Buren St.). Other arts highlights include the Texas outdoor musical drama (June 8 to Aug. 5 in Palo Duro Canyon State Park Pioneer Amphitheatre) and the Texas cast’s annual Shakespearean production (June 26, TBA).

MOVIES

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY: Harrison Ford is back to crack his whip once more in a fifth installment of this beloved action franchise (June 30). Also heading to theaters: animated sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June 2); family animated comedy Strays and franchise-extender Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (both June 9); horror parody The Blackening and DCU reboot The Flash (both June 16); Wes Anderson’s star-laden Asteroid City and Jennifer Lawrence’s raunchy comedy No Hard Feelings (both June 23); and family film Harold and the Purple Crayon (June 30).

WINE, WOMEN & SHOES

THE RIVERWALK GALA: SIGHTS, SOUNDS & TASTES OF TEXAS

Ascension Academy hosted a Riverwalk Gala, inspired by the cuisine of South Texas. The fundraiser offered Tex-Mex inspired food pairings, live music, gaming, and silent and live auctions. (Provided Photos)

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Amarillo held the first-ever Wine, Women & Shoes at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. The sold-out event included a wine pull, designer shopping, Dillard’s fashion show, and silent and live auctions. (Provided Photos)

Burrowing Owl RECOMMENDS

Miles to Go: An African Family in Search of America Along Route 66

By Brennen Matthews

If there is a route to take to get to know America it’s Route 66. If there is a book to read before you take it, it’s Miles to Go.

—Andy Garcia

Miles to Go: An African Family in Search of America Along Route 66 is a great American road trip narrative in which Brennen Matthews, along with his wife and their son, encounter America in all of its beauty and complicated history. While many books about Route 66 are informational travel guides, Miles to Go is the unique story of an African family’s search for what is intrinsically part of the tapestry of what America is and believes in, set against the backdrop of their Route 66 road trip. Miles to Go presents the America of this journey: vignettes of Americana, restaurants and roadside attractions, and encounters with locals and other travelers, culminating in a vision of America as a land of opportunity, a place defined by its individuals, diversity, and sense of possibility.

Brennen Matthews is the editor of ROUTE, the nation’s leading national Route 66 and classic Americana magazine. Originally from Mombasa, Kenya, Matthews currently lives with his family in Toronto.

social seen

MOM PROM

POWER OF THE PURSE

The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) hosted its annual Power of the Purse luncheon on April 13 at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. Featuring advocate, survivor and author Elizabeth Smart, the event featured a purse auction. (Provided Photos)

Amarillo Angels hosted a Mom Prom fundraiser on April 1. The Girls Night Out event featured live music, dancing, awards and dinner. (Provided Photos)

WE’RE PAYING THE ORIGINATION FEE ON HOME PURCHASES AND REFINANCES DURING THE MONTHS OF MAY AND JUNE.* With no

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WELCOME BACK TO SUNSET

The newly renovated facilities at Arts in the Sunset were opened to the public on April 14. Guests toured the galleries, met studio artists and enjoyed live music. (Provided Photos)

MARTHA’S HOME SECOND CHANCE PROM

On April 15, Martha’s Home held its annual Second Chance Prom at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. The 14th annual fundraiser featured live entertainment from comedian Cleto Rodriguez, fine dining, and dancing to live music from Velvet Funk. (Provided Photos)

STIRRED

2646 WOLFLIN AVE. ROYALBAR.CO @ ROYALBAR.CO

TEXAS ROSEBUD

1 ½ ounces Still Austin Whiskey

1 ounce Beetle juice (beets + apples processed to juice)

½ ounce Pama

¾ ounce Creek House honey syrup

¾ ounce lemon juice

Aquafaba (egg white substitute)

Method: Shake, then double strain

Garnish: Dehydrated lemon

Vessel: Coupe

Coming to Amarillo Little Theatre: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical May 4-21

Be on the lookout for ALT’s lineup of shows for next season!

A portion of the sales of Texas Rosebud will benefit the Amarillo Little Theatre.

TAKING OWNERSHIP OF PARKS

After Amarillo voters rejected a 2021 proposition for tax-related improvements to city parks, residents of one local neighborhood wondered whether another funding mechanism would help. “It was a group of friends, really—neighbors and Olsen Park people—who saw, after the failed bonds, that there was a huge gap between passion for the parks and money to fund the parks,” says Matt Morgan.

Outdoor Amarillo was born from those discussions, and Morgan serves as the nonprofit’s interim executive director. The organization works as a philanthropic fundraising arm of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, similar to how Friends of the Public Library supports the public library system—but without any official connection to city employees.

The organization wants private citizens to see their local parks as extensions of their backyards, taking ownership of these spaces, which are used daily but dramatically underfunded. Morgan points to parks’ economic impact in a community. “Very broadly speaking, beautiful, welcoming and safe parks stimulate a city’s economy. There’s really no arguing that,” he says. “We view parks not only as a place for fun and family and all that goes with that, but also as a key economic factor for the City of Amarillo.”

Right now, Memorial Park is a top priority for the organization, which is working to raise funds to remodel the gazebo and event space in the center of the park. They are also working with Blank Spaces to design and fund a bathroom facility mural at Bones Hooks Park, similar to the one at Sam Houston Park. Outdoor Amarillo is also helping sponsor the upcoming Bad Magik Musik Fest at Sam Houston Park and hosting a citywide party at Memorial Park on June 24.

“A big dream of ours is to lessen the burden on the city to use taxpayer dollars for [certain] projects,” says Morgan. Some, like the mural, are cosmetic in nature. Others, like improving the drainage infrastructure around the Memorial Park gazebo, are decidedly unsexy. By funding these improvements privately, Outdoor Amarillo can get results without tapping into the city’s budget.

Morgan says the group is taking their work one park at a time. “We can focus on what neighborhoods want and are not reliant on the city to tell us what to prioritize,” he says. Through its website, Outdoor Amarillo hopes to hear from citizens about their neighborhood park, how they use it, and what they’d like to see in it. “The one thing we’re lacking is input from neighborhoods all over town,” says Morgan.

In addition to donations, the nonprofit is seeking volunteers for the June 24 party. To give or learn more, visit outdooramarillo.org

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Xcel Energy has promoted Zoë Lees to regional vice president of regulatory policy at the Amarillo, Texas-based power company, which serves northern Texas and Eastern New Mexico. Lees is based in Santa Fe.

Jennifer Wade was named Amarillo High School Teacher of the Year in March. She leads the Instructional Practices of Education and Training program (IPET) for aspiring teachers.

BSA Health System has been awarded Ardent Health Services’ Best Employee Loyalty Award. Presented annually, the Best Employee Loyalty Award recognizes the Ardent facility with the highest employee satisfaction and engagement.

Emily Koller has been named Planning Director for the City of Amarillo. Koller joined COA in 2019 as planning manager and was appointed to assistant director in 2021. She succeeds COA Planning Director Cris Valverde, who is retiring.

Five Amarillo-area businesses were awarded a total of a half-million dollars in business capital funding during the 26th annual Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge award ceremony. This year’s winners, announced in March, are Creek House Honey Farm, iDocket, Haven Aero, Awesome Water Solutions and Pro Chem Sales

Julie Grimes was named general manager of Panhandle PBS in March. Her professional career includes more than 10 years as senior food editor of Southern Living and Cooking Light magazines.

Shane Harper, DMS, PA-C, a clinical associate professor in the TTUHSC School of Medicine Department of Surgery, became the founding editor-in-chief for the West Texas Journal of Medicine, which published its inaugural issue in December 2022.

The Fairly family acquired Hills Sport Shop in March. In business since 1964, the shop will celebrate with a grand re-opening on May 20, 2023.

Dr. Naruki Hiranuma, associate professor of environmental science in the Department of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences in WT’s Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, will serve on the user executive committee for the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory. EMSL is the DOE Office of Science’s premiere molecular sciences laboratory.

Dr. Mikyung Shin, assistant professor of education in WT’s Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, earned an individual award from the Chancellor’s Academy of Teacher Educators for the 2022-23 academic year.

The Amarillo Symphony awarded the 2023 Beethoven Society Award to Dr. Clinton L. Esler, current vice president of the Symphony board of directors. The Beethoven Society Award honors a Symphony donor who gives their time, talents and treasure to support great music throughout the Texas Panhandle.

TTUHSC presented the 2023 Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching & Research Awards in March to Amy Stark, M.D., an associate professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine in Amarillo.

Elpida Artemiou has joined Texas Tech University’s School of Veterinary Medicine as a professor of veterinary communications.

The United States Tennis Association awarded $53,000 in Tennis Venue Services grants this month to the City of Amarillo. USTA Texas added $16,000 in grant funding. The grants total $69,000 and will help fund the resurfacing of 19 courts at the Amarillo Tennis Center (14 courts) and Memorial Park Tennis Courts (five courts).

Eric Matthews and Jon Sterling, of Brown & Fortunato, have each been named by Super Lawyers as a Texas Rising Star for 2023, an achievement awarded to only 2.5% of eligible attorneys.

The Amarillo Symphony announced Jordyn Dunlap, a freshman saxophonist at Randall High School, as the first recipient of the Adeline Roberta Terrell (ART) Scholarship for young Black and Hispanic musicians pursuing an immersive music camp in Summer 2023.

Texas Tech Physicians recently expanded to southwest Amarillo with its new Texas Tech Physicians Pediatrics Clinic at 6017 Hillside Road, Suite 500.

Beau A. Cross, of Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC, has been elected to membership in the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation, the largest charitably funded bar foundation in the country.

Christopher Bland and Emma Deer were recognized as Top Student Employees in April by WT’s Office of Career and Professional Development.

The Barbara Petty Professorship of Business Communication was announced March 29. The position, located in the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, will be held by Dr. Mary Liz Brooks

Shane Ferrell joined BOC Bank as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation, with a background of more than 20 years of experience in the digital banking world.

Amarillo College announced that Chris George, instructor of computer information systems and cybersecurity, has received the Instructor Excellence Award from the Cisco Networking Academy.

The Truckload Carriers Association recently named Rose Rojo, a truck driver with John Christner Trucking, “Professional Driver of the Year.”

Carolyn Arnold joined Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine as a professor of large animal surgery.

Amarillo National Bank contributed another $2.5 million to Badger Bold in March. The gift will support capital enhancements, ANB STEM scholarships and the ANB Athletics Scholarship Fund.

Antu Radhakrishnan joined Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine as a professor of small animal internal medicine.

In March, the City of Amarillo honored Rosemary Robinson of the Amarillo Police Department as the longest-serving employee in COA history. She began at the Amarillo Public Library in 1973, 50 years ago, and moved to APD five months later.

Sean Calvert was promoted to Property & Evidence Manager at the Amarillo Police Department Grace Robinson was promoted to Assistant Manager of Property and Evidence.

Brown & Fortunato announced that Jason E. Pepe joined the firm’s Litigation Group. Pepe is licensed to practice in Texas, Missouri, and Kansas.

We want to hear from you! To highlight your business, promotions, awards and ribbon-cuttings in this section, email a press release or your business brief to mm@brickandelm.com.

RIBBON-CUTTINGS

CARMAX

FIRST NATIONAL BANK

GEORGE DISTRIBUTORS INC.

GOLDEN ROSE TEA ROOM HILLSIDE SELF STORAGE

LA FIESTA 40TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL PARK FUNERAL

REFUGEE SERVICES OF TEXAS

SECOND IMPRESSION CONSIGNMENT CO.

TEXAS TECH PHYSICIANS PEDIATRICS

THE HUDSON GROUP

CROSS POINTE AUTO

MARKETPLACE TRUST

BY JANNA KIEHL

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Consumers trust BBB to provide unbiased information including whether a company is accredited, a letter rating, complaint detail and customer reviews. Accredited Businesses support BBB’s mission in the community by qualifying for accreditation and committing to uphold the BBB’s Standards for Trust, thereby maintaining a trustworthy marketplace.

Consumers come to BBB when they are looking for a company to do business with. In 2022 more than 129,000 consumers inquired about area businesses. Consumers filed only 340 complaints against businesses in 2022. Looking for a company to do business with is by far the BBB’s most trusted resource.

WHAT IS BBB ACCREDITATION?

BBB Accreditation is an honor; not every business is eligible. Businesses that meet BBB Standards for Trust may become accredited. Once BBB verifies all Standards are met they are presented to the BBB’s Board of Directors for review and acceptance as a BBB Accredited Business. BBB regularly verifies the Standards are being met for each Accredited Business.

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Trust, integrity, honesty, reliability. For more than 100 years, consumers and businesses have recognized BBB as the “go-to” organization for marketplace trust issues, and it’s a responsibility BBB does not take lightly.

BBB ensures that high standards for trust are set and maintained and exists so consumers and businesses alike have an unbiased source to guide them on matters of trust.

BBB sees trust as a function of two primary factors: character and competence. Character includes integrity, ethics and intent, while competence speaks to a business’s track record— delivering results in accordance with BBB standards and addressing customer concerns in a timely, satisfactory manner.

BBB helps deliver consumers to trustworthy businesses, businesses that will treat them fairly and honestly. BBB reports provide consumers with information they need to know to make the right purchasing or donation decisions.

BBB products, services and programs are more relevant today than ever before, and are backed by an Accredited Business seal, indicating that a business has met high standards for marketplace trust. BBB gives consumers confidence in their choices and businesses pride in their status.

The BBB seal represents a commitment and devotion to fairness and honesty. Businesses are proud to display the BBB seal, not just because it draws in customers, but because it says something deeper about what they stand for.

BBB MISSION:

BBB’s mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust by:

• Setting standards for marketplace trust

• Encouraging and supporting best practices by engaging with and educating consumers and businesses

• Celebrating marketplace role models

• Calling out and addressing substandard marketplace behavior

• Creating a community of trustworthy businesses and charities

BBB VISION:

To create an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers trust each other.

BBB is your key adviser, most reliable evaluator, and most objective expert on the topic of trust in the marketplace.

Learn more at bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-amarillo. Begin the accreditation process at bbb.org/apply

JANNA KIEHL

Janna is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Better Business Bureau of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle.

CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN

The industries I’ve been involved with for a significant part of my life—music, the performing arts, publishing, entertainment, radio, writing—all have common threads. One of these is the tendency to run into famous people.

The classic “six degrees of separation” is more like one or two, especially in the music industry. Cliches like “stars are just like us” and “they put their pants on one leg at a time” are mostly true. But most “normal” people don’t get cheered by thousands of fans for weeks, months, years or decades. That can put a certain kink in your normalhood, and it’s not always necessarily a good one.

Having said that, I have been amazed how, for the most part, famous people have a certain grace about them, and handle unreasonable situations with poise. Here are some of my favorite famous people that I’ve interviewed, played music with, or just happened to have met:

Jerry Jeff Walker: He is no longer with us, but in the days of Amarillo’s Funfest, it was my privilege to open the show for some great musicians brought in by the Amarillo Junior League. I had been a Jerry Jeff fan just about my whole life. When my great friend Kathy Brown called and said, “Would you consider opening for Jerry Jeff Walker at Funfest?” I almost interrupted her with my “YES!” She laughed at me. The show was on a sunny morning. It was an amazing day. I tried to be casual, but when Jerry held out his hand and said, “Hi, I’m Jerry Jeff,” I laughed—probably too loudly—and said, “I know!” His hands were like first baseman’s mitts. He said, “Are you gonna play us some songs?” All I could manage was, “You bet!” He was a little cranky the other times I ran into him (he wasn’t crazy about the road in his later years), but that day at Funfest was golden.

Foghat: Foghat toured for decades. They loved to play rock and roll. I got to play shows with them, and when KATP radio brought the band in, we all hung out. Foghat’s front man, Dave Peverett, was a friend. They called him “Lonesome Dave” because he was shy. He was probably the quietest member of the band, but onstage he was the loudest human being I ever met (with the possible exception of my son, Isaac). Dave played crazy slide guitar, and sang rock classics like, “Slow Ride,” and “Fool for the City.” He and I sat in the corner at restaurants and drew pictures of everybody. Fun fact: Dave designed the immortal Foghat logo. If you’ve seen it, you know what I’m talking about.

Norman Petty Nor-Va-Jak Studio Greats: During the initial Clovis, New Mexico, music festivals, I got to play with legends like Carl Perkins, The Crickets (post-Buddy Holly), The Fireballs, Joe Ely, Bobby Vee, and a lot of the performers that had connections to the legendary studio. All were exceptionally gracious people. Some even seemed surprised that everyone remembered them. The studio is

still there on Seventh Street in Clovis. I highly recommend a visit there.

Gene Simmons: I got to hang with Gene Simmons of KISS before everybody “got to know him” on Gene Simmons Family Jewels He was pretty much as advertised: highly intelligent and looking to shock someone. If memory serves, he insulted one of our people at the radio station, but I always thought he did that so someone like me would still be writing about it. It worked!

John Goodman: Among the coolest show biz folks I have met is John Goodman, who stopped to talk with me at the old B.B. King’s in Universal City where my band used to play. I asked him if he’d brought a harp (harmonica) and he laughed and said, “No, I only play those in the movies.” He is a genuinely funny person.

Freddy Fender: He was one of my favorites. I got to play with his band in front of 2,000 women who lost their collective minds. I had not realized up to that point how many female fans Freddy had. He was incredible onstage. He could light a crowd up. He was also friendly, gracious, and kind-hearted. I truly miss that cat.

Van Halen: This band was a lot of fun to hang with. Back when they were just being propelled into rock superstardom, they loved Amarillo! David Lee Roth was charming and funny, Alex was a little quiet, and Eddie was truly amazing. Generally, people don’t get how fundamentally Eddie Van Halen changed rock guitar, but that’s a story for another day.

America, Leon Russell, ZZ Top, Chicago, April Wine: These were all fun bands to open for and get to know.

I thought I might close by mentioning the ones I wish I hadn’t met, but I’m out of space. Oh, well. Score one for positivity.

ANDY CHASE CUNDIFF

Andy is an artist, singersongwriter, music producer and musician. In every issue, his column explores the parts of his life that don’t always make it into his songs, accompanied by his own illustration.

Come explore Tucumcari’s four iconic interactive museums which showcase the town’s old west history, Route 66 Americana heritage, railroad roots, and its role in the ‘Age of Dinosaurs’.

WITH PATRICK MILLER

By the time this is published, we will only be a few days away from the 2023 Amarillo Municipal Election Day. You may even read it after the election has ended and the votes have been counted. Nonetheless, it is imperative to reflect on what this election cycle means to local residents and our entire region.

I’ve been an elected official myself. On the AC Board of Regents, we collaboratively managed a $67 million budget while adopting policies to reflect the best interests of community college stakeholders. I respect anyone willing to appear on a ballot and serve their neighbors. However, being on the “outside” of local politics has provided me with a fresh perspective. As I have attended recent public events and forums, it has become widely apparent that even our local political discussions are victims of the divisive, partisan rancor that has infected once-thoughtful debate. We no longer trust one another, and as a result, this has increased voter apathy and decreased opportunities to learn from one another.

Communication is impossible without trust. Solving problems is impossible without communication. Leaders must be able to consider the concerns of those whom you may otherwise disagree with. Leaders have to be willing to challenge their own preconceived notions. And regardless of what a candidate may say during a campaign, citizens expect their elected officials to consider the potential impact of every ordinance or policy without reservation to a political party or allegiance to any special interest group. In fact, it’s in the oath. From issues like public school curriculums to neighborhood zoning, citizens deserve to know their elected officials will ignore the partisan noise and thoughtfully consider the local perspective.

We have real issues to solve. In education, our local public schools are fighting to protect funding from being rerouted by the state

government to private schools. We are also working to make sure our students are being taught the critical thinking skills required for life and success beyond high school.

Public safety is equally complex. It requires thoughtful collaboration between neighborhoods, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies. Crime prevention, rehabilitation, and decreased recidivism should be priorities for us all.

Access to nutrition remains a problem for our region. Feeding America, the largest hunger relief organization in our nation, reports that 1 in 7 (13.5 percent) individuals in the Texas Panhandle and 1 in 6 children (18 percent) face food insecurity. Thankfully, local nonprofit organizations have been working for decades to eradicate food insecurity. Our local elected officials must be equally as dedicated to advocating for the needs of local families when communicating with state and national elected officials. Hunger is not a partisan or a race issue and can no longer be ignored.

Hopefully, our local elected candidates will remember to prioritize the needs of the place we are all proud to call home. Regardless of your vote, thank you for being invested in the future of our city. I look forward to the continued privilege of standing alongside you, advocating for Amarillo in the public arena.

PATRICK MILLER

A passionate local educator, Past President and current executive officer of Amarillo Branch NAACP, Patrick writes in every issue about education, faith and forward momentum.

A life-size never-before-seen perspective of the genius’ masterpieces.

Arts in the Sunset | Amarillo

Open Friday, June 9 - Sunday, July 23 | Artsinthesunset.org

TICKETS ON SALE TUESDAY, APRIL 18

Working in the field of domestic violence, often I hear this question come up: Why does she stay?

A recent interaction pushed me to consider this idea more. Is it a choice? If so, why does staying in a violent relationship look like a better option than leaving? Getting my beliefs and values challenged is never fun, but I always appreciate the opportunity to grow and consider thoughts outside my comfort zone.

For more than five years, I’ve worked for a nonprofit that specializes in resources related to domestic violence, including offering an emergency shelter, advocacy and counseling. We further work with the perpetrators of domestic violence, facilitating groups that try to challenge the core beliefs that are attributed to their actions.

I’ve worked with many women (and a couple of men) who have been in relationships where violence was present. It’s tough to hear their stories. And if I’m being honest, it’s hard to hear the reasoning of why they choose to stay. I must set my personal beliefs aside to truly empathize with their situations. My beliefs don’t come from a place of judgment; rather, they come from a place of deep concern for my clients’ welfare. I want them to be OK. I want them to be safe. I want them to stay alive.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (2022), leaving an abuser is the most dangerous moment for a victim of domestic violence. Why? Because the abuser loses the control they love to have over their victim. With that can come a maladaptive approach to getting what they want. And truly, the interactions don’t end just because the victim leaves. That’s when the stalking and harassment begin.

But the victim can get a protective order, right? Yes. But in the eyes of an abuser, that’s just a piece of paper. At this point, the phone calls from random numbers begin. Each time those get blocked, they find another number to call from. When they’ve run out of those options, the emails or social media messages start. Those get blocked. Then the blaming begins, and the perpetual promises like “I’ll never do it again.”

Why Does She Stay?

Or “If you hadn’t ____ (fill in the blank)” to convince the victim it is somehow their fault. The victim receives endless threats—to take the children, to expose her most private stories, to kill her.

The abuse is unfathomable, which is why so many victims say the least of their problems was the physical abuse. It’s the gaslighting— mental and emotional abuse—that’s so hard. And the isolation. Before she knows it, he has isolated her from friends and family, convincing her that they’re not to be trusted. So, when I hear the question “Why doesn’t she leave?” my response is “Leave to go where?” She can go to a shelter, but the thought of trusting strangers could be terrifying.

I’ve always respected and admired my paternal grandmother, even though there was a significant language barrier between us, with her limited English and my childhood lack of Spanish. I think of her when I’m asked the icebreaker question “If you could have dinner with any four people, living or dead, who would they be?” I want to know how this woman with no education and nine children somehow found a way to leave her own abuser, the person who was supposed to protect and honor her and their children. How terrifying was that? How many years did she endure the abuse before she risked everything to find safety?

The truth is this: There is hope and there is a path to freedom from violence. But the other truth is that no situation is black-and-white. Judging the victim doesn’t help defeat domestic violence. Let’s stop judging victims and work on building more honorable men.

If you or someone you know needs help, please contact FSS at fss-ama.org or 806-374-5433.

AMY HORD

Amy is a licensed Clinical Social WorkerSupervisor and is a counselor at Family Support Services of Amarillo, Inc. She grew up in the Texas Panhandle, is married to husband, Chris, and has three boys—Dylan, Jacob, and Josh.

June 10

Juneteenth Pageant

6:30 p.m. Palo Duro High School, 1400 N. Grant St. Grades: K-12

June 17

Parade and Park Celebration

10 a.m. Parade

• Float Competition

• Line-up starts at Ninth and Hayden

2023

June 16

Alpha’s All White Party

7:06 p.m. Reed Beverage Center, 3701 SE 25th Ave.

Admission: $40 per person; $400 Reserved Seating (table of 8)

June 18

Community Church Service

11 a.m. Bones Hooks Park

• Parade Route Ninth and Hughes to Bones Hooks Park

12-5 p.m. Park Celebration

• Food, entertainment, information vendors, 3-point contest, and food booths

June 19-23

Community Empowerment Week

Monday, June 19 – The Evolution of our Community

6:30 p.m., Black Historical Cultural Center, 901 N. Hayden St.

Tuesday, June 20 – The Path to Financial Freedom, How Do We Get There?

6:30 p.m., Carver Elementary School, 1905 NW 12th Ave.

Wednesday, June 21 – Social Service Extravaganza

6:30 p.m., Carver Elementary School, 1905 NW 12th Ave.

Thursday, June 22 – Educational Resources in School and In Life

6:30 p.m., Carver Elementary School,1905 NW 12th Ave.

Friday, June 23 – Community Town Hall: Where Do We Go From Here?

6:30 p.m., Carver Elementary School, 1905 NW 12th Ave.

DISPENSE WITH BEAUTY

Olive oil is indispensable in the kitchen. The slender spouts of ceramic dispensers make it easier for home cooks to drizzle or pour oil with exacting control, but that’s not their only benefit. Glass or ceramic vessels also help olive oil stay fresh longer by protecting the sensitive product from air. We appreciate that combination of beauty and utility, and shopped local artisans to find these handmade vessels for vinegar and oil.

TWO MUGS STUDIO $60 EACH/$100 SET

TWO MUGS STUDIO $70 EACH/$120 SET

BLIND BIRD DESIGNS SALT CELLAR $30/OLIVE OIL BOTTLE $45 TO $65

JOSH HOGGE ARTS $35 EACH

Did you know Broome Optical is locally owned, and has been since 1929? We know this community. We live in this community. We’ve been serving this community for 94 years. Come see the local eyecare difference.

The Amarillo EDC's Uncover Amarillo Intern Experience is here to help introduce interns to our growing and vibrant community, and is free to participating companies!

Uncover Amarillo allows employers to improve the quality and success of their internships by enabling college-age interns to get their bearings in Amarillo. At all events, participants get the opportunity to meet interns from outside organizations, experience different parts of Amarillo, and connect

Guest of Honor

If your home is large enough to have a guest room, this dedicated space can take on a dual role within your environment. It won’t be used often, but when it does welcome visitors, the room must be practical. The best guest rooms find a balance between avoiding clutter and elevating personal elements.

You want a guest to feel comfortable there during a stay. But at the same time, it’s also a space where you can put your design personality on display. Everything in a guest room needs to have some thought behind it as you show off your unique style.

With this in mind, we asked Amarillo interior designer Jennifer Smith for tips on decorating and styling a guest room. She’s been in the business for 20 years, and as her career has evolved, she’s found herself primarily drawn toward residential design. “I love the relational aspect of residential design,” she says. “My main passion is to create interiors that inspire beauty and comfort, so you can have the best experience while living in the space.”

That passion applies to the guest room in her own house. “I host guests fairly often because my family lives out of town. Designing and styling a guest room can be fun, but functionality is just as important as the aesthetic,” she says.

In her professional opinion, a warm and welcoming guest room needs these elements:

STORAGE

By necessity, a guest room hosts not only a person or two, but also their luggage. Smith suggests cozying up a guest room by adding a bench at the end of the bed. “This provides your guest with a place to sit their luggage or belongings. It also adds extra seating if needed, and doesn’t take up a lot of space in the room,” she says. Make sure there’s an empty dresser or nightstand near the bed, as well as a non-cluttered closet.

NEUTRALITY

“You want your guest room to be calming and inspiring at the same time,” Smith says. That means a bold orange accent wall might not be the best idea. “A neutral palette provides a calm environment. A neutral room is also more timeless and can be easily updated with fresh accessories and decor,” she adds.

TEXTURE

Use texture to add visual interest and inspiration, from plants and baskets to drapes and bedding. “A rug is a must to cozy up and ground the room,” says Smith. Window treatments can introduce texture while also providing privacy and light control. “Drapes can add warmth and interest to the space.”

BED AND BEDDING

Splurge on fine luxury sheets and soft layered bedding, which give guests options related to warmth and comfort. A comfortable mattress is essential to ensure quality sleep. “If you don’t have the best guest mattress and don’t want to replace it, opt for a nice mattress pillow topper,” Smith says. “Extra pillows are a must, too.”

For most rooms, a nice headboard can serve as a bold focal point.

LIGHTING

“Make sure your guests have lamps for reading, or other light sources—other than ceiling lights—for a more user-friendly space,” she says. Definitely make sure any lamps or lighting are conveniently placed. For your visitors, the unfamiliarity of a guest room can make it difficult to navigate in the dark.

ART

You don’t want a cluttered look, but neither do you want a boring room. Add some personal touches in the form of accessories and statement-making art or photography. “Art is key in bringing warmth and interest to the space,” Smith says.

ACCESSORIES

Keep it simple, but don’t skimp on the kinds of thoughtful touches that make a guest feel at home. “Keep your room feeling fresh and smelling fresh with a yummy candle and a nice plant,” she suggests. A special guest might even be worth a bouquet of fresh flowers or mints on the pillow.

Smith loves to travel and uses those experiences to inspire new ideas for herself and her clients. “The memories and love we share in our homes while hosting the people that matter the most are definitely some of the best adventures life has to offer,” she says.

spaces

JENNIFER SMITH

Jennifer is a local interior designer with a degree in interior design from Texas Tech University. She has been practicing for 20 years with experience in commercial and residential design.

Turn the page to shop the look! We perused local boutiques for the perfect additions to your guest room.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER SMITH

SHOP THE LOOK

Make your guests feel right at home and support local businesses in the process. We searched local shops and boutiques to source the items Jennifer Smith recommends for a truly welcoming guest room. Here are a few of our favorite finds.

NEST NEW YORK WELLNESS CANDLE IN WILD MINT & EUCALYPTUS $80 THE SECRET PLACE

RONDA TABLE LAMP $242 THE URBAN GIRAFFE

FLOOR BASKET $114 PETE’S GREENHOUSE

D.V. KAP HOME PILLOW $151

KEM’S BED & BATH

SHIRALEAH CHICAGO THROW $141

KEM’S BED & BATH

CREDIT & DEBIT CARD PROCESSING

GIFT CARDS

CHECK SERVICE

ONLINE BILL PAYMENT

MOBILE PAYMENTS

E-COMMERCE PAYMENTS

POINT OF SALE SYSTEMS

ONLINE ORDERING

COMPLIANT CASH DISCOUNTING AND SURCHARGING PROGRAMS

WE ARE

Est. 1940

We recently honored 45 employees for a total of more than 700 years of service. Now that’s commitment! The tenure and longevity seen in AQHA employees aligns with the strong history of the American Quarter Horse and the American Quarter Horse Association’s decades-long roots in Amarillo. Just like our employees, we’ve been here for a long time, and we plan to stay even longer.

THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW AT PPHM

Stepping inside the landmark art-deco entrance to PanhandlePlains Historical Museum, located on the campus of West Texas

A&M in Canyon, Texas, visitors discover an almost overwhelming collection of art and artifacts. Museum wings branch off in multiple directions. Voices echo in the Pioneer Hall, and echoes of the past resonate throughout the sprawling building. Guests should expect nothing less as they visit the largest history museum in Texas.

“PPHM always surprises people by its sheer size and the amount of things you can learn and engage with,” says Museum Director Dr. Andrew Hay. “It’s truly a place all generations can enjoy.”

The generational component is apparent immediately considering the families congregating throughout the expansive museum. Grandparents point out details of the classic automobiles near the enormous Panhandle Petroleum exhibit. Elementary students tug Mom and Dad closer to the Triceratops skull and other fossils—a crocodile-like phytosaur, a shovel-tusked mastodon, a giant Harlan’s ground sloth—in the popular paleontology collection.

And the interactive Pioneer Town exhibit offers something for every family member, telling the story of Panhandle communities in the late 19th century. “It’s a hands-on, immersive exhibit,” says Hay, “and other

than paleontology, it’s probably the most popular part of the museum for families.” In Pioneer Town, the Old West comes to life as visitors tap out a message on the telegraph, weigh necessities at the mercantile and try on the leg shackles in the jail.

While history can’t be changed, a museum like Panhandle-Plains is not afraid to alter its attractions. A series of special exhibitions introduce variety and novelty to frequent visitors. Museum staff are excited about A Noble Partner, a new exhibit opening this month in the Bivins Gallery. Using artifacts from the PPHM collection, it explores the link between humans and horses. “Horses have been part of our landscape for centuries and provided both companionship and workmanship for residents of this region,” says History Curator Jenni Opalinski. “We examine how the horse and human have worked together over the decades, and how those relationships shape both man and horse.”

Lots of Love, Gisella is another noteworthy exhibit. It opens May 20 in the Harrington Gallery, telling the story of Gisella Loeffler, an Austrian who immigrated to the United States around the turn of the 20th century. “She settled in Taos, New Mexico, and was very active in the Taos artist community,” says Deana Craighead, Curator of Art. “She combined Indian and Hispanic motifs with her native Austro-Hungarian

PPHM COLLECTION PIECE BY GISELLA LOEFFLER

PHOTOS BY PANHANDLE-PLAINS HISTORICAL MUSEUM

folk art traditions.” Both whimsical and subtly sophisticated, her work includes everything from paintings to furniture and decorative objects—a welcome companion to the museum’s vast art collection.

Future exhibitions have the staff just as excited, including The Art of Texas State Parks, a traveling exhibit due to arrive in late October. In honor of the centennial celebration of Texas State Parks, this visual arts survey features works by some of the state’s most celebrated artists, inspired by the more than 30 state parks in Texas—including Palo Duro Canyon. “We are thrilled to have been selected for this exhibit, which includes art from David Caton, Ric Dentinger, Mary Baxter and others. The significance of the canyon to our region made this an important project to participate in,” says Craighead.

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum offers more than artifacts and exhibits, however. Its summer kids programs are beloved by the community, including activities inside the galleries. Families love annual events like Night at the Museum (June 9), a one-night-only, after-hours exploration of the museum via flashlight in the dark. “It’s incredibly fun. Even people familiar with our exhibits will see them in a new way at night,” says Marketing and Communications Director Stephanie Price.

June and July bring camp opportunities for young museum fans. The Boulders Brands and Bones Camp, June 27 to 30, gives second-to-fifth-grade campers the opportunity to dive into history, art, geology, the Old West and a lot more at PPHM. And a STEAM Camp July 18 to 21 will immerse campers ages 8 to 12 in hands-on projects focusing on science, technology, engineering, art and math. “Our campers’ days will be filled with fun and excitement while they explore their sense of wonder and build critical thinking skills,” adds Price.

Part of the Texas Panhandle since 1933, Panhandle-Plains offers captivating displays for all ages and interests, from dinosaurs to modern art and from saddles to automobiles. Its ever-changing exhibits and vast permanent collection tell the wide-ranging history of the people of this region. “There’s always something new to see,” says Hay.

Birds of a Feather

BY JASON BOYETT

Amarillo attorney Vicki Wilmarth admits she has been known to, in her words, “sneak out of the office” on a random weekday afternoon. She might head to Southeast Park or the secluded Rick Klein trails, located across the city from her office near The Colonies.

“Fortunately, I am my own boss,” says this longtime employment and business transactions lawyer. She keeps binoculars and her camera in the car for those quick getaways. What coaxes her away from her world of employment contracts and severance agreements? Wilmarth admits she’s pursuing a wily adversary. This one has feathers.

“Everybody has a nemesis bird,” she says. “Mine is a Long-Eared Owl. Somebody saw one near Rick Klein Sports Complex over the last month or two. I am very itchy when I know there’s a bird nearby of a species I have not seen.”

Wilmarth is a birder. And in the Texas Panhandle, she’s far from alone. She is one of the founders and administrators of Birds of the Texas Panhandle, a private Facebook group with nearly 3,000 members. She’s also an instructor at Amarillo College’s eight-week “Birding in the Texas Panhandle” continuing education class, which opened in March and quickly reached maximum capacity.

Birding is, perhaps surprisingly, very popular in the Texas Panhandle, and continues to take flight among local residents.

Spring Migration

“Amarillo is sitting on a flyway through the middle of the U.S.,” Wilmarth explains. North American birds travel from north to south in the winter, but don’t cross the Rocky Mountains. As a result, this funnels a lot of birds through this area. “We get wonderful migrants coming through in spring and fall,” she says. The migration begins in mid-March and continues through June, bringing hundreds of unique species to the sheltered canyons and playas of the Panhandle.

PHOTO BY JAMES HAMOUS

These might be Orange-Crowned Warblers, Bullock’s Orioles, rarely seen Vermilion Flycatchers, and rainbowhued Painted Buntings (an especially colorful species that draws birders to Palo Duro Canyon from across the state every summer). Local birders flock to destinations around Amarillo and throughout the Panhandle hoping to spot these birds.

Some, like Wilmarth, intend to photograph them, as well. She and her husband, Rohn, are both photographers with a passion for the outdoors. Those interests attracted her to birding several years ago. “We are national parks fans and have a camper, so we spend a lot of time outside in nature,” she says. “There are places, like the Panhandle of Texas, where you’re not going to see big mammals. What we do see in the Panhandle are birds.”

As she photographed birds, she found herself wanting to know what she was seeing. She bought a field guide to help identify the species. Before long, she’d caught the worm, so to speak. “I think of myself as a photographer first who, just in the past five years, has taken on birding. I really enjoy it,” she says.

AND AT RIGHT: PHOTOS BY VICKI WILMARTH

YOUNG BURROWING OWLS

Most weekends in the spring or fall will find Wilmarth hiking around bodies of water in the Panhandle, camera in hand. “The Texas Panhandle has a treasure trove of neat places to bird,” she says. Palo Duro Canyon is at the top of most birders’ lists, but that’s not the only good destination. “There are smaller, more unexpected places like Rita Blanca Lake near Dalhart, Lake Fryer outside Perryton, and Lake Meredith. If it’s got water, it’s got birds,” she says.

She’s seen fish-hunting Ospreys at McDonald Lake near John Stiff Park. She’s photographed American White Pelicans at Southeast Park. And both inside the city and outside—like at McGee Lake behind Tyson Foods—she’s watched Bald Eagles who stop here during the winter months. “They come around November 1 and are gone by March,” she says of the patriotic bird of prey. “They usually go nest and breed in areas north of here.”

But the Long-Eared Owl continues to elude her. “I’m a naturally competitive person—that’s probably why I’m a lawyer—and there’s definitely a competitive element to birding. We keep lists of records. I definitely know how many birds I have seen in each county I have birded in. I know which ones I’m missing. There’s a challenge to it that’s a lot of fun.”

COOPER’S HAWK

FERRUGINOUS HAWK

CLARKS GREBE

Collecting Moments

Dr. James “Hap” Hamous is a fellow birder who helped launch the local birding Facebook group, organized the AC class and who has been active in the birding community for nearly four decades. A retired clinical pathologist, Hamous met Kenneth Seyffert upon arriving in Amarillo in the 1980s. He describes the late Seyffert—a former president of the Texas Panhandle Audubon Society and founding member of the Texas Bird Records Committee—as the “guru of birding” in the Panhandle. Seyffert’s meticulous research led to the publication of the guidebook Birds of the Texas Panhandle in 2001, and Hamous spent more than 15 years learning from him.

Also a photographer, Hamous is drawn to birding for the conservation elements, the interest in data and recordkeeping—he’s involved in annual Christmas bird counts with the Audubon Society—and the human drive for collection. Like accumulating rare coins, collecting bird sightings fulfills that compulsion or habit.

“It’s like finding or seeing rare things. You want your collection to be complete,” he says. “There are a lot of people who’ll say ‘I want to see a White Wagtail’ or ‘I want to see a Bluethroat.’”

Hamous has taken multiple trips to indulge his birding passion, from a 16-day Alaska excursion last summer to spending spring migration on the Texas Gulf Coast. “I’m a scientist by training,” he says. “I just like being outdoors and love nature. I also like fly fishing. I can’t decide whether to take pictures, look at birds or catch fish.”

He and his friend Thomas Johnson, another retired physician mentored by Seyffert, have been birding together since the 1980s. “Tom and I will go birding sunup to sundown,” he says. Hamous recognizes that not everyone sees the value in, for instance, tramping around Thompson Park or Lake Meredith looking for a flash of color, but the value of any experience is always relative.

“Take golf, for instance. You break it down to the basics and you’re chasing a ball around a pasture so you can drop it into a hole after hitting it four times. That doesn’t really make sense,” he says, grinning. “But golfers are very enthusiastic about it.”

Hamous and his fellow birders are just as passionate. “From afar, [you think] why the hell are those two guys out there with binoculars in 40-degree weather looking at birds? Well, it’s fun. I learn stuff. I don’t know that I can explain all the reasons, but I just like it.”

Eyes on the Sparrow

“Birds are fascinating when you look at them,” Micah Schulze says. A seventh-grade English teacher at Randall Junior High, he’s in his 10th year as an educator but has only been birding since he moved to Canyon a few years ago. The house he rented with his wife and young family had large

PHOTOS BY JAMES HAMOUS

VERMILLION FLYCATCHER

kitchen windows. After seeing two cardinals one day, Schulze decided he wanted a bird feeder. “I liked the visual entertainment of it,” he says.

Before long he was googling “birds in my backyard” so he could identify the birds enjoying his feeder. Then he became immersed in YouTube videos. Then he bought a field guide. He found himself borrowing his father-in-law’s binoculars and taking them to Palo Duro Canyon so he could watch and identify the birds there.

Schulze realized he’d become a birder. “A lot of people don’t notice birds and I used to be one [of those] who did not. But when you intentionally are looking at them, you notice how striking they are,” he says. “When you can go out and see birds and identify them, there’s a celebrity effect.” He recently spotted a White-Breasted Nuthatch. “I had never seen one, and when I saw it in person it looked fake. It’s like seeing a celebrity in the flesh. It doesn’t seem real.”

Schulze isn’t a photographer, but he keeps

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A PELICAN AT SOUTHEAST PARK

track of the birds he’s seen and makes sure to tell his students about them. He hopes they’ll become interested. “With birds, you get away from everything. For a student, the drama and ordeal of figuring out where you are in the world—you can put all that aside for a moment. You can step into a natural environment and see beauty. The more you see it, the more you’re aware of it. You can just sit there and see each individual bird in the moment,” he explains.

With a young family, he’s not able to travel or “chase birds” like more established fellow birders, but Schulze has already embraced the mindfulness and conservation mindset that drives this community of hobbyists.

Wilmarth confirms it. “When I see a bird and am trying to identify it, that’s all I can focus on,” she says.

“I’m trying to figure out if the bird has a spotted breast or a striped breast or a plain breast.”

The photographic aspect puts her equally in the present, as she manipulates the settings of her camera to follow a bird flitting from light into shadow. Outdoors, attentive to the details of the natural world surrounding her, she finds an escape from professional responsibilities.

COOPERS

PHOTO BY JAMES HAMOUS

49 BRICKANDELM.COM MAY/JUN 2023

“You have to be outside and personally active to see the birds,” she points out. And you have to step away from a desk and an office. “As much as I love my clients, I have to get away from that sometimes. It takes me away from my job and my worries and puts me in the moment.”

In and around Amarillo, the local birding community is having its own moment, as locals pay attention to the feathered residents who share our skies and landscape.

A couple years ago, Wilmarth noticed tiny, bright-yellow Wilson’s Warblers in her backyard. “I said something to Anette Carlisle, who’s a big birder, and I said, ‘I can’t believe it. I’ve never had these in my backyard.’ And Anette said, ‘Yes you have. You just didn’t notice.’ It really is a matter of seeing things through new eyes.”

A PAINTED BUNTING AT PALO DURO CANYON

A KESTREL AT MCGEE LAKE

BEWICK’S WREN

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PAGE

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Birdbrains

According to Kenneth D. Seyffert’s Birds of the Texas Panhandle, avian life is abundant in this region. Around 600 species of birds have been observed in Texas, and sightings of approximately 400 of them have been confirmed in the Panhandle, from massive Great Blue Herons to tiny Black-Chinned Hummingbirds.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimates around 45 million Americans are birders, a hobby that expanded during the pandemic as people began spending more time at home and paying closer attention to their neighborhoods.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER

CEDAR WAXWING

OUT of the Ashes

BY JASON BOYETT

I“wouldn’t recommend that people get a new building by going through what we went through,” says Jim Womack. “But it’s actually been a very positive thing.”

Womack stands in the parking lot of the new Family Support Services headquarters. The morning sunlight reflects off the building’s mirrored surface. Located at 2209 SW Seventh Ave., the iconic building was first constructed in 1959 as the Medical Tower, designed for doctors’ offices across from the old Northwest Texas Hospital. After the hospital moved west, the building hosted other businesses, most recently serving as the corporate office for Cactus Feeders.

The building sat vacant for several years until 2020. That’s when Womack, as the organization’s CEO, found himself leading a sprawling community organization without a home base. On Sunday morning, January 19, 2020, Family Support Services’ downtown location was destroyed by fire.

“Basically, we lost everything,” he says. “If we weren’t in Amarillo or the Texas Panhandle, I don’t know that we would have recovered from all of this.” But the community stepped in to offer its own support to the nonprofit, which has existed in some form since 1908. (See sidebar on p. 55.)

By the afternoon of the fire, Guyon Saunders Resource Center had offered workspace for FSS employees. So did Potter County and the Wesley Community Center. Texas Panhandle Centers offered administrative space. A few weeks later, Boys Ranch opened up its building near downtown for FSS counselors. “We were kind of spread out and a lot of staff were working from home,” says Womack. This was pre-pandemic. The timing allowed the organization to jump into remote work a few weeks before COVID forced it on the rest of the city. “Oddly enough, that’s one of the positive things that came out of the fire. We had already set up a Telehealth system for counselors to see clients over a laptop or phone, and do sessions from their house,” he adds.

Then the Amarillo Independent School District board voted to allow the rent-free use of a building near AISD’s headquarters for six months. That was around the start of March 2020. “We moved everything into the building and then, two weeks later, we moved everybody back out,” Womack says. The pandemic arrived in Amarillo and everything shut down.

But the organization continued serving the community, offering behavioral health and wellness services, counseling sessions, support groups, emergency and transitional housing for families escaping violence, and crisis services for victims of sexual assault, family violence or human trafficking. With a staff of around 60, FSS also provides education and prevention services and operates a veterans resource center.

“We never stopped services through all that,” says Womack, who also was diagnosed with cancer during that period and was homebound for several months during his treatment. It was a rough year. “Our staff is amazing. They kept it running,” he says.

But they were spread out until Ben Whittenburg, a partner at Gaut Whittenburg Emerson Commercial Real Estate, showed Womack the old Medical Tower building. With the Amarillo Area

PHOTOS BY SHAIE WILLIAMS

Foundation having purchased the fire-damaged downtown property, Family Support Services was able to buy the building on Seventh and rehabilitate it.

“The building has a really strong foundation and was made to last for 100 years. We could have moved in without much work, but we decided to gut it,” Womack says. The decision came more from risk avoidance than cosmetics. The boiler, for example, could last two years or 10 years. If it broke, the organization would be forced to move out again.

Thankfully, the renovation qualified for a Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan, designed to incentivize property owners to lower operating costs by upgrading to a more efficient and resilient infrastructure. That loan gave FSS the freedom to install state-of-the-art lighting,

electrical, plumbing and HVAC. “Basically, we’re going to save $100,000 a year on utilities,” Womack says.

CKP Construction has served as the general contractor, helping the organization navigate the challenging, postpandemic construction environment. With a few finishing touches still to come, FSS finally opened the new building in April.

It’s 30 percent larger than the previous headquarters downtown. It’s twice as large as the temporary location next to AISD. And it’s perfectly positioned near the city’s new bus terminal and the Transformation Park development to serve the homeless community. “We’re closer to the population we really want to reach. The whole area seems to be renovating,” says Womack of the neighborhood. “There’s new life.”

“E verything in the building, other than the structure itself, is brand-new,” Womack says, apart from the furniture. Much of it has been repurposed from other businesses. For instance, Cactus Feeders left a variety of chairs and couches. Other items came from the closure of a local bank.

Womack’s office is home to a drafting desk that survived the downtown fire. The wooden surface is actually discolored from the heat of the flames, leaving nearly photographic silhouettes of everything from torn notebook paper to a stress ball left on his desk. “It’s just amazing how much detail you can see,” he says.

Each office has adjustable, dimmable LED lighting. Every office in the building will be occupied. “It both helps us expand our existing work and expand to new services,” Womack says of the new building. “We have more offices on our behavioral health floor, so we’ll be able to add counselors.” The space also allows for the addition of support groups, a trauma-informed yoga space, and a home-like environment for supervised visitation by non-custodial parents.

Known as a “soft interview room,” this setting allows survivors of rape or assault to be interviewed by police officers in a neutral space. “Survivors don’t want to go into the same interview room where their perpetrator was interviewed,” Womack explains. Nor do they feel comfortable in a harsh room that resembles a jail cell. “That can be a very traumatic experience.”

THE CITY’s FIRsT CHARITY

“ W e actually have a much bigger, better space to provide services,” says Womack. In the previous structure downtown, as many as four FSS employees were squeezed into a single office. “All of our staff will have, for the most part, their own offices. And all the offices will have windows.”

Today’s Family Support Services is actually a mingling of multiple Amarillo nonprofits over the decades, but can trace its lineage back to the very first charity established in the city. In 1908, several Amarillo businessmen gathered to form the Associated Charities, with banker Charles A. Fisk as its president. Later reorganizations resulted in a name change to the United Charities and then, in 1927, to the Social Welfare Association. In 1949, Social Welfare merged with the Travelers Aid Society to form a charity called the Family Service of Amarillo. The 1970s saw the formation of organizations to help women, including the Amarillo Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Service and the Domestic Violence Council. These merged in 1983 to form Amarillo’s Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence Center, and that organization merged with the counseling-focused Family Guidance Center in 1993 to form what is now Family Support Services.

JIM WOMACK, CEO

CLOSE RANGE

How “The Range” hopes to turn Amarillo into a global food hub

BY JASON BOYETT

In North America, Nashville is the epicenter of the music industry. Silicon Valley is home to tech companies and innovation. And if you want American-grown wine, you head to Napa Valley. These are household names. Everyone knows them, and knows why these areas are special.

What makes Amarillo special? What is the one thing people think of upon hearing “Amarillo, Texas”?

A group of local leaders are working on that. And 10 years from now, or maybe 20, the answer will be clear, thanks to a new local initiative known as The Range. It’s an acronym for Regional Accelerator and New Growth Engine

What the group hopes to accelerate is the centrality of food, fiber and fuel within our economy, turning Amarillo into an international food hub. “We have the ability, right now, to create a global food hub that will allow us to bring in new research, new products, new innovations, new technology,” says Laura Street, one of the leaders of the initiative.

To explain how, she points to those high-profile regions like Nashville and Silicon Valley, which are tied to particular industries for a couple of reasons. First, groundbreaking businesses started there and found success, from the legendary RCA Studios in Nashville to Hewlett-Packard Inc. in Palo Alto, California. The businesses grew, and the surrounding communities nurtured that growth. Much of this happened organically.

Second, that success attracted like-minded innovators within related industries. Record producers found their way to Nashville, and the industry welcomed them. Recording artists and studio musicians followed. In the Bay Area, tech startups were drawn to the university research, banking capital, and entrepreneurial spirit that followed the early computer industry. “Silicon Valley” became a household name.

Can Amarillo become a household name?

Laura Street and local scientist Matt Garner, PhD, believe it’s possible. They see Nashville potential in Amarillo, but instead of music, our specialty is food. Specifically, the meat and dairy industries. And if The Range works, Amarillo may become the world’s center of protein-related production, research and innovation—a global food hub.

It’s a bold plan. The strategy is broad: to leverage what’s happening here already into a larger collaboration that will transform the area’s economic future.

HERE’S THE BEEF (AND DAIRY)

Consider the facts. Texas is the No. 1 cattle producer in the United States, and within the state, that industry is centered in the Panhandle. We don’t just raise cattle here, but process them, too: According to Texas A&M Agrilife Research, one-third of all U.S. beef cattle are finished within a 150-mile radius of Amarillo at places like Caviness Beef, Cargill Animal Nutrition and the new Producer Owned Beef, which is currently building a state-of-the-art processing facility in Amarillo.

Meanwhile, Texas is now the nation’s fifth-largest dairy state, thanks to our affordable land and arid climate, which improves milk production and fertility. Seven of the top 10 dairy-producing counties in Texas are within 150 miles of Amarillo. They account for 80 percent of all dairy production in the state.

The beef industry has been part of our story from the beginning. Dairy production is newer, but becoming equally significant. As a result, West Texas A&M University is one of the nation’s leading research universities related to the cattle-feeding industry. The new Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine is poised

PHOTOS BY KAIT BRADFORD BELLMON

LAURA STREET AND DR. MATT GARNER

to improve practitioners while bringing some of the leading animal researchers to the area. Amarillo College is now widely recognized as one of the best community colleges in the nation and continues to educate the local workforce.

In other words, this area already has a major concentration of animal production and food manufacturing activity. What would happen if we leaned into that expertise and moved forward in those industries? What would happen if all the innovation related to food production—from biomedical to transportation to water management technology—started in Amarillo?

What if Amarillo became the “Silicon Valley” of food?

Those are the questions The Range is asking. Answering those questions starts by creating a framework for the future.

A NEW WAY OF THINKING

The global food hub idea originated with a study funded by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation. In 2019, with the Texas Tech Vet School starting construction, the AEDC began looking at ways to capture the economic momentum they knew that groundbreaking project would bring. At the time, Laura Street was serving as the AEDC Board chair. Already a veteran nonprofit fundraiser and consultant, she teamed up with Garner, a microbiologist and entrepreneur known for bovine research. Street and Garner began interviewing local business leaders about the needs of this region.

“We got about 25 or 30 interviews into this and we realized that we had something far bigger than the AEDC,” Street says. “Everyone we talked to—everyone—was saying we need to do something together. We need to collaborate. We need to innovate. We need to do something for the future of our area.”

At the same time, Street and Garner kept hearing different versions of a similar story. It went like this: A local manufacturer or ag producer would be using special technology developed in places like Norway or China. International vendors for those products would come to Amarillo to pitch their technology. Local companies would agree to try it out. “And so they’d buy the widget—whether it’s a service or a robot or a piece of equipment—but then it doesn’t really do what they need it to do,” Street says. “Or it falters, and they need to wait until they can get a maintenance team to come in from Norway.”

Technology is great until it stops working. The externally developed products weren’t working out for local producers.

The questions are obvious. Why is Hereford using cattle-processing technology from Norway? Why is Dalhart’s dairy tech dependent on components made in China? Ideally, the innovation should start here, be tested here, and then be manufactured here. Instead of waiting for outside vendors to sell us on what they think we need—and losing productivity when it doesn’t work—the Panhandle should take control of its destiny. We should nurture businesses that will work with us to develop that tech right here.

“We started reframing our thinking,” Street says. “What if we

had all our businesses and agencies in the Panhandle of Texas come together, collaborate and decide for ourselves what our needs are, what kind of support systems we need to go after, and then go do it?”

THE SECRET SAUCE

That’s when the AEDC decided to fund a feasibility study. “We commissioned a study on how to take advantage of what we’ve got going in Amarillo,” says Kevin Carter, President and CEO of the AEDC. “Everyone who knows Laura [Street] knows to just get out of her way and let her lead.”

Having been given the reins of the project, Street contacted Bob Geolas in North Carolina. He’s a partner at HR&A Advisors, an international firm that works to build more prosperous and resilient cities. Geolas himself has a reputation for helping develop research parks, having served as President and CEO of the organization overseeing North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, one of the most prominent innovation districts on the East Coast.

So in 2021, Geolas led a team to find what he calls the “secret sauce” that makes the Texas Panhandle unique. Some communities are built around a major research university. Some benefit from a good startup or entrepreneurial community.

They realized that Amarillo had something else.

Of course, the city had a lot of wind—no surprise there—but wasn’t necessarily poised to become a leader in wind technology. The area faced water scarcity issues, but the Middle East was already ahead of us on that research.

“But what you had is an incredible resource in beef and dairy,” Geolas says. “You’ve got people who know how to raise cows, process cows and their byproducts, and you know how to ship it. The opportunity is leaning into what you’re really, really good at already— and how do you create more jobs as a result of that?”

Beyond the buzzwords, phrases like “innovation district” are actually about creating jobs, Geolas explains. It’s about growing an economy by being intentional about what sets the Panhandle apart from the rest of the world. Silicon Valley started in 1939 when Bill Hewlitt and David Packard first produced electronic equipment in a Palo Alto garage. But we’re not inventing beef production. It’s been part of life in the Texas Panhandle for 140 years.

“You’re not starting from nothing,” Geolas says. “Texas is a very dynamic, successful state. The Panhandle already has enormous resources in universities, colleges, the vet school and one of the world’s most important resources—all this food, protein.” The world needs the one thing at which we are already the world’s experts. “You’re way ahead.”

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that, by 2050, the planet will need to produce 60 percent more food than it does today to meet the demand of a growing population. The Panhandle plays an outside role in feeding the world today. But can we increase local cattle production by 60 percent?

Not without technology. Not without innovation. Not without a plan.

PREDICTING OUR FUTURE

Microbiologist Matt Garner—who returned to Amarillo several years ago after doing research at Cornell University and launching companies in New York State—says the feasibility study revealed that animal production should be central to Amarillo’s path toward economic growth. Any innovation district should be built around that specialty. As envisioned over the next few decades, this will create unimaginable new jobs and opportunities.

“What a really well-functioning innovation district does is it predicts its own future. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Garner says. For instance, we decide Amarillo will become the world’s leading center for beef-related science and innovation, and so we develop an ecosystem that makes that happen. We cultivate partnerships with local industries like Cactus Feeders and Caviness Beef, and local trade associations like Texas Cattle Feeders and the Texas Association of Dairymen. We collaborate with the vet school and the vaunted WTAMU Meat Laboratory. We engage local leaders in banking, manufacturing and logistics.

And in doing so, we create an ecosystem that brings together researchers, capital and startups to solve the challenges faced by the global protein supply chain. Like a stretch of falling dominoes, each success leads to the next, one by one:

The Range establishes physical spaces to foster new businesses and test new products.

Seed capital arrives to launch new companies and fund research. The research potentially attracts millions in state and federal funding. Local institutions like Amarillo College help produce a skilled workforce.

Those companies create new technologies related to food safety, cattle feeding and production, health and nutrition, environmental stewardship and emissions, data management and other related areas.

Amarillo’s industry innovations expose the area to national and international audiences. We become a world leader in developing technologies that make food processing more efficient.

Top businesses notice what’s happening in Amarillo. Top research talent pays attention. They relocate here, boosting our workforce and fostering a diverse, robust economy.

And then in 20 years, Amarillo will have become the center of the world’s beef and dairy industries. The Texas Panhandle isn’t just a place where cows outnumber people. It’s a global cluster for food industry innovation and technology. We will have redefined how food is produced.

LOOKING FORWARD

Though the “triangle” of North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park refers to its three nearby universities, most innovation districts are actually managed by an umbrella organization designed to coordinate innovation. “It’s actually an organization that is serving as the touchstone, as the conduit, as the catalyst for those activities to happen. The thing about it is that those activities are not free,” says Garner. “If you want to create programming, the universities and colleges can definitely participate and put money in, but somebody still has to coordinate those activities.”

The Range will oversee the innovation in the Panhandle. It’s actually three organizations in one: A 501(c)(6) membership organization

that serves as a governance board, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that acts as a charitable foundation, and a C Corp that brings in revenue from selling products and inventions.

Laura Street is serving as the temporary president of The Range, with Garner as its Executive Director. Both are deep within the process of engaging local stakeholders in a multi-year plan.

“Ten to 15 years from now, everyone in the United States is going to hear about The Range,” says Street. “They are going to see things happening here that aren’t happening anywhere else.” She envisions companies creating innovative drip systems and robotics related to cattle production. She imagines chefs from across the United States coming to Amarillo and Canyon to learn about beef at the WT Meat Lab. “People are going to know who we are and what we do. I see a lot of activity—while we remain authentic to who we are.”

Consultant Bob Geolas has a similar vision. It includes startup spaces, research labs and new restaurants downtown. He sees a culinary institute launching, and the Food Network bringing people to Amarillo for a weekend experience built around beef and dairy. “You have a place where thought leaders around the world come to participate in conversations about how [the Panhandle’s] beef and dairy are being manufactured to meet the world’s population needs. If you’re interested in food, beef or dairy, you’re going to be in Amarillo,” he says. “You’ll retain talent. You’ll have a whole population of people staying here to build a life.”

At the same time, Matt Garner recognizes that scientists are likely already working on ways to solve the world’s food problems, from improving packing plant efficiency to improving water efficiency for farming. That research needs to happen here, simply because Amarillo is the most obvious place for it. “We want to capture the bulk of that [activity],” he says. “This is going to be the epicenter of addressing all those issues. We want to establish an identity around that.”

The Range is a lot of things. It’s about solving big problems. It’s about creating jobs. It’s about economic development. It’s about retaining talent and concentrating it in this area.

But more than anything else, it’s a bold play for Amarillo’s future— to embrace our identity as the world’s primary protein provider, and supercharge it with an intentional, organized effort. “We’ve already got the pieces here,” Garner says, as he and Street begin the process of raising capital and support. “Now we just need to coordinate it.”

PHOTOS BY ANGELINA MARIE

STAGES & SECOND CHANCES A Conversation with Jeff Jarnagin

BY RYAN MCSWAIN

Jeff Jarnagin walks into Palace Coffee in Wolflin Square. His eyes bright, he speaks with enthusiasm about his friends and community. Friends like Anne Lankford have described him as “wickedly funny almost all the time,” and it’s true. That humor and joy, however, are hard-earned. Jeff has spent the last seven years battling for his life. By most accounts, he shouldn’t be here.

A long-time presence on the Amarillo Little Theatre stage and, more recently, on staff at the Ronald McDonald House, Jeff is well-known in this community. Shawn Walsh, a realtor with Realty Central and Jeff’s partner of 15 years, is a veteran in the local real estate community.

“I blindsided [Shawn] with all this,” Jeff says. “It has to be tough for him. He lets me scream when I need to scream and cry when I need to cry. He loves it more when I laugh when I need to laugh. But no matter what, he’s right by my side and has been through every single bit of it.”

At the Ronald McDonald House, Jeff helps provide accommodations for families while their children receive care in local hospitals, serving as the first face many families see when they enter. “It’s a rewarding job. For a moment in time, the families open up because they meet someone who’s there to help. We make it feel more like home,” he says.

Many of those families don’t know that Jeff himself was living with an illness, one that stole nearly half his waking hours and placed severe restrictions on his life. He’s spent the last few years looking at an early death. Jeff had become adept at making the most of a negative situation—until recently, when everything changed.

GOING TO TOWN

Jeff Jarnagin was raised in Wildorado, about 20 miles west of Amarillo. “When it came to Amarillo,” says Jeff, “we always said ‘We’re going to town!’” He began to explore his love of acting and theater early, taking part in speech and one-act plays.

While falling in love with the stage, he also felt the first twinge of future challenges. “I was 13 and woke up with these excruciating pains in my back. Mom and Dad took me to the emergency room.” His kidneys weren’t working. Together,

JARNAGIN WEARS HIS ORGAN TRANSPLANT MEDICAL ID BRACELET, AS A REMINDER OF THE STRIDES HE HAS MADE.

the two kidneys only functioned like half a kidney. Doctors predicted he’d be on dialysis within five years. Jeff didn’t let that slow him down.

He moved to Amarillo and joined the staff of Amarillo Little Theatre, auditioning as often as he could. His personal favorite performance is Kiss of the Spider Woman, but the one people remember best is Peter Pan. According to fellow ALT performer Terry Martin, “I was in awe when I saw him magically flying across the stage. It was a moment I’ll never forget. It changed my life.”

Then came Jeff’s Los Angeles adventure. “I didn’t want to die regretting that I never tried living a dream,” he says. In the summer of 2013, Jeff quit his job at ALT and moved to LA to see if he could make that dream a reality.

He signed with Central Casting and got his feet wet in the industry. “I did background work for shows like Revenge. I missed the first two episodes of Agent Carter, but I was in the rest of the season.”

He also appeared in several short films. “We went to the film festivals, which was terrifying. Exciting, too. There was one competition at Warner Brothers Studios. I was standing at the back of the theater while someone tested the projector. All of a sudden, I was up on that huge screen. It was surreal,” he says.

Cindi Bulla, broker and owner of Realty Central and a fellow ALT performer, remembers the positive energy of that period. “Jeff is bigger than life. He just lights up a room. Shawn is the same way, and he’s also this beautiful human being who lights up Jeff. They were at this thrilling moment in their relationship,” she says. “Shawn had just gotten his realtor’s license. Both of them were looking toward the future and all of those possibilities. They were tailor-made to follow the path they were on.”

Unfortunately, that path would soon be interrupted.

BITTERSWEET HOMECOMING

Something was wrong in Jeff’s body. He felt it in LA and he felt it when he moved back to Amarillo. For one thing, he was exhausted. “I was sleeping, like a lot. I convinced myself, ‘You’re too old to be getting up at two o’clock in the morning and going to work.’ So, I came home and felt safer. But I didn’t do anything about it.”

He recognizes that he had been ignoring some pretty obvious warning signs. “I’m ashamed to say it, but I have to in case there are people telling themselves that it’s not what they think it is. At one point I looked at a list of 12 symptoms, and I had nine

of them. I was coughing non-stop. I couldn’t [climb] stairs. Everyone kept telling me how skinny I was. Tumors were starting to pop up. I was throwing up every day.”

Finally, Jeff visited his urologist, Dr. Richard Kibbey. “He took one look at me and said, ‘I’m positive you have cancer,’” Jeff says. Kibbey sent him directly to the hospital, where doctors confirmed Jeff had stage three testicular cancer, bordering on stage four. “It had spread to my lymph nodes. When they did the first CT scan, the left side of my body lit up like a Christmas tree.”

Three months of intense chemo followed. Then Jeff endured five rounds of radiation. He started dialysis around the same time. Shawn was a source of strength, but so was the couple’s dog, Tucker. “He slept next to me, went to the bathroom with me when I got sick. I fainted one time, and he licked my face. That’s what brought me to.”

Jeff was declared cancerfree on April 26, 2016. A week later, Tucker was diagnosed with a canine version of the same cancer. “All the doctors and nurses said, ‘He took it from you. He helped cure you.’ He went through chemo too, and we got an extra year with him. We made the most of it,” Jeff says.

Jeff had beaten cancer, but the victory was bittersweet. The ordeal irreversibly damaged the weakest part of his body. “I’d made what was left of my kidneys last 30 years. It was cancer that finally knocked me down.”

LIFE WITH THE MACHINE

“The Transplant Committee decided that I needed to remain cancer-free for five years before I could be considered for a kidney transplant. That meant at least five years of dialysis.” During dialysis treatment, a machine takes over the job of the kidneys, removing waste and extra fluid from the blood.

The process takes a physical toll. Jeff had to quit his job at Amarillo Little Theatre—for the second time—and started working part-time at the Ronald McDonald House. “It was just too hard to go in after dialysis. My appointments were at 6:30 in the morning. I would come home, have some lunch, and sleep for six or seven hours.”

Dialysis demands a special diet. “No potatoes, no tomatoes, no avocados. No bananas. Nothing with high potassium or high phosphorus,” he says. “Phosphorus is in everything!”

Eventually, Jeff began to look and feel more like himself. “A lot of people had no idea. But it’s hard to deal with being held prisoner by a machine three times a week. It makes leading a normal life difficult. There was the depression that came along

“ I definitely see life through different eyes. I want to live as much as I possibly can.”

PHOTO BY ANGELINA MARIE

with the possibility of dying. You encounter that a lot at the clinic. All of a sudden, someone’s not there anymore, and someone hangs up their obituary.”

He had bad days, he says, but never felt he needed to visit a therapist. Then the first transplant went south.

SHATTERED HOPE

After five cancer-free years, Jeff moved to the top of the national transplant waiting list. “You’re basically on call 24 hours a day,” he explains. “It’s nerve-wracking. You pack your bag, and you have to be ready to leave immediately. Just when you forget about it, they call.”

He started a GoFundMe. “We needed to cover housing and stuff like that. I’m fortunate that I have a huge army behind me. People come up to me and tell me that they’re praying for me, that they’re lifting me up. And I could totally feel it. I still can.”

Jeff and Shawn grew accustomed to false alarms. “There might be a match, but then they find something that makes them ineligible. One time, we got about a hundred miles away [from the transplant hospital] when they called and told us, ‘Stop, turn around, go home.’”

Finally, doctors found the right candidate for Jeff in June 2022. The surgery appeared to go well. After being released, Jeff and Shawn headed to their rented Airbnb. “Actually, we stopped and had lunch at a restaurant because I could eat anything I wanted,” he adds. “Then we went to our Airbnb.”

Jeff woke up that night to excruciating pain and extensive blood in his urine. They called an ambulance. “They gave me two doses of heavy painkillers, and it didn’t faze me,” he says. “I was in so much pain that I was blacking out.”

For a kidney transplant patient, this was a worst-case scenario. “They told me the kidney had fallen apart. I had internal bleeding, and they needed to take it out. I said, “Do it now, because I feel like I’m going to die.’”

Back home, he put on a brave face—this was another challenge to overcome—but found he couldn’t summon his usual positive mindset. “I was home for three weeks when I [admitted], ‘All I do is cry or scream. I can’t get out of this dark place.’ That’s when I started therapy.”

Part of what he was dealing with is guilt. “If the kidney had gone to somebody else, who knows? It might have worked. You run every possible thing through your brain to figure out why you feel the way you feel,” he says.

A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

In September 2022, Jeff was approved for the transplant list again. His doctors and nurses worried the emotional trauma of losing the first kidney might prevent him from accepting another. But he said yes, and in January 2023, Jeff received his second transplant from a young Amarillo resident who died in a tragic accident.

Jeff thinks of her constantly. “It came from someone precious. I call it my double-edged sword. Because it’s hard to be happy and

sad at the same time. She’s my hero. She saved my life,” he says.

He felt better almost immediately. “I was bouncing off the walls,” he says, his face lighting up. “I had so much energy that there was no way for it to come out. That’s a feeling I haven’t had in a long time.”

Without the donated kidney, he would still be on dialysis, looking at a very limited lifespan in a broken-down body. That alone has made him a walking billboard for organ donation. It literally saved his life. “You can’t take that stuff with you,” he says of the human body. “It’s our shell, and you’re done with it. And if there are things that are still good in you”—like a fully functioning kidney— “why not share them with somebody else?”

As good as he feels, Jeff finds the emotional recovery a slower process. “Every morning, I make sure everything’s OK. If there’s any little twinge in my incision, I worry. I carry my arm right there to protect it. It’s precious.”

Accustomed to the stage, Jeff has spent a career putting himself inside the perspective of characters. But now he’s intent on experiencing every priceless moment of his own life, which he knows is a gift. “I definitely see life through different eyes. I want to live as much as I possibly can,” he says. One major goal is to find his way back onstage at Amarillo Little Theatre. “The thought of rejection still hovers over me. It will always hover over me all the time. So, in order to make it go away from my mind, I have to get back out there. And that’s what I plan to do.”

PROVIDED PHOTOS

MIRACLE GROW

Cheryl Ray helps kids, garden bloom at Rogers Elementary

BY JON MARK BEILUE

There’s a story that Cheryl Ray likes to tell, the best example of why this retired clinical social worker in her mid-70s with two knee replacements spends 20 hours a week, year after year, at Will Rogers Elementary School.

There was a class of little ones, probably first-graders, and Ray had them out in the Will Rogers Community Garden planting green beans. It was a simple enough activity for 6-year-olds.

“The seeds are big enough for little-bitty kids to handle,” Ray says. “Green beans come up pretty quick. I mean, within four or five days, they are up.”

Ray told the class to take note of where they were standing. They would soon return to the same spot and check on the seed they planted. A few days later, Ray stood next to a young Hispanic boy. A green sprout had erupted where his seed had been. His eyes grew wide.

“Milagro!” he said. That’s Spanish for “miracle.”

“It is just a connection with all that is beautiful right here in the garden,” Ray says.

This is now going into its second decade, this garden of 22 raised beds between the wings of Will Rogers. It is a connection between Ray, a master gardener, Principal Terri Huseman and grade after grade that come through this elementary school in one of Amarillo’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The connection lasts long after the vegetables they grow are gone.

“When seniors come back for Senior Walk, they all say, ‘Do you still have the garden?’” says Huseman, principal at Will Rogers for 15 years. “When I say that we do, they all say, ‘Oh, can we see it?’”

This garden grows vegetables, grows flowers and grows kids, and maybe not in that order. What started with humble beginnings in

2011 has expanded, with a unique approach that serves children and their families, teaching them in a way that a classroom often does not.

“I love it,” says Anariah Acosta, 11, a straight-A fifth-grader. “I get to use my hands. The garden is special to me. It’s not just one person doing the gardening. It’s the whole school’s garden.”

A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

In the early afternoon on a typically windy spring day, Ray speaks to 13 fifth-grade students. Temperatures are in the 70s and the wind gusts out of the south. The students sit on tiered benches under a metal awning. Directly above them, on the outside wall of the school, is the word “GROW.”

They are preparing soil to plant strawberries. The students fan out among the 22 raised beds. There’s no goofing off, no squealing or running. This is not recess. This is a job. This is a mission. Nearly all of the almost 500 students at Rogers take it seriously when it’s their turn.

Jood, a recent move-in from Syria, has a steel rake over his shoulder. He’s among several boys cleaning a bed and preparing soil.

“They do the work,” Ray says. “They learn the life skills. A lot of them live in apartment housing, so they’ve never held garden tools until now.”

Ray is dressed for success in a long sleeve flannel over a T-shirt. Gardening gloves are tucked into the back pocket of her jeans. She wears comfortable trail-walking shoes.

Each of the 22 raised beds boasts 32 square feet of gardening space. That’s more than 700 square feet for a variety of vegetables. “You look at it and you realize just how big it is,” Ray says. “It’s just a neat place.”

In a rare moment apart from the students, Ray sits on the front-row

bench, keeping an eye on the 13 among the raised beds. In front of her on a chalkboard is a “to-do” list for the day—various grades planted strawberries and flowers, watered, built trellises, picked up trash and moved dirt.

The other half of the chalkboard lists what was planted in the days before—peas, cilantro, radishes, lettuce, spinach, onions, beets and carrots. Ray recites some of the recent bounty from the garden—110 pounds of onions, 100 cucumbers in a week, 50 to 60 heads of lettuce, 1,500 individual peppers. The list goes on and on.

Every September, Will Rogers is the Georgia football of the TriState Fair. They dominate. Ray and the students harvest blue ribbons like they do peppers. For five years in a row, their onions have won first place.

“The kids, they absolutely adore her,” Huseman says. “There’s never a discipline issue out there. If the kids have been in trouble, we have them do some lifting or hoeing or digging and it gets that aggression out and gets them to focus on positive things.

“It works wonders. I’ve never heard of anyone who didn’t want to go out. They absolutely love to be out in it.”

Students get to taste what they helped grow. Bags of fresh produce are sent home shortly after harvest. That’s not a gesture taken lightly.

Rogers, established in the 1940s just after World War II, is one of the oldest elementary schools in the city, located at 920 N. Mirror St. just more than two blocks north of Amarillo Boulevard.

Martin Road Softball Complex is a long home run from Rogers. Closer, just across Mirror in front of the main entrance to Rogers, is Immanuel Baptist Church. On the marquee is a notice for a food pantry, scheduled for April 22. Almost all of the nearly 500 students at Rogers—95 percent to be exact—are on free or reduced lunches.

In the summer, parents of students are invited to come to Rogers on Tuesdays and Fridays and take a supply of vegetables home. Leftovers are then bagged and offered with Snack Pak 4 Kids food bags, which are sent to “food insecure” students each Friday through Amarillo ISD and other participating school districts.

Rogers sends 392 Snack Paks home each Friday. The program started with just 10 students. “We have known for a long time that our kids struggle, especially with the pandemic, people off work and inflation,” says Huseman, a Snack Pak 4 Kids board member. “I can’t tell you how many times because of that kids fall on hard times. This is just one more way that kids learn about what they can do to help themselves. A ton of kids over the years have said they have started a garden at their house from what they have learned from Cheryl and her expertise.”

At other times of the year, students have planted summer squash, cantaloupe, green beans and tomatoes. Four of the 22 beds are the province of flowers, filled with pansies, lemon balm, and lavender, which often attract pollinators.

“I really like the flowers,” says Holly Edwards, 7, a second-grader. “They smell beautiful and look beautiful.”

It wasn’t always this way. The garden began 12 years ago when a fifth-grade science teacher asked Huseman if he could start a garden.

Sure, she said. They went to the Tri-State Fairgrounds and looked at some box gardens. With the help of some refugee families, they built their own box garden, planted some flowers and a few vegetables and …

“It was a terrible flop,” Huseman says. “Mainly because I was off for two weeks in the summer and needed to come over and water daily. We had no water source. We didn’t have a continuum of people in the summer who could help with pruning, weeding and harvesting. I was not as organized back then and didn’t know what I was doing.”

The original garden was on tilled ground behind the school. It was

unprotected and underappreciated. The squash, cucumbers and tomatoes were terminal.

“It was pretty pitiful,” Huseman says. Around that time, the Rogers fifth-graders were at Outdoor Education, a mini-learning retreat at Ceta Canyon. Ray, who went to church with the Rogers physical education teacher at the time, had been recruited to teach students about nature crafts.

She got to know Rogers administration and teachers. Huseman discovered that Ray was a master gardener. Maybe she could offer some suggestions for the school garden?

Ray agreed to help. “I think she felt sorry for me,” Huseman says.

The master gardener has never left. Ray is a sort of Pied Piper among the peppers. She can reach kids like she can grow a tomato.

“She’s amazing. She just has this way about her,” Huseman says. “She is kind, loving and knowledgeable and willing to share that with anybody and everybody. If someone is having a hard day and being fidgety, she says, ‘Here, I need you to do this’ in a sweet and kind voice.

Ray balances her knowledge and expertise with a kid-friendly sweetness. “Every single kid eats out of her hand,” says Huseman.

‘500 LITTLE PAIRS OF HANDS’

In the 1950s, Cheryl Ray grew up in a garden family in Amarillo. In the summer, Ray and her siblings would go to her grandparents’ home in southwest Oklahoma near Altus. There was a huge garden, a natural for rural families whose parents lived through the Depression. By age 4, Ray was shelling peas.

“Everything they had on the table came from the garden and I liked to eat,” she says. “I just enjoyed everything about it and it became a hobby.”

There was less room for flower or vegetable gardens at her home in Amarillo, but Ray’s mother was undeterred. She grew large dahlia flowers that encroached the driveway and the basketball goal, forcing Ray and her friends primarily to shoot baskets from only the left side of the driveway.

Growing flowers and vegetables became a passion. At Oklahoma State, she graduated with a double major. One was in biology where many courses were in botany. She had graduate hours in greenhouse horticulture and management.

The other major was in social work and that’s what paid the bills. Ray worked at The Pavilion mental health unit in Amarillo for 25 years until she retired.

“I have a shirt that says ‘Gardening Is Cheaper Than Therapy,’” she says, “and it is.”

Leading the Will Rogers Community Garden for 11 years seems to be a combination of those two majors of more than 50 years ago— working with plants and working with people.

From February through October, Ray hosts gardening sessions

every Tuesday and Friday at Rogers for more than three hours each day. All told, she spends about 15 to 20 hours weekly at the school.

“We are just way too connected to that little plastic thing in our back pocket,” says Ray, who keeps a flip phone out of necessity in hers. “Then we miss out on what’s really beautiful in the world, because there is plenty that is not these days. A beautiful tomato that you grew yourself, it is a wonderful thing.”

Students will work for 20 to 30 minutes with Ray every other week. There’s no wasted time. There’s chores to be done no matter the age.

“I just like the fresh air and learning,” Edwards says. “If I get tired, I lay down a second and watch the sky, and then I get back to work.”

Acosta, the fifth-grader, is a six-year veteran of gardening at Will Rogers. Among the produce she has taken home to her family are strawberries, peppers, cucumbers and peas.

“Gardening takes a lot of work—I mean a lot of work,” Acosta says. “It takes proper care of what you’re growing. If you don’t water them regularly, they will die.”

Acosta is filled with kind words about the 70-something Ray. “She’s one of the sweetest people I know,” the student says. “She has so much patience. She gives us suckers sometimes. Maybe she gives it to us to keep our mouths shut.”

Huseman sees children interacting with an older generation. A number of students have grandparents living in Mexico or other regions of the world, making it difficult to see them regularly. It’s a mentoring relationship.

“She will show a bad tomato and say tomatoes get viruses like people get viruses, and is able to talk to them about why that happens in a way they understand,” Huseman says. “Some kids really excel in that kind of work. They get really excited that way when it’s hands-on and they’re digging in the dirt and find snails and worms. They may not excel in other types of learning.”

This is the 11th year of gardens at Rogers. The garden has moved three times, but it’s found a home for the past six years sheltered between a newer wing and an old one. Last year, the school’s maintenance crew—who built the raised beds—added protective fencing. “They saw how serious we were about the community garden,” Huseman says.

For Ray, this is the closest thing to legally stealing. She gets to guide a massive gardening project and invest her passion with young children. “I get more out of this than anybody else,” she says. “I’m out here twice a week doing what I really like to do. I’m an outdoor person and I have 500 little pairs of hands to help me who seem to enjoy it too. How can you not do that?”

Asked how much longer she can put in 20 hours a week, nine months a year, it’s clear Ray has never thought much beyond the next crop. She even timed her knee replacements so she wouldn’t miss the growing season. “I don’t want them to miss the miracles,” she says.

Milagros for everyone.

Getting Our Kicks

on 66 on 66

BY NICK GERLICH

When it comes to pop culture, no highway other than Route 66 can lay claim to being at the top of the charts. It has been memorialized in song, print, television, and on the silver screen. More than 200 books have been written about it, all in the last 35 years. When troubadour Bobby Troup wrote his iconic Route 66 song in the 1940s, he only picked a handful of cities to rhapsodize over.

Amarillo was one of them.

This city has had a ringside seat to all of it since the highway’s inception in 1926, from the diaspora of Okies during the Dust Bowl, to mid-century road trippers after the War, to heritage tourists and nostalgia-seekers looking for the fast lane in the present. From Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 has carried those seeking hope and those hoping for a good time.

And now a 10-day festival is scheduled to catapult both the road and our city into prominence this June. It’s a fitting honor for the highway that put Amarillo on the map—and in song—as we lean into the 2026 centennial celebration of Route 66 a few years from now. The festival kicks off with the Coors Ranch Rodeo on June 1 and concludes June 10 with live music, the community market, and a summer free-for-all. Bus tours, the downtown cattle drive, and many other events will highlight what was once known as the Main Street of America.

Come Together

The Amarillo festival results from an alliance of key stakeholders hoping to put Amarillo at the forefront of Mother Road celebrations. The Amarillo Convention & Visitors Bureau, in conjunction with the Route 66 Centennial Commission, the Big Texan, and various Panhandle communities and individuals, have assembled a team whose mission extends beyond this year to at least the highway’s 2026 centennial. This is just the beginning. More than just a celebration, this effort is also about tourism and a national spotlight.

“Route 66 put Amarillo on the map, not only in America, but all over the world,” says Richard Ware II. The Chairman of Amarillo National Bank, Ware is also President Biden’s Texas appointee to the Route 66 Centennial Commission. “When Americans started to ‘See the USA in your Chevrolet,’ it always included a trip along Route 66, and brought so many people through Amarillo.”

Kashion Smith, Executive Director of Amarillo Convention & Visitors Bureau, and a hospitality industry veteran, concurs.

“Whether you’re in a Route 66 city or not, this was the beginning of how Americans traveled. It’s part of the fiber of who we are. To be a Route 66 city, especially one that was not bypassed when I-40 came through, is the key to our success as a tourist destination.”

While it is sometimes difficult to parse out who is traveling Route 66 from the roughly six million annual visitors to Amarillo, Smith sees the festival as an opportunity to cement Amarillo’s place on the travel

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

OVER SEVERAL YEARS, THE SAN JACINTO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION COMBINED WITH THE AMARILLO CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, CENTER CITY AND THE OLD ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS TO RAISE FUNDS TO PAINT A ROUTE 66 LOGO ON THE WATER TOWER OVERLOOKING THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. DONATIONS CAME FROM 28 STATES.

radar. “What we are trying to do is bring the destination part of Route 66 back to the Panhandle. It’s a place you spend multiple nights, and not just pass through,” she says.

Bobby Lee, whose father started the Big Texan along Route 66 in 1960, is quick to chime in. “Route 66 came right through Amarillo. We’re the Mississippi River, and they had to cross it here,” he says. “It’s about families traveling, and seeing the West. Amarillo is the first thing they see in the West, and Route 66 is such an important part of our history.”

While this kind of excitement is infectious and a necessary ingredient for laying the foundation for future festivals, none of this would matter if Amarillo did not have the good fortune of being located along the 35th parallel.

Start Your Engines

Amarillo has long been at the crossroads of human travel. In the 16th century, Coronado criss-crossed the region, his men on horseback plying an ocean of grass that had only been seen by indigenous peoples before. In the 19th century, cattle drives and military wagon roads carved out paths across the windswept plains, soon to be supplemented by the coming of the railroad.

It was early in the 20th century that the first roads as we know them were scraped out of the unforgiving soil. A postal road from Oklahoma allowed for mail deliveries. Named auto routes like the Ozark Trail allowed early motorists to travel long distances through the region.

But it was not until the coming of numbered federal highways, which became law on November 11, 1926, that Route 66 and all the others we can still drive today were born. Route 66 was never “built” in the traditional sense. Rather, it was stitched together from previously existing roads. As far as Amarillo was concerned, 66 came into town from the east along that old postal road, and exited to the west along a prong of the Ozark Highway, 178 miles roughly from border to border.

Tulsa’s Cyrus Avery was the champion behind Route 66, and he wanted to chart a southerly arc through eight states that— naturally—went through Tulsa, but quickly made its way to the 35th parallel. His idea was that the climate at our latitude seemed good enough for a viable all-year route. He was right … most of the time.

Ware is no stranger to the role that transportation has played in our history. “Amarillo has always been a transportation hub since the railroads crossed here. Then, highways continued to drive transportation through Amarillo, which caused many businesses to locate and prosper here.”

Roads were very fluid in the old days, often changing from year to year as engineering improvements happened. The westernmost reaches of 66 in the Panhandle weren’t paved until around 1937, having replaced an earlier roadway through ranch land that hugged the old Rock Island Railroad tracks. And Amarillo leaders could not agree until about 1930 on the exact route it would take through town, as evidenced by numerous mentions in the Amarillo Daily News. It got political. Drivers had to pick their way through town carefully.

Lee waxes poetic about the role 66 played in Amarillo, especially for his family’s business. “It was like having a playhouse on Broadway, but instead of being on Broadway, we were in Amarillo. Route 66 is what brought people to us. It gave us the stage,” he says.

Today, brown-and-white TXDOT signs mark the primary route through town, making navigation easy. The route follows Amarillo Boulevard from the east, then heads south toward Southwest Sixth Avenue on the one-ways, and finally westward.

Of course, everything changed here when I-40 opened, and it was only a matter of time before 66 lost its luster, as it had elsewhere. The final nail in the coffin was pounded in June 1985 when Route 66 was removed from the United States Highway System.

Lee recalls that sinking feeling all too well. “When I-40 opened in March 1968, our business shrank overnight. My father had one choice: die, or move.” And so they moved. Fortunately, Route 66 nostalgia took root a few years later.

AERIAL PHOTOS BY CHRIS HALE

“ Route 66 put Amarillo on the map, not only in America, but all over the world.”

—Richard Ware II

PHOTO BY JERED LOPEZ

To The Future

While this year’s festival is focused on the present, the efforts going into it are a bet on the future. “We’re taking the bull by the horns,” says Lee. “We want to be ahead of all the other states. We’ve got lots of activities and little Easter eggs for people to find during the festival. We are setting the standard for all the other states, and they will be looking to us in the future.”

It’s a glimmer of the same optimism that caused early motorists to head west on 66. “With us getting ahead of the curve, we’re coming out stronger than any other state, and faster. Nobody has come out of the gate with partnerships like we have, and all of the counties are coming together,” says Smith. “Once we finish this first festival, we hope to be the most popular spot by 2026.”

The value of this forward thinking is not lost on shopkeepers like Jill Zimmer, who owns two businesses on Southwest Sixth, known colloquially in Amarillo as Sixth Street. “We have a great tourism opportunity with the festival, and I think it will increase our traffic here immensely,” she says. “This mile-long stretch will be humming with tourists wanting to come down to see what Sixth Street is all about.”

Zimmer, who has owned her businesses for 15 years, swells with hometown pride. “It’s amazing how many tourists come down here, from all over the world. They want to see route 66. I love being down on Sixth Street.”

In fact, her portion of Route 66—that magical mile between Georgia and Western—is often the face of the Mother Road in these parts. While Route 66 spans about 42 miles across the entirety of Potter County, including Amarillo, it is this one mile that is perhaps best known. “This stretch is just so much fun. There are such unique shops and places to eat or have a drink. This is just my area,” she beams.

“Our two most famous tourist attractions got their start on Route 66, with the Big Texan, originally on Amarillo Boulevard east, and the Cadillac Ranch, west of Amarillo, with the mystique of a fun place to

visit,” adds Ware. “Europeans are especially fascinated with the Wild West, and Amarillo is a destination for many to dream of vacationing in the west.” Those international tourists, Lee notes, are often very knowledgeable. “The Europeans often know more than we do about Route 66,” he says.

Ware continues in a broader tone. “Celebrating 100 years of Route 66 has really caught on, especially in the Texas Panhandle. Towns along the way each have some historic spot to celebrate, and Amarillo plans on being the party capital for the center of Route 66.”

To that end, Smith understands the role this all plays in counting heads in beds. “Our office has now taken the mentality that we are a destination, and we will market ourselves that way,” she says of the CVB. “With Route 66, we better cultivate it and do it well.” It’s a point well taken, because other states will be vying for the same clientele. “We don’t want to be lost in the mix. When people see a Route 66 festival sign, we want them to think of Texas first.”

Ware responds, “You can see this as a three-year party that will enlarge Route 66’s image in everyone’s mind, while we all have a good time celebrating our history.” It’s a party, but it’s also marketing, Smith says. “It is important that we grow our mindset about Route 66, that it is about the city and not so much the pavement. The branding is for the whole town. We are a Route 66 town,” she says.

That gives the inaugural 2023 festival a heavy future-forward mindset. “Let’s have fun with the history, and remember what brought it. And then that traveler will hopefully be here in future years, but it will all feel different by 2026. That is the goal,” Smith explains.

If Amarillo residents find themselves humming Troup’s whimsical tune, itself penned while on a road trip down 66 some 80 years ago, don’t be surprised if they stop when they get to the chorus. “You’ll see Amarillo!”

And that is precisely what this festival is all about.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMARILLO CVB

PHOTO BY JERED LOPEZ

PHOTO BY RALPH DUKE

The annual Texas Route 66 Festival kicks off years of celebrations leading up to the national centennial. For 2023, the festival takes place June 1-10, with events across Amarillo and throughout the Texas Panhandle.

June 1: First Thursday Art Walk | 6th Avenue

Celebrate the relevance of the Mother Road in the heart of Amarillo’s Historic Route 66 district at this showcase of the local businesses that call this street home. Activities from 4-7 p.m. include art shows, live music and Amarillo’s most unique shopping experience.

June 1-3: Coors Cowboy Club Ranch Rodeo |

Tri-State Fairgrounds

This decades-old summer kickoff event pays tribute to our West Texas heritage. The competition features real cowboys from ranches in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and New Mexico, competing in saddle bronc-riding, straygathering, trailer-loading, wild cow-milking and more. coorsranchrodeo.com

June 2: Official Route 66 Kick-Off Celebration | Hodgetown

Gather along Eighth Avenue in downtown Amarillo for a block party in and around Hodgetown. Enjoy live music, food trucks and beer carts starting at 4 p.m. The Sod Poodles’ opening pitch is at 7 p.m. with Route 66-themed jerseys, special in-game promotions and post-game fireworks.

June 2: Brett Young | Starlight Ranch Event Center

6 p.m.

June 3: Coors Ranch Rodeo Cattle Drive & Parade | Downtown Amarillo

Watch in awe as 60 Texas Longhorns make their way through downtown Amarillo in an iconic parade that also

features motorized vehicles and staged Old West shootouts. Join thousands of spectators lining Polk Street at 10 a.m. to celebrate the rich history of the American West.

June 3: Amarillo Crawfish Festival | Starlight

Ranch Event Center

Pinch, peel, eat, repeat. Chow down on freshly boiled Louisiana crawfish, food trucks from around the Panhandle, and cold beer. Come one, come all, this family-friendly event starts at 3 p.m.

June 4: Lowrider Cruise | Amarillo Boulevard

Rev up the nostalgia as local lowrider groups and classic car clubs cruise Amarillo Boulevard, the city’s original strip of Route 66. They’ll start at Autozone and cruise to the Route 66 Inn, surrounded by the Boulevard’s excellent dining options and food trucks.

June 6: Free Jazz Concerts

Jazz fans have two free Route 66-themed outdoor concert options this evening. At Sam Houston Park, Ruth Ellen Lynch and Jazz Plus perform from 7-9 p.m. at Starlight Theater in Sam Houston Park. At Amarillo College, the Jim Laughlin AC June Jazz Series hosts The Martinis with Chuck Alexander, starting at 7:30 p.m.

June 7: Route 66 Bus Tour - East | Groom, Jericho, McLean, Shamrock

Journey through Route 66’s history and culture on an exclusive bus tour from Amarillo to Shamrock. Starting at the historic Bivins Mansion in Amarillo, you’ll stop at all the

The

Route 66 landmarks and hotspots. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tickets: visitamarillo.com

June 7: High Noon on the Square | Potter County Courthouse Lawn

Join the crowd at this kickoff event for the annual High Noon on the Square, a beloved Route 66 tradition in downtown Amarillo. This free lunchtime concert on the historic grounds of the Potter County Courthouse (Sixth & Fillmore), features a performance from singing cowboy Ed Montana and burgers served by Coors Cowboy Club for $10. centercity.org

June 7: Texas Route 66 Visitor Center Event | 6thAvenue

Sample delicious treats from Amarillo’s best food trucks while listening to live music and the sounds of 6th Avenue from the Texas Route 66 Visitor Center patio, starting at 6 p.m.

June 8: Route 66 Bus Tour - West | Vega, Adrian, Glenrio

Head west along I-40 toward the Route 66 highlights including Cadillac Ranch, the historic Midpoint Cafe and Dot’s Mini Museum, all the way to Glenrio and the TexasNew Mexico border. Departing from the Bivins Mansion, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tickets: visitamarillo.com

June 8: The Green Book and Route 66 | Amarillo College Concert Hall

Acclaimed author and documentarian Candacy Taylor speaks on Route 66, sundown towns and the historic Negro Motorist Green Book. A leading voice on this topic, Taylor’s work has been featured around the world. Amarillo College Concert Hall, $15, 7-9 p.m.

June 9: Route 66 Bus Tour -Amarillo/Canyon

Journey through Amarillo’s historic Route 66 district and

learn about Western culture from here to Canyon, led by friendly and knowledgeable tour guides. Tickets: visitamarillo.com

June 9: Michelangelo Sistine Chapel Exhibition | Arts in the Sunset

At Arts in the Sunset, engage with the Sistine Chapel—here in Texas—at the opening of this traveling exhibit, which features 34 high-definition frescoes of one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements. Open from June 9 to July 23.

June 10: Amarillo Community Market | Downtown Polk Street

Attend the summer launch of this free downtown market, featuring local artisans, bakers and growers for a fun-filled day of live music and delicious food. 8:30 a.m.-noon, Bivins Mansion (1000 S. Polk St.). amarillocommunitymarket.com

June 10: Summer Free-for-All | Sam Houston Park

Join Amarillo Parks & Recreation for the ultimate family event of the summer at Sam Houston Park, featuring carnival-style games, floaty races, bouncers, music, vendors and food trucks. The event extends into an epic street party within Amarillo’s Historic Route 66 District (along SW 6th Ave.), starting at 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

June 10: Amarillo National Bank’s Route 66 Celebration | Route 66 Historic District

In the 6th Avenue Historic District from 11 a.m.–7 p.m., the Grand Finale will take place. Attendees can expect a wide range of attractions, including vendor booths, food options, live music, Elvis impersonators, Miss Texas Route 66 Pinup Pageant, kids’ activities, corn dog eating contests, a car show, a bike show, and much more. Admission is free for all attendees.

The Barfield, Autograph Collection

What can visitors expect when they visit The Barfield? Visitors can expect a local experience, a warm and inviting atmosphere, and some good ’ol West Texas hospitality.

What are some of the key transformations to the historic Barfield building? Paramount Recreation Club was Amarillo’s original speakeasy in the 1920s, which our hotel revived and transformed into a space that speaks to both history and modern comforts. The original office spaces transformed very naturally into a hotel while maintaining original footprints, making each set of guest rooms special, and unique.

What sets you apart from other hotels in the area? The Barfield has redefined hospitality in the region by offering a first-of-its-kind experience: combining a sense of locality with the luxuries of a stay at a boutique hotel.

How has Route 66 impacted your business’ history? Route 66 was key to the development of Amarillo and the original Barfield building’s construction. Our building was completed in 1927 as the first skyscraper in Amarillo, the same year Route 66 road signs began to be erected across the country. It shows the city’s optimism for the future, especially as a major stop along the Mother Road.

Do you have a regular number of international Route 66 visitors? Absolutely! Route 66 has and continues to bring travelers from near and far. Some of our favorite conversations with guests have been hearing about the international bus tour they are on, their lifelong desire to travel Route 66, and the excitement on their face when they discuss what they have seen so far on their journey.

What do you love most about being in the center of Downtown Amarillo? Downtown continues to grow and we are proud to be a part of that. We not only get to be a key part of visitors’ experiences of Amarillo, but being in downtown, we get to be fully immersed in the community. We love our guests, but we also love having locals come in.

THE

SHOWROOM FEATURES OLDER MODEL VEHICLES LIKE A 1928 “PADDY WAGON,” CARS FROM THROUGHOUT THE 1930S, AND EVEN A FULLY-RESTORED 1945 WILLYS U.S. ARMY JEEP COMPLETE WITH MACHINE GUN!

BILL’S LOVE FOR CLASSIC CARS BEGAN WHEN WORKING ON THIS 1931 FORD MODEL A VICTORIA AT THE AGE OF 14. IT WAS HIS FIRST HIGH SCHOOL CAR.

BILL’S SCCA FORMULA ATLANTIC RACE CAR IS ON DISPLAY WITH A VIDEO FROM HIS VERY SUCCESSFUL RACING DAYS.

FRONT

BILL AND LINDA PRATT OPENED HIS PRIVATE CAR COLLECTION TO THE PUBLIC IN 2015.

Bill’s Backyard Classics

Inventor Bill Pratt is known as “The Thomas Edison of the Beef Industry” for his transformative computerized and machinery management systems for which he was awarded 88 U.S. and foreign patents. His name ranks among the great Trailblazers of the West. And he had a passion for classic cars.

Bill’s love for classic cars began as a boy of 14 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, when he bought his first car, an old, beat-up 1931 Ford Model A Victoria. He worked on it for two years in his backyard, making it his first high school car. When he sold his company Micro Beef Technologies in 2011, Bill began collecting cars. But not just any old cars. He found cars with a connection to his and his wife Linda’s lives—a 1931 Ford Model A Victoria of his youth; a black ’57 Chevy, like the one he was driving when he first saw his future wife, Linda, crossing the street with a bag of groceries; a white ’61 Pontiac like he had when they first married (complete with their ironing board between the seats); and Linda’s first car, a maroon ’67 Chevy. Bill enjoyed surprising Linda with these cars from their shared past. Then, Bill began collecting “pairs” of vehicles, meaning a stock version of a car paired with a street rod version. At 178 cars, Linda finally took the checkbook away from him! Undeterred, he slipped one last purchase under her nose for a total of 179. They opened his collection to the public in 2015.

Today, the museum features more than 100 autos from all over North America in two showrooms. The bulk of the collection centers on cars from the heyday of Route 66, dating from the 1930s to the 1970s. Visitors come into Bill’s “backyard,” surrounded by residential yard fencing decorated with smiley faces reminiscent of the backyard where he got his first car running as a teenager. Classic rock ’n roll plays from a 1949 Wurlitzer jukebox. Bill wished for generations of visitors’ families to share happy memories evoked by the cars and their eras.

Route 66 is vital to the success of the museum, starting with Bill’s memories traveling it from Oklahoma to California as a boy in the 1940s and ’50s, to the interests of museum visitors today. Eighty-seven percent of the museum’s traffic comes from outof-towners “doing Route 66,” with 12 percent coming from other countries across six continents. The museum gives travelers a unique kind of Texas experience. It’s becoming known as “The Real Cadillac Ranch” and “the best-kept secret in Amarillo.”

Amarillo is a great place not only for a Route 66-oriented classic car museum, but also a great place to live and work. Good people and their kindness and work ethic are at the heart of it. Bill always said, “There’s something in the environment here that makes people want to work.” It’s Texas, family, roots, the beauty of the plains and canyons, and the people. “It’s the people that make the difference.”

AN ORIGINAL LATE 1940S WURLITZER JUKE BOX SPINS OLD-TIME ROCK ’N ROLL AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE EXPANSIVE PRATT MEMORIAL MURAL.

THE SECOND SHOWROOM FEATURES MORE “MODERN” CARS MOSTLY FROM THE 1940S TO THE 1970S.

Texas RouTe 66 FesTival

MURAL BY ALFONSO GARCIA

Vega, Texas, and Mama Jo’s Pies & Sweets

The story of Route 66 is one of iconic stops, but it’s also a story of the people who make those landmarks memorable. In Vega, Texas, one of those people is Joann Glenn Harwell, proprietor of Mama Jo’s Pies & Sweets.

Harwell grew up in Abilene and learned to bake with her Grandma Glenn. Joann found her way to Vega in 1983 and eventually found work promoting Vega’s Route 66 history with the Oldham County Chamber of Commerce.

She was also making pies. “I started baking for Fran Houser at the MidPoint Cafe [in Adrian] in 1995, quite by accident,” she says. Joann needed a second job and Houser’s pie baker had resigned. “I was armed and dangerous with my grandmother’s pie crust recipe,” she says. Joann found the work fulfilling. “You rarely see an unhappy person with a piece of pie sitting in front of them.”

Last September, Joann branched out on her own, opening Mama Jo’s in the historic building at 922 Main Street in Vega. It felt like a good way to return to Route 66 and give back to the community. Customers can’t stop talking about her pies.

Joann’s pie were known as “ugly crust pies” during her Midpoint years. It started as a joke. “I may have had my grandmother’s pie crust recipe, but I didn’t start out with her talent of making them pretty,” she says. “They were awful-looking, but the taste was just what I remembered. I started telling customers mine were just good pies with ugly crusts.”

Today in Vega, locals and Route 66 travelers alike love those pies and Joann’s other down-home desserts, from cheesecake to cobbler, all made the old-fashioned way.

After indulging their sweet tooths, visitors take in the rest of Vega, including the Route 66 exhibits at the Milburn-Price Culture Museum, the 1916 courthouse, the lovingly restored Magnolia Station and the landmark Vega Motel motor court. “From the dust bowl days until now, Route 66 has brought people to and through Vega,” says Greg Conn, proprietor of the museum.

Some, like Joann Harwell, became citizens. Others were content to tour the area and stop at destinations like Hickory Inn, Lucy’s Kitchen, and Roosters Restaurant.

Conn says there’s more to Vega than proud residents and Route 66, though, citing the area’s “long history of the plains Indians, great agriculture, and a welcoming community of hard-working people.” That community remains a major draw. “Vega is a place where you can feel that the world has slowed down a bit and you can sit back, maybe put your phone away for a time, and soak up life as it should be,” he says. “Visit with a friend and just simply do life at a pace that calms your spirit.”

Consider doing it over coffee and a slice of pie from Mama Jo’s. “Hands down, it’s the people here in town I love most,” Joann says. “The coffee drinkers that make my days, the stories they tell … it’s just a wonderful community.”

PHOTO BY PAM MCNUTT

6th Street Antique Mall, LP & Amarillo’s Route 66 Store

How long have you been in business? Owned by Chip Hunt, 6th Street Antique Mall has been serving customers along Sixth Street since 1982. Our store has seen a lot of change in the neighborhood and have been interacting with Route 66 travelers for decades. We have been Amarillo’s Route 66 Store—the first one in Amarillo— since 2006.

What can visitors expect when they visit your store? 6th Street Antique is an absolute antique store. That means you won’t find new items, reproductions, crafts or repurposed items. Our products are authentic, and more than a third of our merchandise dates back to more than 100 years old. Most of our remaining merchandise is considered “vintage,” at 50 years old. As for The Route 66 Store, it carries top-quality memorabilia related to the Mother Road. Most of those products are made in America and, when possible, produced by local artisans.

Where does your inventory of antiques and collectibles come from? Our inventory for the antique store comes from the small businesses who rent space under our roof. These dedicated vendors work hard to find the best and most authentic products. They go to estate/garage sales, auctions and private sellers all over the Texas Panhandle and beyond.

How has Route 66 impacted your business’ history? We love the history of Route 66 and we love the traffic it brings to Amarillo—and to Sixth Street. Historic Route 66 has always entertained travelers from all over the world. It’s interesting that Route 66 seems to be a bigger deal to those international travelers than it is to Americans.

How much of your traffic comes from travelers? Incredibly, around 96 percent of our traffic on a daily basis comes from travelers. Sometimes they’re from as close as Pampa. Sometimes they’re from as far away as Australia. The amount of foreign accents we hear on a weekly basis is amazing.

What do you love most about living and working in Amarillo?

We love the camaraderie of the city and our willingness to help one another. Our store gets a lot of visitors passing through, but we love meeting new local people every day in our stores and finding out about their lives.

2715 SW SIXTH AVE. 806.374.0459

6THSTREETANTIQUEMALL.COM

The Roseberry by David and Dirk

How long has The Roseberry been in business? We opened our doors in December 2015. Our building is on the National Register Historic of Historic Places and was originally a laundromat in the 1920s. We use the charm of this nearly 100-year-old building to its full potential with the fun finds that fill our shop.

What can visitors expect when they visit your shop? The first thing you’ll experience when you walk through the door is a calm atmosphere with rich smells from hand-poured candles, sage, and palo santo. Inside you’ll find a curated collection of products inspired by the Southwest. We have a fantastic collection of vintage finds, turquoise jewelry, and products from regional and local artisans.

The Roseberry is the proud new owner of the Erase Hate Collection. Part of the proceeds from this collection go to the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which promotes the dignity and equality of all people.

Where does your inventory come from? You can call us a gift shop, but it’s so much more than that. We stock items from small businesses, women-owned businesses, and lines that benefit charities. Most of our products are sourced from New Mexico and Texas. We have products from around the U.S., and we take pride in the fact that it is something you can only find at The Roseberry.

How has Route 66 impacted your business’ history? The historic section of Route 66 is the birthplace of our business. Travelers to this special street look for unique experiences, and we are proudly one among many along Sixth Street. It’s a pleasure to be a part of the historic San Jacinto neighborhood.

How much of your traffic comes from travelers? While The Roseberry has regular customers from Amarillo and the surrounding area, we are thrilled to be able to greet and meet tourists from throughout the U.S. and all over the world.

Do you have a regular number of international Route 66 visitors? We haven’t kept an official count, but we have had visitors from every continent. We even have a few national and international visitors who make sure to come by and see us when they are in our area. They come to experience Route 66, Palo Duro Canyon, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and the other rich attractions around the Panhandle.

What do you love most about living and working in Amarillo?

Amarillo is a wonderful, caring community that provides unique opportunities. Citizens in Amarillo and the surrounding region strongly support small and local businesses. This makes for a uniquely stable economy for small businesses like our own. We get to know our customers by name. We’ve enjoyed serving a unique niche in the community, and it is a pleasure to provide a respite for like-minded individuals.

elevate your plate

WITH RUTHIE LANDELIUS

EATING ARTFULLY

Food is one of the most fabulous things humans have in common. It’s a universal language we all speak, no matter where we are in the world. And artistically, it is one of the most powerful mediums that inspires us to be mindful. These reasons are why food and cooking are so important to me. And yes, there is a right way to enjoy it all. Eating artfully is about creating beautiful food at home and thoroughly enjoying the process along the way.

Often, we eat too quickly or end up in such a hurry that our food choices get stuck in a hamster wheel, leaving us with no desire to create something new in the kitchen. We decide there is no time to cook, so we grab that manufactured product that says, “I’m quick. I’m easy. You won’t have to relate to me at all! Just put me in the microwave. I’m your new masterpiece in two minutes flat!” And then what happens? You remove that masterpiece from said microwave and taste a wave of artificial, rubbery void served in a plastic container. Where’s the excitement in eating that? I’ll tell you exactly where the excitement lies. It’s lying dormant in our brains, waiting for an earth-shattering awakening from its slumber.

We are all born artists. It’s up to us to nurture that attribute within us, bring it back to life, if you will.

When we eat delicious food, we encounter its taste, smell and texture. We also take in a deeper, multi-sensory experience. Our perceptions of how it will taste before we eat it come into play. Our surroundings add to the enjoyment. We even gauge the experience by the shape, color and size of our plates. Each one of these elements contributes to the art of eating artfully.

BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS EATING ARTFULLY?

To eat artfully is to have complete awareness during the process of preparing and enjoying a meal. Start by believing with your entire being that you are worthy of having that creative connection with food and cooking. You deserve to feel good when creating a beautiful meal and sharing it with the people you love. Cooking should never be stressful or feel like work. It should be 100-percent enjoyable.

HOW DO YOU EAT ARTFULLY?

It’s much like cooking mindfully but with a twist of artistry. When we cook, we empty our minds of the day’s stressors, and we focus on silencing negative thoughts while welcoming calmness. In this mindset, we wash, cut, cook, taste and savor with awareness and enjoyment. We become intimate with cooking by cooking. If you say to yourself, “I don’t have time to cook,” or “I don’t like cleaning up all the mess afterward,” you are making excuses not to grow in your creativity. Stop that! Whether a newbie or a seasoned cook, now is the time to get into the kitchen and advance your skills. Need a coach or ideas on where to start? I’m your gal.

A great first exercise in eating artfully is to make tomato toast.

Yes, I’m asking you to make a simple, gorgeous tomato toast for you and only you to enjoy. It can be an early morning breakfast when no one else is awake, or it can be a late-night snack. The idea is to connect with the ingredients you choose. Touch the tomatoes with your hands, see their beauty with your eyes, smell the fragrance of the herbs, and taste the freshness, sweetness and textures with your tongue.

YOUR TOMATO TOAST

• Choice of bread (ciabatta, multi-grain, or artisanal loaf), toasted to perfection Tomatoes (cherry, Roma, heirlooms, or any other variety)

• A soft, spreadable base (avocado, vegan sour cream, hummus, or regular cream cheese)

• Fresh herbs (basil, chives, tarragon, or microgreens)

• A dressing for drizzle (balsamic glaze or Dijon-based vinaigrette)

• Sprinkles (hemp hearts, chia, or poppy seeds, dried herbs, or seasonings)

• Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper

Once you’ve got your masterpiece created, serve the toast on a plate that speaks to you at that moment. How do you want to feel when you eat this toast? Do you want to feel regal? Do you want to feel a sense of comfort? Think about what will frame your toast and give it that extra aesthetic it deserves. Do this with complete consciousness—don’t just go through the motions. Manifest the arranging of the ingredients onto your toast and be alive in the present moment. I kid you not, emotions will surface, and your tomato toast will be beautiful.

RUTHIE LANDELIUS

Ruthie owns Black Fig Food catering and is proprietor of the online cooking platform Elevated Plant Plate. Learn more at elevatedplantplate.com and blackfigfood.com.

This place is our home. So that means we invest here. In the community. In the local economy. In helping grow jobs that can keep this place humming. Using renewable energy, we can keep costs lower for every home and every business. Our tax dollars go here. Our economic development efforts are here. We’re putting in the work to make the places we serve light up a little brighter.

Own the Scone

If you’ve traveled in Great Britain or, well, watched any television program that includes coronations, teatime, or British baking, you’ve been introduced to the scone. It’s a classic of British cuisine. Denser and richer than a southern biscuit, a perfect scone is equally crumbly and moist. Making them from scratch can be a little tricky.

For step-by-step tips, we turned to Nate Green, who with his wife, Liz, is the proprietor of Starlight Canyon Bed & Breakfast. This delightful collection of cabins is located in the Palisades, an upper branch of Palo Duro Canyon west of Lake Tanglewood. Starlight’s picturesque cabins are built around a historic 1930s stone lodge, which was designed by architect Guy Carlander and built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It’s a Texas Historic Landmark and once served as the concession building for visitors to Palisades State Park.

Liz and Nate bought the property in 2013, after returning to the Panhandle from careers in Colorado’s hospitality industry. The couple met at Keystone Ski Resort, where Nate worked in high-end restaurants. “I did everything from working in the kitchen to hosting, waiting tables, [and] bartending,” he says. “But before all that, my mom is a really good cook and fed me well. After I moved out, I had to feed myself.” He taught himself to cook.

At Starlight, Liz’s hospitality education and Nate’s kitchen background combine to create a romantic getaway. On weekdays, guests enjoy a continental breakfast—delivered to their rooms—built around Nate’s homemade cinnamon rolls, along with hot cooked breakfasts on weekends. Lately he’s introduced scones to the breakfast menu, much to guests’ delight.

He rotates flavors from the lemon-blueberry scones in this recipe to cranberry-orange scones and decadent strawberries-and-cream scones. “They’ve been really popular,” Nate says.

With a shrug, he underplays the product. “They’re kind of just like a biscuit with fruit in it,” he says of his scones. But there’s a lot more to it than that. Nate graciously shared his stepby-step instructions for making scones at home. Give it a try, and if it doesn’t work, just book a room at Starlight.

LIZ AND NATE GREEN

PHOTOS BY ANGELINA MARIE

2 cups all-purpose flour

⅓ cup sugar

¼ teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

Pinch of salt

½ cup butter

⅓ cup Greek yogurt

⅓ cup heavy whipping cream

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 lemon

Powdered sugar

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

To start, cut the butter into quarter-inch pieces and put it in the freezer ahead of time. “You want little pieces of butter worked through the dough that haven’t melted,” he says. That’s the secret to a scone’s perfectly flaky texture.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Nate prefers a specially designed zester, which is easier to clean and manage than a larger grater.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg and combine yogurt, cream and vanilla. Then cut chilled butter into the flour mixture with a dough blender. It’s important to handle the frozen butter as little as possible. “I don’t touch it with my hands at all,” he says.

Canyon’s LemonBlueberry Scones

Next, add the wet ingredients and stir together until a crumbly dough forms. Smash the dough together into a ball and, using a cutting board, flatten the dough to about ½ to 1 inch thick.

Spread the blueberries onto the dough and press in lightly. Nate prefers frozen blueberries. “If you use fresh berries, freeze them first,” he says.

With a dough scraper, fold the dough in half, flatten it again, then fold in half again, 90 degrees from the first fold. Repeat the folding and flattening process four times, then use the scraper to help flatten the dough into a 9- by 9-inch square.

Next, cut grid lines in the square to make 3- by 3-inch individual squares. Keeping the dough pieces together, cut diagonally one way across the squares to make triangles. Use the dough scraper to transfer triangles to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Again, touch the mixture as little as possible, and allow equal distances between triangles. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the tops of the scones are just starting to turn brown. Remove and transfer to a cooling rack.

Mix the icing after your scones have cooled. Nate admits icing can be a personal preference and is more of an art than a science. In his words, start with “a good amount of powdered sugar” in a mixing bowl, along with juice squeezed from a single lemon. Mix it together. “We like our icing to be the consistency of spreadable cream cheese as we spread it over each scone individually,” he says. “Some like to have a more liquid mixture and prefer to drizzle the icing on.” Whatever your preference, adjust the consistency with the amount of powdered sugar in relation to the lemon juice.

For step-by-step photos of Nate Green’s process, visit brickandelm.com.

Food

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Hollie Shankle Amarillo EDC

Amy Henderson Amarillo National Bank

Matthew Carpenter AW Broadband

Wendi Swope Double U Marketing

Ty Cox FirstBank & Trust Texas

Barbara VerWey LifeGift

Photos by Jenny Edwards Portrait.

LEADING WOMEN

Our media company is a woman-owned business, and as we meet with local enterprises and encounter new stories to tell, it’s clear we’re not alone. We continue meeting influential women in the Amarillo and Canyon workforce. From entrepreneurs to bankers, marketing professionals and architects, these women are propelling their industries forward and contributing in significant ways to the region. We’re honored to tell their stories and highlight their successes in the following pages.

LEADING WOMEN

Street Volkswagen

Sindy Ortiz, Comptroller and Office Administrator

Dawn Owens, BDC Director

Merlie Moore, Parts Manager

Christie Sims, Customer Care Manager

What skills and experience does your team bring to Street VW? Each of these women has worked in a previous career field—separate from the automotive world—giving each one a unique perspective regarding customer service, business building and leadership style. Collectively, these women have years of experience in leadership, accounting, customer service, business development, and parts and inventory management.

How does your team maintain its expertise? Our dealership believes in continuing education for each employee. We believe personal development increases growth, both individually and collectively. Street VW invests time and money in each employee so they can become the best in the industry.

These women are constantly improving personal development through training on site, attending classes and conferences, studying content presented by other experts in the industry, and meeting regularly with other dealership leaders to expand and learn different techniques and processes.

Who inspired you to take leadership roles and why? Each woman started in a previous dealership role before moving into leadership. They earned their roles based on hard work, perseverance and skills specific to their roles. Each one was promoted into her current position because she presented willingness, promise and determination to improve her position and department. Each of these women have also had mentors throughout their careers that inspired them to become leaders.

What has been a significant barrier in your careers and how have you overcome it? The automotive industry primarily remains a male-dominated career field, but more and more women join the ranks every day. Still, overcoming pre-determined stigmas from both coworkers and customers can be challenging at times. To overcome these barriers, these women have dedicated hours of time, training and industry education to become experts. How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? Balance is directly related to time management and a great support system. As long as personal and professional roles are managed well, it creates life balance. It also helps to have a great support system both at work and at home, with people who are understanding and encouraging of both professional and personal lives.

What are the primary benefits of having women in leadership roles?

Women encourage diversity of thought and foster leadership roles in others, making women the definition of the new buzz word “Servant Leadership.” In leadership roles, the leader is responsible to their employees, not the other way around. Women tend to be encouraging and supportive of others in their goals and achievements, and help to create a culture of quality leaders throughout the organization.

(L-R) DAWN OWENS, SINDY ORTIZ, CHRISTIE SIMS AND MERLIE MOORE

LEADING WOMEN

Karen Roberts Owner Get Fit

Who are you and what do you do? I am the owner of Get Fit, a running specialty store open for more than 13 years in Amarillo. We specialize in personalized foot and gait analysis for our customers, which allows us to recommend the most appropriate shoe for their chosen activity.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position?

I was in education for more than 20 years—teaching is my passion. I enjoy teaching my team how to fit a customer in proper footwear and how to create a great customer experience. I have worked with others within the running industry, who selflessly mentor and encourage me.

How do you maintain your expertise? My team and I sharpen our skills at industry trade shows, where we hear about the latest and greatest products. Our vendor reps keep us abreast of new technology and allow us to try a variety of products before we present them to our customers.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I have been interested in leadership since high school, where I was the president of five organizations and had teachers who encouraged me to seek those positions. I coached with Jim Wilcoxson, Mike Miller, and Joe Lombard, all of whom had a strong influence on me. I saw how they led with confidence and passion, and wanted to do that as well. And I believe I do.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? I wanted more as a teacher and coach so I got my counseling degree, then I got my administration degree. After my kids were born, I wanted to start a running store, even though there were naysayers and the economy was not great. But I was determined and we are still going strong.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests?

My triplets attend three colleges in three states, so I stay busy with them. I love to travel and experience beautiful places. God has blessed me with a great partner, team, customers and health. Those factors allow me to “live life to the fullest” every day and I am thankful!

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Many women lead with their heart, which allows them to be compassionate leaders who have buy-in when it comes to decision-making. I encourage the women leaders on my team to dream big and be confident in their decisions.

LEADING WOMEN

American Quarter Horse Association

Kyla Jones

Who are you and what do you do? I am the Manager of Communications for AQHA. I am responsible for written and spoken communications for the world’s largest breed organization. I work directly with the AQHA CEO and five-member executive committee, along with AQHA staff, to ensure the communication of consistent positive messaging about our breed and brand.

What skills do you bring to this position? My career at AQHA started with an internship and I have learned many things in each role. My greatest skill in this industry has been the ability to adapt and learn.

How do you maintain your expertise? Focusing on learning and being flexible in hard situations has allowed me to maintain expertise in the field of communications. It is also important to stay up-to-date on other breedand discipline-specific organizations.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why?I have had several mentors, primarily my riding coaches and trainers and my supervisor, Sarah Davisson, when I first started as an intern at AQHA. She led through service and education and created an environment of collaboration where everyone had a seat at the table. She has inspired me to strive to do the same.

Helen Hardy

Who are you and what do you do? I am the Manager of Youth Development and AQHYA for AQHA. My responsibilities include the management, development, and implementation of new and existing youth and young adult programs, contests and educational, leadership and horsemanship resources that benefit members and non-members, the equine industry, and the Association.

What skills do you bring to this position? From growing up showing Quarter Horses, to pursuing degrees in animal science and equine science, I bring a comprehensive knowledge of the western and equine industries to my current position. Through internships in college, I was able to learn about different aspects of the industry. Working as a County Extension Agent before coming to AQHA helped me gain experience with hands-on youth development—a skill set I call upon every day in my current role.

How do you maintain your expertise? I challenge myself and utilize the network surrounding me.

Serving young adult members challenges my way of thinking and pivots long-term goals to best meet their needs. Additionally, I seek out positions of leadership, such as board of director positions with the American Youth Horse Council and the Panhandle Quarter Horse Association.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I would not be the industry professional that I am without the guidance I received during my time as an undergraduate at Texas A&M University from the late Dr. Josie Coverdale. Dr. Coverdale provided me with the environment to grow, learn and find confidence in myself and my path forward. To this day, she inspires me to seek out roles that, while challenging, can also be the most rewarding.

Kylynn Copeland

Who are you and what do you do? I am the Corporate Partner Manager for AQHA. I am responsible for building and maintaining relationships with our team of corporate partners and sponsors. I also manage marketing deliverables to ensure partners receive the utmost value for their sponsorship dollars.

What skills do you bring to this position? I started developing my communication skills and learned the importance of responsibility through my involvement in 4-H and FFA. My AQHA career started with a communication internship that sparked my interest in the horse industry. Eight years later, I have refined my communication, organization, and digital marketing skills inside and outside the office. I am also a proud rancher’s wife—not only do I get to work in an industry I love, I live in an industry I love.

How do you maintain your expertise? By learning from who I am around. Everyone has something to teach you, good or bad. It is our job to use what we learn to grow.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? I believe if you give your all, that is all you can do. I try to be present in whatever I am doing, whether that’s talking to clients or being the best wife and mom I can be. If you enjoy what you are doing at work or home, balance comes a lot easier

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? A woman is used to juggling 23 things at once, so often they can help give encouragement along the way. It excites me to see a shift toward showcasing strong women leaders and motivates me to strive to be someone looked up to.

HELEN HARDY

KYLA JONES

Roxanne Grabbe Vice President, Commercial Lender

Amarillo National Bank

Who are you and what do you do? I am Roxanne Grabbe, Vice President and Commercial Lender at Amarillo National Bank.

What skills and/or experience do you bring to this position?

I started at ANB in 2010, which gives me 13 years of specific banking experience. But I’ve worked in the world of customer service for at least two decades, and meeting customer needs is central to my role at the bank.

How do you maintain your expertise? To start, I make sure I get out of the office to visit customers. I’m always impressed with how well they know their businesses and industries, and listening to them is the best kind of education I can get. I also draw from the expertise of my colleagues and coworkers at ANB. There are so many long-term employees here, with 20-plus years’ experience in banking. That’s invaluable. Of course, I always try to keep up with current news and listen to a lot of podcasts.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My kids! I’m trying to show them what it looks like to make your own future by working hard, building relationships and challenging yourself every day. My goal is to set a high bar for them before they get to college.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Knowing that I don’t have all the answers, and understanding that it’s OK to admit that. One of the reasons I’m in my position today is my willingness to build a capable team of people who have the skills that I lack. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family, friends and coworkers.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? My motto is Work Hard, Play Hard, Love Hard. When I’m at work, I try to do the best job I can and give my full attention to serving my customers. But when I’m home, I never miss an opportunity to play with my kids and give them the attention they deserve. Beyond that, working out, running and date nights are also a necessity.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Where do I start? Women are great multitaskers. I think we have a natural ability to take care of the people around us. That’s one of the things I love most about ANB: six out of every 10 of our banking officers, assistant vice presidents and VPs are women. And based on my experience with an incredible team of women around me everyday, it’s not smart to tell us we can’t do something! Challenge accepted!

Alisha Milam Vice President of

Professional and Executive Private Banking Amarillo National Bank

Who are you and what do you do? I am Alisha Milam, Vice President of Professional and Executive Private Banking at Amarillo National Bank. My job looks different almost every day, but the main thread is that I provide exceptional private banking service to the local medical community.

What skills and/or experience do you bring to this position?

I’ve been with ANB for 22 years, which means I’ve spent more than two decades working within a culture built around outstanding customer service. I’ve spent that time serving and meeting the needs of local businesses and professionals. I’m people-oriented and I enjoy getting to know about customers and other employees.

How do you maintain your expertise? Mentorship is huge at ANB, so I’ve kept my skills current by learning from individuals who have a truly deep knowledge of banking and service. They know this community, know how to meet its needs, and are invested in making sure that expertise gets passed along to each member of our team. I’m so grateful to be a beneficiary of it. I also benefit from regulatory training from ANB’s compliance department, of course.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I knew early in my ANB career that I wanted to be a “lifer.” Every year, we have employees celebrating their 25th or 30th anniversary with Amarillo National. That says a lot. ANB’s family-oriented atmosphere has become my home during the past 22 years. I’m especially thankful for the women colleagues I’ve been privileged to work alongside for so many years.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? It’s always a challenge to find balance as a working mom. My husband is very supportive of my career.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests?

I think it’s possible to give 100 percent to my career without taking away from the things I value outside of work, so I definitely make time to get away. I prioritize God, family and my hobbies, which include drag racing and enjoying the lake.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? A strong support system from other working women is essential to family development, and I love that there are so many smart, capable women in leadership at ANB. I learn from their example every day. Beyond that, in every decision, I strive to be a positive role model for my daughter.

Denese Skinner

Vice

President of Student Affairs Amarillo College

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I have 29 years of leadership experience in higher education and seven years of public school teaching and coaching experience. I am a licensed professional counselor. I am Six Sigma Black Belt certified as well as a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths coach. I hold a M.Ed. in School Counseling from West Texas A&M University. My specialty is process improvement and employee engagement.

How do you maintain your expertise? I surround myself with professionals who are innovative, big thinkers. I keep my saw sharp by being exposed to new ideas, ways of doing things and, most importantly, seeing the world from different viewpoints. Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My inspiration was a what: basketball. I wanted to be a head coach. I worked my way up the ranks, where I learned valuable lessons about how you inspire young people to believe in a vision and motivate them to work hard to master the skills necessary to win. I learned to put individuals in the right positions to best utilize their talent. It works the same in my industry, higher education.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Initially, wanting to be a teacher, I was a woman in a teaching field where football coaches held the jobs. I had to be willing to take positions where I taught outside of my field to get my foot in the door. I proved that I could develop winning teams and quickly establish rapport with students, parents and colleagues. Soon, I moved into roles that fit my credentials, aspirations and talents.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? Early in my career, I was awful at this. I am not willing to make the sacrifices I did when I coached. Give and take—not balance—is my goal. I have seasons where I dedicate more time and energy to work, but there are also times when my personal life gets my focus.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? We have genuine empathy for employees who are juggling multiple roles between work and home to make it all fit into 24 hours. We are role models for younger women that they, too, can drive the bus.

Lindsay Gomez Owner 41 Productions

Who are you and what do you do? My name is Lindsay Gomez and I am the owner and primary content creator for 41 Productions Videography. I’ve been in business for more than 17 years. We specialize in wedding films and small business video marketing campaigns, but we also produce a plethora of training and safety videos, real estate, and nonprofit videos. I’m also a certified drone pilot through the FAA.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I graduated from WTAMU in 2006 with a degree in Mass Communications-Broadcasting. There is a level of confidence that my clients have in me that stems from the length of time I’ve been a videographer. I genuinely love getting to know people, along with documenting weddings and elevating video marketing content for small businesses. It’s a technical field, so having knowledge of operating equipment is paramount. Learning to shoot is one thing, but making the footage come to life in a video is another.

How do you maintain your expertise? I’ve always loved to learn and continue growing, no matter how long I’ve been in business. I enjoy attending workshops and trading ideas/ learning from other colleagues, locally and nationally.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I come from a family of entrepreneurs so it was “in my blood,” so to speak. I’ve always wanted to be my own boss.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Technology! It’s constantly changing and evolving. There’s always something new, so staying up-to-date with cameras, lenses, lighting, and audio can be challenging at times—another reason why networking within my industry is so important.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? Do what you love and you never work a day in your life! Plus, the flexibility of being self-employed is amazing. I’m very organized, which allows me to focus when I need to meet a deadline and relax when I need to recharge.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Women are multitaskers and we bring a diverse perspective to the workplace from our experiences in everyday life.

Kristin Babbitt Owner Dotsy’s Boutique

Who are you and what do you do? I’m Kristin Babbitt, owner of Dotsy’s Boutique, a women’s clothing, accessories and gift shop in Wolflin Square.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? My desire to help others, a love of fashion, a knack for business and 15 years in this industry helps me in this position. My degree is in social work but I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit.

How do you maintain your expertise? I attend seminars, take part in online workshops, stay in touch with current trends and have a desire to grow daily as a person, boss, wife and mother.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My father did. I watched him take his knowledge in his career and turn it into his own business. He led by examples of hard work, integrity and honesty. He taught me that with hard work and the Lord’s guidance, I was able to do anything I put my mind to. My mother’s best friend also showed me that women were capable of being their own boss. Through her hard work and example, I saw her open and maintain several successful businesses.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? COVID has been the biggest barrier we have faced so far. Instead of giving up, we worked! I decided I would do whatever it took to keep my employees by doing the hard work and trusting that the Lord would see us through it. We had to navigate a new way of doing business and work harder on our online sales, while adjusting to our customers’ needs. Through lots of prayer and trust, we made it through and grew our business in the meantime. We worked on our website and came out stronger.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? That’s tough. Sometimes I feel it’s going OK and other times I don’t. There almost always has to be sacrifice in one of those areas. But, I try to schedule time for family vacations and I try my hardest to set apart the weekends for my family.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? I believe women are more approachable and have a better understanding of individual needs. We are more relational and that is important when leading— especially when leading other women.

Jamie Beckham Owner Trip Spots

Who are you and what do you do? Hello! My name is Jamie Beckham. I am the owner and creator of Trip Spots, a new tour company in Amarillo. I am an expert on travel and history for the Panhandle Area.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? Having a genuine love for the Texas Panhandle, I have the opportunity to introduce people to our incredible community, history and beautiful landscape. Whether you are just traveling through, thinking about relocating or have lived here your entire life, there is something new and exciting for everyone.

How do you maintain your expertise? I maintain my expertise by being out in the community and visiting with its residents. I love exploring our area and learning about all of its hidden gems.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? Growing up in a family business where both my parents worked tirelessly, I learned all about hard work and treating people with respect.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Mental health. Mental health is a thing and I have realized how debilitating it can be. I think it’s important to recognize the signs and get help. It’s also OK to ask for help. Surrounding yourself with people that realize the struggles and are able to help may be the most important thing. Also, Vitamin D is totally underrated. (I’m not a doctor!)

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests?

I don’t think there is a real answer to this. However, I do think women need to recognize that they are better people, moms, wives, when they have a purpose and do what they love. There are things that won’t get done. You will miss something. Just make sure you don’t miss the important things. I find I am a better mom, wife, friend, when I’m doing things that feed my soul.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Women have so much to overcome. It’s helpful when you have a woman as a mentor and you can see how she handles work, marriage, family, parenting, faith, and everything else.

I had an incredible female mentor in my life, my mom. She was a working woman who always had time for her children and her employees, among countless other things in the community. She led with love, but she had a lot of grit. As a woman in leadership, I strive to lead with love, passion and grit. We also need to see how women master the art of failure so we aren’t so hard on ourselves. Failure is a huge part of success, and we must be in each other’s corner to get through the low times.

Taylor Van Valkenburg & Caron Sansing Owners U.S. Cleaners

Who are you and what do you do? Caron Sansing (owner/President) and Taylor Van Valkenburg (VP of operations). We are a mother-and-daughter team that owns and operates U.S. Cleaners.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? Caron has a degree in home economics and fashion/design, and has always been passionate about fashion and clothing. When the opportunity arose to purchase U.S. Cleaners in 1995, pairing those interests with her business background seemed meant to be.

With a degree in social and cultural anthropology, Taylor’s experience is all about people: their cultures, their behaviors, how our differences make us who we are. When she earned that degree, she had no intentions of taking over the family business. Her training, however, has helped her manage the different personalities that she deals with on a daily basis and fostering empathy.

How do you maintain your expertise? We are members of the Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI), which offers a wealth of resources for all things dry cleaning and laundry. We attend yearly dry-cleaning conventions (The Clean Show) and are always excited to learn ways to improve. At the last show, we acquired advanced new technology, including two new dry-cleaning machines, a new laundry machine and a new laundry shirt press. We are proud to have the only completely odorless dry-cleaning machines in town.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? Taylor was inspired by watching her parents’ success in starting the business. She was 14 when they purchased U.S. Cleaners, starting with one location and a handful of employees. Now there are four locations and more than 40 employees. It has been a labor of love for the whole family.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? The pandemic was the most significant challenge in our 28 years in business. Like so many others, our business was greatly impacted by shortages of all kinds. We couldn’t get supplies—including hangers—that we depend on for our day-to-day operations. We have a fleet of five vehicles, and still have two that are out of order while we wait on parts. We are still navigating the labor shortage, and had to close two locations last year due to these challenges. We are still recovering, but look forward to announcing the reopening of one of our locations in the near future!

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? We have an outstanding team. We are involved in our community and have busy personal lives, but we are able to manage it all due to our amazing employees. Melissa, a face most of our customers will recognize, has been with our company for 10 years. It’s because of her and employees like her that we are able to thrive.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? As women, we offer a different skill set and perspective. There are more women in the cleaning industry, and we can relate to our employees on a very personal level. Many of us are juggling family life, careers and a personal life. We make our employees’ personal lives a priority, and ensure they are able to attend their kids’ school events and sporting events, etc. We can empathize with our customers and their needs, as well. We learn from our mistakes and are always trying to improve. Women are multitaskers—you have to be to run a business!

Julie Doty Owner Nothing Bundt Cakes Amarillo

Who are you and what do you do? I’m Julie Doty, owner of Nothing Bundt Cakes Amarillo, and I bring joy to others through cake!

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I am the “queen of organized chaos” and have been self-employed since the day my son was born 24 years ago. I have run and worked in all of our businesses, putting in 80-plus hours a week. I’ve never been afraid of hard work or scared of being adaptable in this ever-changing society.

How do you maintain your expertise? I maintain my expertise by continuously learning from women business owners around me, as well as within our Nothing Bundt Cakes brand and from community leaders.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My son is the inspiration behind being a leader. I knew I wanted to be an involved mother while still working outside the home. From the day he was born, he has been taught what hard work looks like and he doesn’t know any other way. My husband has always been my biggest supporter. When I was first introduced to Nothing Bundt Cakes, I met the woman who owned the bakery and she showed me what culture and positive leadership looks like. She continues to mentor me and my team. Once I saw it in her bakery, I knew that was the leader I wanted to be!

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? The constant changing of our society and resultant hurdles have been the biggest barriers, along with the change in how the younger generation learns, works and leads. COVID changed so much for them and I feel it’s our responsibility to teach them how to succeed beyond the basic fundamentals of schooling. There are so many things like using a landline phone, carrying on face-to-face conversations, as well as manners, respect, and teamwork.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? Work/ life balance is tough, especially when you work with your husband and son. We try to do a “vacation a month,” in which we take a couple of days and leave town, even if it’s the next town over. Occasionally we still talk work and answer calls and texts, but it allows us to leave work behind for a little bit and have fun and enjoy each other. We started this last year and it really does make a difference.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? There are so many strong women in leadership roles, and it’s important to teach our younger generation how to be great and how to lead greatly. In addition to bringing joy to our community through delicious cake, I want to inspire and grow young leaders. I want whoever works for me to leave better than they were when they started with me. How can I strive for greatness if I’m not pushing my team to be great right along with me?

2303 S. GEORGIA ST. | 806.242.2253

Arlette J. Back, M.Ed., LPC-S Owner Arlette J. Back Counseling and Consulting, PLLC

Who are you and what do you do? I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) and Certified School Counselor and Educator in the State of Texas. I am the owner of Arlette J. Back Counseling and Consulting, PLLC. My specialties are couples counseling, trauma, anxiety, eating disorders, and depression. I work with adults, children (ages 5+), families, and couples.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I am reliable and dependable. I believe in building rapport with my clients first and foremost. Fidelity—following through with my commitment to their treatment—is a core value I hold dear and is one of the six core values of my profession. I am also versatile. I am not interested in being a “one-trick pony” and I do not believe my clients desire that either. I believe in finding creative ways to help my clients discover peace, whatever that looks like for them.

How do you maintain your expertise? I attend training on multiple psychotherapeutic subjects monthly. I do not believe one could ever learn “enough” in this field. It is always growing and changing and that is what I love about it. I want to learn everything I possibly can and more.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I have had several female mentors in my personal and professional life that have told me not to settle for less than what I deserve, and I intend to pay it forward.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? The most significant barrier was switching from a steady-paying job to the unpredictability of owning a business. I have learned so much about being a business-owner, but the most important is self-compassion. We make mistakes. Giving ourselves grace is essential.

How do you balance your career, personal life, and interests? My family grounds me. I could not stay in balance without the support of my husband and children. What fuels me is the fun we have together, traveling, and my dogs!

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Women have made positive changes in the field of mental health, such as improving accessibility and breaking down barriers around stigma. I believe women are skilled at integration, interpretation, influence, inclusiveness, and insight. They will continue to positively impact the profession, and in turn, the relational aspects of humanity.

Jennifer Akerman Owner designTEN 1 Interiors

Who are you and what do you do? My name is Jennifer Akerman. I am an interior designer and the owner of designTEN 1 Interiors, a boutique with home decor and a full interior design studio that caters to remodels, new builds or existing interior updates. We specialize in 3D floor plans and sourcing tiles, fabrics, wallpapers, furniture selections and paint colors.

What skills do you bring to this position? I have been in the interior design field for 16 years. My specialty is creating interiors that represent my client’s style using modern and classic elements—not trends. I coined the word modASSIC, meaning to mix classic and modern elements. I have a broad knowledge of the inner workings of home building. designTEN 1 can provide a complete remodel or work with your contractor on a new build or remodel.

How do you maintain your expertise? By participating in conferences, going to market and meeting with experts in the field. Regularly reading industry journals and meeting with vendors to learn about new products and technology is also important.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My grandmother. Her house was beautiful and immaculate. She drew her own blueprints for her home and created a welcoming interior that was warm, classic and stunning! She also owned her own mail order catalog, which was one of the first back then. She did everything with such grace and class. A love of retail and design is in my blood thanks to my accomplished grandmother.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? I first went out on my own in Dallas, where my industry is pretty competitive. I didn’t have many clients. I grew my business by taking smaller jobs that eventually grew into larger ones across the United States, such as Aspen, New York City, North Carolina, New Mexico, Florida and, of course, Texas.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? I set aside hours during the week to focus on each of my clients and their projects, so no detail goes unnoticed. Each of my clients are important to me—I want each project to turn out just how the client desires, to give them a curated space they are excited to wake up to everyday. I take weekends off to be with my family.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? As a woman, I believe it’s important to set an example and show younger generations that they can make a difference. With vision and hard work, you can make dreams come true and build a sense of accomplishment, involvement and pride. This makes any woman feel independent and, in turn, creates a cycle of success. I have three daughters and want to set an example for them, so they know they can be successful on their own and make their way in this world. Leadership, no matter how you do it—owning a business, volunteering, raising successful children—has influence on others.

2921 I-40 WEST, SUITE 800

806.641.1945 | DESIGNTEN1.COM

Sheila Sims, AIA Architect Sims + Architects

Who are you and what do you do? My name is Sheila Sims and I am an architect and President of Sims Architects. We are a fullservice commercial architecture firm in Amarillo.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I have more than 35 years of experience in the architectural field, with almost 33 of those at this firm. I began working here while I was a student at Texas A&M University.

How do you maintain your expertise? Hopefully, we are all learning all the time. I am constantly inspired by things I see traveling, and I love historical buildings.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My dad was one of my biggest role models and heroes. He was my high school drafting teacher and taught me to love what I do. He was the hardest-working person I’ve ever known and he always pushed me to do my best. This has also been a little bit of a curse, as I have spent many long hours and late nights getting things just right! But it has paid off for me in more ways than I could imagine, and I hope others can learn from that and do the same.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Being a woman in a male-dominated field always has its challenges. In my early days, I wasn’t always taken seriously on construction sites. But I’ve learned that if you have integrity and always do your best—thanks, Dad!—people respect that, and it has helped me to build relationships with everyone I work with.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? Balance? What’s that? Seriously, it’s difficult sometimes but you make it work when it’s important to you. I have three daughters who have been very active in school and club volleyball. That has meant tons of travel and school programs, which I’m proud to say I’ve always attended. We only get one shot at it, right?

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Men and women are so different and that’s a good thing! When it comes to leadership, I think women tend to be more relational and team-oriented. I love collaboration and sharing ideas. I also think women tend to be better communicators and problem-solvers. I believe to be an effective leader, you have to truly be part of the team and not someone who simply directs people. I have an incredible team and couldn’t imagine trying to make it without them.

Kaytie Gann

Owner/Designer Hollow Dot

Who are you and what do you do? I am Kaytie Gann, jewelry maker and owner of Hollow Dot. I design, create and curate Hollow Dot’s retail line of jewelry, alongside welding jewelry for our Welded Forever permanent jewelry line.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I have been making jewelry in some capacity for most of my life, starting at a very young age. This, as well as my strong customer service background, has been integral in helping Hollow Dot grow. I have always prioritized people over jewelry, and Hollow Dot would be nothing without all of our amazing customers.

How do you maintain your expertise? Maintaining expertise in the jewelry industry requires constant growth and learning. As styles and trends evolve, it is important that I evolve, too. But it is important that I continue to design and create what resonates with me and not fall into a “trend trap,” which is sometimes easy to do. I am constantly trying new things to see what works and what doesn’t. Not being afraid to think outside of the box or take a risk has helped me grow as a person in this industry.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I am inspired by the women around me, especially in our community. I have so many friends and peers who are women leaders and business owners, in addition to being mothers. I am in awe of their ability to multitask, delegate, and overcome obstacles professionally while maintaining their homes and personal lives.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Recently, my most significant barrier has been maintaining an edge over the vast amounts of local businesses entering the permanent jewelry market. I introduced this unique product nearly three years ago—before most people had ever heard of the concept of permanent jewelry. The success of year two was both invigorating and exhausting. Now, in year three, we are working to continue to create a great product that our customers love, while doubling down on the customer experience.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests?

While learning the art of saying “no” has been a struggle, I have realized how important it is for myself and my business to maintain a positive work/life balance. Prioritizing the people in my life as well as my personal interests helps me get back to who I am at my core. This allows me to feel fulfilled in all aspects of my life, not just in my business.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Anyone in a leadership position—man or woman—must possess empathy, self-awareness, respect, and the willingness to adapt. I believe women, in particular, naturally use this diverse and unique skill set by introducing creative solutions to continue to move forward.

Cindi Barela Graham Owner Law Office of Cynthia Barela Graham, PLLC

Who are you and what do you do? I am Cindi Barela Graham, a Family Law attorney and owner of my business, Law Office of Cynthia Barela Graham, PLLC. I am board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and have been since 2002. Currently, I am Chair of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the Collaborative Divorce Texas Board. I was one of three founding members of the Amarillo Area Women’s Bar Association.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I have been practicing law for more than 33 years. I have represented both men and women in contested and uncontested divorces, custody cases, paternity cases, adoptions and other family law matters. I am also trained in the Collaborative Divorce Process, which helps couples resolve their legal issues without court intervention by working as a team to create a resolution that is customized to their children and family needs and also divides the marital estate in a manner beneficial to both parties.

How do you maintain your expertise? By volunteering in Family Law organizations both locally and statewide, I often know about changes in the law before the change becomes official. This has allowed me to stay current in Texas Family Law. And, because of my involvement with these organizations, I am often asked to write papers and speak to other Family Lawyers on Family Law issues. attend and also speak at continuing legal education courses on Family Law. Additionally, I attend continuing legal education seminars several times a year.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role? My sister, Kathi, taught me, when I was in junior high, that being involved and giving back is fun and rewarding. Certainly too, the many mentors from whom I have been fortunate to learn have taught me the importance of giving back to my profession and my community. I cannot thank my lawyer father and my mother enough for teaching me to use my strong personality to help benefit others.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? While it has greatly improved with younger generations, in the past I have experienced inappropriate comments and actions by male lawyers and some male judges. Luckily, most of those attorneys have passed away and all of those judges have retired.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? A mentor once told me that you can’t solve most legal problems after hours and so I turn my phone off once I get home. When I am at home or doing non-work activities, I focus on what I am doing. When I am at work, I focus on my clients and their cases.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Women often bring different perspectives than men; these different perspectives, when combined with male perspectives, typically lead to better outcomes.

Lora Brown Founder and Owner The Salon by Lora Brown

Who are you and what do you do? I am Lora Brown, founder and owner of The Salon by Lora Brown. I will celebrate 17 years in business in 2023.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I am a Master Stylist, with 38 years’ experience in haircutting, chemical services, salon management and training. In 2021, I launched The Total Stylist, an online e-learning business program, which helps beginning and struggling hairstylists become successful.

How do you maintain your expertise? I maintain my expertise with continuing education through Thrivers Society, an online marketing program for hairstylists. I also lead biweekly education classes, attend hair shows and have hired a business coach who I meet with weekly, in addition to reading numerous business-focused books.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? Watching both of my parents pursue their careers and growing up in my mother’s dry-cleaning business taught me a lot about customer service. I knew that I wanted to own my own business. I enrolled in cosmetology school at Amarillo High School and graduated with my licenses.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Being a hairstylist was not a “career” in my father’s eyes because he was an attorney, but college was never in my plans. In retrospect, I wish I would have listened and earned a business degree. Instead, I received a degree in the school of hard knocks, but failure was not an option. Knowledge is the key to any success in life. Good or bad, it is what you do with that knowledge that keeps you moving forward.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? At the age of 55, I have realized for me there is no life balance. During one of my coaching sessions, my husband and business coach told me that everything I choose to spend time on is my choice, and I would not do it if I did not get something out of it. As much as I wanted to disagree, I really thought about it for several days, and he was right. My clients and coworkers are my friends and my family. I love sharing my God-given gifts, helping others reach their potential, and having a community to call my own. This is my life and I am blessed by all my relationships.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Having women in leadership roles has helped me feel like I am not alone. Our connection in leadership benefits our businesses, because our life experiences give us the ability to see things from a different perspective. They give us compassion and understanding.

THE COMPANY YOU KEEP...

Multiple events kicked off the new year, emphasizing for Elevate members and guests the age-old adage that “You are the company you keep.”

At an event in February, “The Power of Meaningful Connections,” charismatic entrepreneurs spoke to a full room at the Innovation Outpost about relationship building and its effect on partnerships in business and in life. State Farm’s Merritt Vaughn, Egg-mazing’s Curtis McGill, and Patricia Bara with Reed Beverage shared their own leadership journeys and approaches with courage, candor and vulnerability and were met with engagement and appreciation by the group.

Then, at March’s Leadership Lunch, President of Amarillo ISD Board of Trustees Kimberly Anderson met the crowded room with the same level of honesty and bravery regarding her own leadership journey. She shared about her experience leading a school district through the challenges of the pandemic, as well as her approach to political and issue-centered opposition. Kimberly shared that when the stakes are as high as the safety and wellbeing of our children, it is critical to have a strong circle of people to support and challenge you.

This spring, Elevate will celebrate its inaugural cohort of Forward, a 6-week civic engagement and personal development program, as well as welcome Don Powell and Anette Carlisle as speakers at its Leadership Lunches. They welcome all to join their monthly Happy Hour, each third Thursday of the month at Six Car Pub & Brewery, 625 S. Polk St., beginning at 5 p.m.

Elevate Amarillo is a leadership development organization for emerging professionals in the Amarillo area. For more information or to join, visit elevateamarillo.org .

DINER D

iners are great for peoplewatching, but one prominent Amarillo diner offers something else: plane-watching. Located at Tradewind Airport, the down-home menu of Shelby’s Diner is served up each day next to huge windows with runway views. Locals enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner with a side of takeoffs and landings.

The diner, which opened in early 2022, is named for Amarillo legend Shelby Masterson Kritser. This long-time pilot founded the privately owned, public-use Tradewind Airport in 1946. Kritser passed away in 1966.

Shelby’s honors his legacy and satisfies hungry pilots and travelers with an all-American menu. Operated by the Pitman family— proprietors of the beloved Hickory Inn Cafe in Vega—the diner offers a full breakfast menu and daily lunch specials, along with dinner on Thursdays and Fridays. “We basically copied the menu from our restaurant in Vega,” says manager Kenny Pitman. “It’s what we do best.”

The Gulfstream Chicken Fried Steak is definitely the most popular dish at the restaurant, along with a variety of burgers, salads and sandwiches. The breakfast menu, served 7 to 11 a.m., includes staples like omelets, pancakes, biscuits-and-gravy, plus the delicious Kritser Breakfast Sandwich.

Customers also love the homemade pies, which come fresh daily from another legendary Vega restaurant: Mama Jo’s (see p.76).

Pitman says the airport setting means most customers are local—but some are very much not. Tradewind’s central location makes it a prominent refueling stop for cross-country flights. For instance, a group of business travelers from Ohio have made a habit of stopping for lunch at Shelby’s during their regular private flights to and from Los Angeles. “They come here a lot,” Pitman says.

Shelby’s Diner opens from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every weekday but Sunday, and serves dinner from 5:30 to 9 p.m. every Thursday and Friday.

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

80/20 MEAL PREP

Healthy meals to go. Build your own meal using already prepped foods, or choose from a flexible menu of options based on diet needs, whether vegan, trying to manage diabetes, or wanting enough protein to add muscle. Gourmet meals and meal-prep using high-quality, whole food ingredients. 2511 S. Georgia St., 806.282.5434 eightytwentymeals.com $

ASIAN BISTRO

Here’s what we know: A Hey Amarillo guest of Laotian descent identified this spot on the Boulevard, across from Sonic, as her absolute favorite place for Asian food in Amarillo. It serves Lao, Thai and Vietnamese dishes and its pho is among the best in town. 1006 Amarillo Blvd. East, 806.418.6143 $

THE BAGEL PLACE

This beloved breakfast and lunch spot introduced bagels to the Panhandle years ago, and locals have been grateful ever since. Grab a fresh bagel to go and choose from a variety of cream cheese flavors. Or try the oversized homemade sweets. (Look, everything here is delicious.) 3301 Bell St., 806.353.5985, bagelplace.net $

BEEF

BURGER BARREL

Hands-down this is the most unique restaurant design in Amarillo, and this classic walk-up joint has held down the same spot since 1952. You can’t miss it. Because, y’all, it’s a giant white barrel. Not in the mood for beef and/or burgers? Try a fish, ham or grilled cheese sandwich. 3102 Plains Blvd., 806.374.0101 $

BENJAMIN’S DONUTS & BAKERY

Local folks are serious about donuts, and there is definitely a “Benjamin’s donuts or no donuts at all” camp. Benjamin’s is familyowned and -operated, and you won’t find a bad option on the menu—from donuts to the pastries, kolaches, breakfast sandwiches and burritos. 7003 Bell St., 806.353.1100/ 1800 Western St., 806.803.1133 $

BIG JIM’S PIZZA CO.

Formerly La Bella Pizza on Olsen, a locally owned pizza place with a dedicated clientele and a delightfully diverse menu. The pizza is

great, of course—the 24-inch size is one of the biggest available in town—but they also serve burgers, gyros, calzones, subs, ribs, chicken and more. Full dining room and a full bar with live music. 3801 Olsen Blvd., Suite 9, 806.352.5050, ilovebigjimspizza. com $

BUTTERLOVE BISCUITS

Yes, the entire restaurant concept is built around biscuits and isn’t that all you really need to know? Biscuits are the ultimate comfort food and these are heavenly, with savory and sweet options and brunch cocktails in a fun environment—owned by the sweethearts behind Ruffled Cup. 3440 S. Bell, Suite 130, 806.418.8966, butterlove.com $$

CASK & CORK

The rooftop patio in southwest Amarillo offers unparalleled views of Panhandle sunsets. It’s also a great spot for live music and cocktails. And while we love the shareable apps, we’re most impressed by the attentive service here. Every employee seems eager to please. 5461 McKenna Square, Suite 101, 806.410.1113, caskncorkamarillo.com $$

CHARLEE’S CHICKEN

The menu at this new restaurant is built around slow-cooked rotisserie chicken and juicy, hand-breaded fried chicken, plus a few seafood surprises like Sesame Seed Crusted Tuna. The desserts are amazing and the deep wine selection is way too good for a downtown chicken joint. 614 S. Polk St., 806.376.4700, charleeschicken.com $$

CLEAN JUICE AMARILLO

This national chain started with smoothies in 2014. Less than a decade later, it sells healthy sandwiches, wraps, toasts, salads, acai bowls, fresh and cold-pressed juices and more across the U.S.—including Amarillo. The bright and fun environment matches up with the fresh ingredients. 5215 S. Coulter St., Suite 100, 806.803.2108, cleanjuice.com $$

CHEDDAR’S SCRATCH KITCHEN

Look, Cheddar’s is a comfort-food chain with origins in the Dallas area. That makes this I-40 mainstay only sort of local, but it

is always, always busy for a reason. Families love the affordable menu. Seniors love the discounts. Human beings with working tastebuds appreciate the honey-butter croissants. 3901 I-40 West, 806.358.2111, cheddars.com $$

COYOTE BLUFF CAFE

It’s located in a little shack. It’s been featured on national TV shows. It’s one of those places locals love to take visitors. This tiny, iconic burger joint has a big reputation for its green chile burgers, its ribeye steaks, and—if you can handle it—the mouthblazing Burger from Hell. A true Amarillo dive. 2417 S. Grand St., 806.373.4640, coyotebluffcafe.com $

DELVIN’S RESTAURANT & CATERING

After opening in 2015, this North Heights restaurant quickly gained a diverse, dedicated clientele from across the city thanks to its generous portions and madefrom-scratch flavors. (The buttermilk pie is worth a trip by itself.) 1300 N. Hughes St., 806.803.9111, delvinsrestaurant.com $

DOUG’S HICKORY PIT BAR-B-QUE

In Amarillo, nostalgia is spelled D-O-U-G-S. Generations of locals visit this teensy little shack, which developers have just built around at 34th and Georgia. Your friends ate here in high school, regardless of your age. You won’t go wrong with a chopped beef sandwich and a bowl of beans. 3313 S. Georgia St., 806.352.8471 $

THE DRUNKEN OYSTER

The opulent, moody atmosphere of the Drunken Oyster feels like you’ve stepped out of the Panhandle and into the heart of the bayou. The Louisiana-style cuisine never disappoints, from the fresh oysters to the jambalaya and crawfish étouffée. It’s also a great spot for live music. 7606 SW 45th Ave., Suite 100, 806.418.6668, drunkenoysteramarillo.com $$

THE EATERY ON ROUTE 66

Located at the Georgia Street entrance to iconic Sixth Street, this small cafe is just as delicious as it is quirky. We can’t get enough

$ $$ $$$

Most entrees under $10

Most entrees $11 to $20

Most entrees over $21

This is not a comprehensive list of local restaurants. From issue to issue, we will try to include a wide variety of dining options based on the space available. If you notice an error, please email mm@brickandelm.com.

of the 50/50, an enormous beef-and-baconblended meatloaf sandwich. For a lighter option, order the Strawberry Fields Forever salad or a quiche. 2601 SW Sixth Ave., 806.236.2718, eateryonroute66.com $

EL CARBONERO RESTAURANTE Y PUPUSERIA

Amarillo isn’t exclusively a destination for Tex-Mex food. This joint on the Boulevard offers authentic Salvadoran cuisine, including pupusas, plantains, salvadoran sausage, and pan con pollo. If you’re into flavorful grilled meats—or Salvadoran beer like Regia Extra—this is the place. 1702 Amarillo Blvd. East, 806.373.1973, elcarbonerorestaurantamarillo.com $

EL CHARRO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

The prominent I-40 location probably negates the title “hidden gem,” but we suspect a large percentage of Amarillo’s Mexican-food aficionados haven’t visited El Charro. That’s a mistake. The fresh-made salsa is wonderful and the food flavorful and authentic. Travelers and locals alike rave about the friendly service. 4207 I-40 East, 806.373.4555 $

EL PATRON TEX-MEX RESTAURANT

Don’t let the I-40 location fool you: This is a local Tex-Mex place with a friendly hometown attitude. Locals love the full bar, daily lunch specials from 11 to 3, and the amazing salsa verde. Brick & Elm staff tip: Try the stuffed avocado. 3401 I-40 West, 806.418.6934, elpatronrestauranttx.com $

FAVS

FAVs stands for “Fruits and Vegetables,” and that’s precisely the healthy focus of this small family-owned shop. Beyond the smoothies and fruit bowls, FAVs serves salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups and fresh pressed juice. 706 SW 16th Ave., 806.803.9171/ 3333 Coulter St., D4, 806.318.2243, favsworld.com $

FURRBIE’S

The owners at Furrbie’s are quirky and fun, the burgers are delicious, and the desserts are definitely worth the extra calories. But the best thing about this downtown lunch stop is the fact that they’ve figured out how to replicate Char-Kel’s cheese fritters from the 1980s and ’90s. YES. 210 SW Sixth Ave., 806.220.0841 $

2023 SECURE YOUR ID DAY

A free way to get rid of your unwanted paper!

Saturday, May 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 3501 Soncy Road in the Med Center parking lot Drive-thru: Use south entrance.

For more than 100 years, BBB has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. BBB Amarillo serves the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle— approximately 400,000 consumers and 30,000 businesses. Founded in 1939, it is one of more than 100 local, independent BBBs across North America.

Learn more at bbb.org

600 S. TYLER ST., SUITE 1300

806.379.6222

GLORIA’S OYSTER BAR

One of the original Mexican seafood places in Amarillo, Gloria’s is known for its soups, oysters and traditional Mexican dishes like chile rellenos. In a city filled with quality Mexican food, Gloria’s stands out as unique. And the capirotada (Mexcian bread pudding) is incredible. 1300 S. Grand St., 806.373.2722 $

GOLDEN WAFFLE COMPANY

One of the proprietors of this womenowned business also owns the Golden Light, so its local heritage is already strong. This strip-mall spot features sweet and savory waffles with toppings. Its weekend brunch is extremely popular, along with its creative mimosas and micheladas. 6017 Hillside Road, Suite 250, 806.367.8141, goldenwafflecompany.com $

GRANDMA’S COCINA

Just like Abuela’s house, the full menu is available all day long at this little spot on 45th. New owners took over in early 2021, but the quality continues. Locals swear by the breakfast burritos as well as the fresh-cut fries and burgers and Tex-Mex favorites like asada and chili verde plates. 3609 SW 45th Ave., 806.398.9999 $

HAPPY BURRITO

A good burrito always makes people happy, and this small dine-in and takeout restaurant on the Boulevard does it right. Almost everything on the menu is less than $5, and loyal customers tend to order online and pick it up. Interestingly, we hear a lot about the burgers here. 908 Amarillo Blvd. East, Suite B, 806.379.8226 $

HOOK

& REEL

This Cajun/Creole seafood franchise offers mix-and-match seafood boils, allowing customers to pair a favorite catch (think crab legs, lobster tail or crawfish) with their favorite sauces, spices and add-ons. The breaded-and-fried baskets are also made to please, including fresh flounder, catfish, oysters and more. 5807 SW 45th Ave., Suite 205, 806.803.3133, hookreel.com $$

HOUSE OF DONUTS

Amarillo loves its donuts, and this little indie stop on North Grand has a faithful following, served fresh by an always-friendly team. Moms and dads will love the colorful gourmet options kids go crazy for, as well as more grown-up treats like kolaches, breakfast

sandwiches and breakfast burritos. 1615 N. Grand St., 806.803.0845 $

HUMMERS SPORTS CAFE

Hummers is an Amarillo landmark dating back to the early 1980s, before sports bars were all the rage. This institution and its environs on Paramount have evolved since then, but the burgers are still fresh and delicious, the beer is still ice-cold and the good times are still really good. Our tip? Order the steak bites. 2600 Paramount Blvd., Suite B2, 806.353.0723, hummerssportscafe.com $$

INDIAN OVEN

Tikka bite at this long-standing Indian restaurant, where everything—from the homemade naan to each item in the lunch buffet—is worth a try. The samosas are crispy and the chicken vindaloo tangy. A number of meals are offered as vegan options. 2406 Paramount Blvd., 806.335.3600, indian-oven.com $$

JOE TACO

This Amarillo stand-by has a solid reputation for fast service and great Tex-Mex, with two Amarillo locations and one in Canyon. The bar and outdoor patio at the Wallace location, near the hospitals, are always hopping with live music on weekends. 7312 Wallace Blvd., 331.8226/600 S. Buchanan St., 806.350.8226, joetaco.net $$

K-N ROOT BEER DRIVE-IN

This legendary, traditional drive-in opened in 1968. And while it recently lost its iconic covered parking in a windstorm, the wonderful burgers, shakes and floats are still around. And the root beer is served in a frosty cold mug! As the sign used to say, it’s “truly a bargain at today’s prices.” 3900 Olsen Blvd., 806.355.4391, knrootbeer.com $

LA PASADITA

You don’t really expect to find this little, walkup restaurant in the middle of a residential area, but just get in line and go for it (the line moves quick). The menu is limited but the Chihuahua-style food is fresh, traditional, and fast. Takeout only. Try a breakfast burrito, menudo, barbacoa or chile rellenos. 2730 NE 16th Ave., 806.381.2309 $

MAC JOE’S KITCHEN & CELLAR

Always a popular date-night choice, Mac Joe’s is an Amarillo institution known for elegant ambiance and attentive service.

The menu relies on Italian dishes but also offers fantastic steaks—with one of the best wine lists in all of the Texas Panhandle. 1619 S. Kentucky St., Suite D1500, 806.358.8990, macaronijoes.com $$-$$$

MITCH’S TEXAS STYLE BBQ

You may have seen Mitch’s big black BBQ trailer at local events, but the brick-andmortar Mitch’s—located inside Toot ‘n Totum complexes—serves up food way better than anyone expects of “barbecue from a convenience store.” The portions are huge. We love the Meme’s fried pies. Traveling? You can also find Mitch’s in Plainview and Clayton, New Mexico. 8507 I-40 East, 806.220.0978, mitchstxbbq.com $$

MY THAI

One of the original Thai food restaurants in a city famous for them. My Thai has been family-owned since 1986 and is absolutely a local favorite. In fact, My Thai is probably the standard for comparing the quality of the rest of the city’s Thai restaurants. Lunch specials daily. 2029 Coulter St., 806.355.9541, mythaiamarillo.com $

NAPOLI’S FINE ITALIAN RESTAURANT

This downtown favorite offers live music, a full bar and a spacious private patio with views of one of the 2021 Hoodoo murals. Expect to become addicted to the housebaked bread knots, and to find something you love on the traditional Italian menu. The calzones are huge and worth sharing. 700 S. Taylor St., 806.220.2588, napolisofamarillo.com $$

OHMS CAFE & BAR

The Fuller family has operated this eatery for more than 30 years, and it consistently offers Amarillo’s best fine dining. We love the bar area and outdoor patio, as well as its buffet-style lunch and weekly chef specials from Chef Josh Fuller. Pro tip: The Bar Burger is the best burger in town. 619 S. Tyler St., 806.373.3233, ohmscafe.com $$-$$$

PANCHO VILLA RESTAURANT

Amarillo’s other restaurant with “Villa” in the name, this small place in River Road has exactly as much legacy and character as the faux-wood paneling suggests. Locals rave about the chips and salsa, along with the authentic barbacoa, enchiladas, menudo and low prices. 4601 River Road, 806.381.0105 $

PONDASETA BREWING CO.

Already popular for its craft beer, a new mobile trailer enables the brewery to serve a food truck-style menu. The focus is pub-style food like burgers, sandwiches and mac-andcheese bites. Kids meals are available. The adults will want the charcuterie adventure board, with hummus, cheese, meat and crackers. 7500 SW 45th Ave., 806.418.6282, pondaseta.com $$

RED RIVER STEAKHOUSE

It’s not hard to find a decent steak in the Panhandle, so when a local steakhouse earns a reputation for its hand-cut steaks, you pay attention. The Amarillo version of the owner’s original Red River Steakhouse in McLean, this old-fashioned establishment may be one of the area’s best-kept secrets. 4332 SW 45th Ave., 806.367.9732, redriversteakhouse.net $$

ROLL-EM-UP TAQUITOS

Newly opened on 45th across from United, this SoCal chain advertises itself as “the only taquito-focused franchise in the world.” If that doesn’t draw you in, the variety will. Choose among a half-dozen taquito ingredients (shredded beef, marinated chicken, avocado, etc.), then pair the crispy rolls with fresh toppings, dipping sauces, and sides. 5900 SW 45th Ave., 806.803.2925, rollemup.com $

SHARK BEACH BURGERS

The FM 1151 location south of town isn’t particularly convenient for Amarillo residents. But this takeout-only shack is worth the bite. The big cheeseburgers are amazing, as is the busted-egg sandwich. (For a side, get the cheese curds.) Then grab a cherry-lime or Mexican Coke and enjoy it on the nice, sunny patio. 1505 E. FM 1151, 806.335.5644 $

SHELBY’S DINER

Never had a reason to go out to Tradewinds Airport? Now you do. This fun, home-cooking menu comes with runway views of privateplane takeoffs and landings. Locals love the breakfast options—served from 6:30 a.m. until 11—as well as the burgers on the lunch menu. Open for dinner on Thursdays and Fridays. 4105 Tradewind St, 806.699.1008, shelbysdineramamarillo.com $

SINALOA HOT DOGS AND MEXICAN FOOD

If you’ve never had a Mexican hot dog, then stop reading and head over to the Boulevard

right now. This is a small place but the flavor is huge. We also love the fire-grilled chicken, tacos, tortas, carne asada, quesadillas, burritos, and mulitas. But that hot dog! (You’ll need napkins.) 2618 Amarillo Blvd. East, 806.367.8935 $

SIX CAR PUB & BREWERY

One of the best things to hit downtown since the Sod Poodles, this Polk Street restaurant is known for its craft beers, amazing outdoor patio and rooftop, and its trendy vibe. The Nashville chicken sandwich is one of the best in the city. Like IPAs? Make Good Choices. 625 S. Polk St., 806.576.3396, sixcarpub.com $$

SUNDAY’S KITCHEN

Everyone loves Chef Ron, but they especially love his West Texas twist on Gulf Coast and Cajun cuisine. This downtown dive is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday, and lunch only on Saturdays—and don’t miss the Sunday brunch. Try the Pit Master Mac & Cheese. 112 SW Sixth Ave., 806.418.6477 $$

TEDDY JACK’S ARMADILLO GRILL

With a vast, no-frills menu, this regional restaurant concept was created by former NFL safety and Texas Tech standout Curtis Jordan, who turned to the food biz after retiring in the 1980s. The outdoor area is great and so is the brick-oven pizza. A fun place to watch the big game. 5080 S. Coulter St., 806.322.0113, teddyjacks.com $$

TOOM’S RESTAURANT

Experts know that a lot of “Thai” food actually has origins in Laos, and that fusion is on display at Toom’s, one of our favorite spots on the northeast side. The family owners are super friendly, the space is incredibly clean, and the authentic flavors pop. Get the sticky rice and beef jerky. 3416 NE 24th Ave., 806.381.2568 $

TYLER’S BARBEQUE

Amarillo has no shortage of authentic Texas barbecue, but Tyler’s always seems to be residents’ first choice. Maybe it’s because he’s got a reputation all over the Lone Star State. Or maybe it’s secretly because of the

Frito pie and green chile stew. Plan ahead: Most menu items sell out. 3301 Olsen Blvd., 806.331.2271, tylersbarbeque.com $$

WESLEY’S BEAN POT & BBQ

River Road restaurants aren’t always on the radar of every local resident, but Wesley’s has been around forever and deserves its legendary reputation. Loyal customers return again and again for the genuine Texas-style barbecue, especially the baby-back ribs, brisket and—yep—the beans. 6406 River Road, 806.381.2893 $

YCSF CRAFT

It started as a “food truck without wheels” and now this street food experiment is one of the city’s favorite restaurants, and one of the only vegan/vegetarian places in town. Definitely try the animal fries and diablo shrimp tacos. The burgers, craft beer and wine list are all wonderful. 2916 Wolflin Ave., 806.353.9273, yellowcitystreetfood.com $

YOUNGBLOOD’S CAFE

An Amarillo classic, where you can grab a

hearty breakfast starting every day at 6 a.m. or wait a few hours to try its illustrious chicken-fried steaks. Our favorite thing at Youngblood’s? It’s gotta be the free banana pudding for dessert (while supplies last). 620 SW 16th Ave., 806.342.9411, youngbloodscafe.com $$

X– STEAKHOUSE

The name is a play on cattle brands—say “X-Bar”—and this Town Square steakhouse definitely knows beef. It’s locally owned, has a full bar, and the prices are extremely reasonable for such a swanky atmosphere. We hear great things about the weekend brunch, too. 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1311, 806.322.4227, xbarsteakhouse.com $$-$$$

CANYON BUFF’S

This small, locally owned spot advertises itself as an “old-school diner with a new school touch.” That’s a great description.

The college crowd and Canyon families love the homestyle comfort food, including burgers, sandwiches, and daily specials. Try the breakfast burritos. 2201 Fourth Ave., 806.655.2833, buffscanyon.com $

CANYON STEAK COMPANY

Classic steakhouse fare in what was once home to Imperial Taproom. Locals love the daily promotions and specials at this family-friendly sports bar, as well as its reasonable pricing. There’s a full bar and lots of TVs, which makes this an excellent place to watch the game. 410 15th St., #100, 806.452.7269, canyonsteakcompany.com $$

HONEY BUZZ WINERY

The honey is made onsite from Creek House’s hard-working bees, and those fresh, sweet flavors find their way into homemade items from cheese boards to salads, sandwiches and baked goods. Check social media for daily specials, and definitely try the impeccably brewed mead. 5005 Fourth Ave., 806.381.3446, honeybuzzwinery.com $

HUDSPETH HOUSE COFFEE HOUSE

Georgia O’Keeffe once lived in this historic boarding house, and the newly opened coffee house has become a beloved weekday spot for light breakfast items, quiche, baked goods, sandwiches and soup, and even afternoon tea. The scones are almost as amazing as the history here. 1905 Fourth Ave., 806.655.9800, hudspethhouse.com $

RANCH HOUSE CAFE

Every bit what you’d expect from a smalltown, home-cooking restaurant. This is comfort food at its best, with all-day breakfast, chicken-fry and steaks, Tex-Mex specialties and desserts made-from-scratch. You didn’t hear it from us, but whole pies are available to order.

810 23rd St., 806.655.8785, theranchhousecafe.com $

SAYAKOMARN’S RESTAURANT

This traditional Thai and Laotian place is extremely popular with locals, who mostly have given up trying to pronounce the name and instead call it “Soccer Moms.” (It’s … close.) We love the pretty dining area and separate to-go pickup entrance. We also love the Boba tea. 421 16th St., 806.655.2698, sayakomarns.com $$

PHOTOS BY RALPH DUKE

FOOD TRUCKS

AMERICAN

DA SPOT 2.0

Stuffed turkey legs. Comfort food like macand-cheese, jalapeno cornbread dressing and greens.

1102 Amarillo Blvd. West, 806.678.9333, facebook. com/DaSpot2.0

DILLOS BURGER BUS

A food truck and dinein restaurant combo, featuring craft burgers, a kid’s menu and more.

806.679.7748

GIBBY’S FOOD

Serves breakfast and lunch, with occasional dinners. Breakfast burritos, burgers, TexMex items, sandwiches and more.

806.599.0758, facebook. com/gibbysfood

KOUNTRY BOYZ

CATFISH N MORE

Burgers, catfish, sandwiches and more.

806.464.2304, facebook.com/

kountryboyzfoodtruck

O’SHAY’S

American food favorites fill the menu: burgers, hot dogs, hot sandwiches, mac-andcheese and more.

806.206.9162

TANK’S BURGERS

Classic handmade burgers and more.

6701 S. Washington; other locations, facebook.com/ tanksfoodtruck

YOLI’S KITCHEN

Burritos, breakfast, sandwiches and more.

806.420.3135

YOLOS

Breakfast and classic American comfort

food offerings. 806.626.9813, facebook. com/yolosfood, yolosfoodtruck.com

YUM IN A BUN

Handheld comfort food. 806.420.1969, facebook. com/yuminabun

ASIAN

EURO THAI 22

Thai favorites like pad kee mao, fried rice, pad thai, thai tea and more.

4505 S. Georgia St., 806.335.5314

HIBACHI KINGDOM

Traditional hibachi dishes. 501 SE 10th Ave., 806.316.1487

HOOD EATS

Bao buns, sushi, chicken satay, sticky rice with beef jerky and more Asian favorites abound. 806.599.3603, Facebook.com/HoodEats

ROTOR CITY

CHICKEN AND RICE

Indian and Asian entrees with a smattering of wraps, tacos and daily specials.

806.502.9742

SUSHI BOMB

Fried rice, noodle dishes, and sushi rolls fill the menu. This truck is cash only.

806.220.6493, facebook. com/itstheBom

YUM YUM HIBACHI

Hibachi-style entrees, fried rice and more.

806.324.3405

BARBECUE

BBQ REVIVAL

713.304.5470, bbqrevival.com, facebook.com/BBQ-

Revival

ELEMENT CRAFT BARBEQUE

806.420.1093,

facebook.com/ elementcraftbarbeque

JONES GRILL & TREATS

811 N. Hughes St. NINE LINE BBQ

806.340.9530, ninelinebbq.com

POP SMOKE BBQ

806.676.9912, facebook. com/POPSsmokeBBQLLC

ROCKIN J BARBEQUE

806.726.5081, facebook. com/rockinjbarbeque

COFFEE

CADDY SHACK COFFEE STOP

Specialty coffee, tea, Italian cream soda, baked goods and more. 806.641.0823, facebook.com/ caddyshackcoffeestop

REVIVIFY COFFEE

Proceeds benefit Life Challenge of Amarillo. Specialty coffee drinks, smoothies, waffles and more. 806.352.0385, lifechallengeofamarillo. com, facebook.com/ revivifycoffee

MEXICAN

2 HERMANOS TACOS

Tacos, quesabirrias, tortas, huaraches, mulitas, chilanga fries.

1205 SE 10th Ave., 806.443.3489, facebook. com/2Hermanostacos

BIRRIA Y TACOS

EL REY

Tacos, quesbirrias, burritos, tortas and more.

707 Amarillo Blvd. East, 806.220.3467

BURRITO BARN

Breakfast burritos, boxed meals, tacos and more. 806.690.2746, facebook. com/burritobarn806

COCINA ON THE GO

Tacos, quesadillas, nachos, asada fries and more. 806.651.9313, facebook. com/concina-on-the-go

DON TOÑOS

BARRIO FOOD

Birria tacos, sope, asada fries and much more.

2319 N. Grand St., 806.220.5004, facebook. com/dontonobarrio

EL DORADO BURRITOS

Burritos, tacos, burgers and more.

1501 N. Mirror St., 806.939.8932, facebook. com/people/el-doradoburritos

EL TACO LOCO

Tacos, tortas, burritos and quesadillas. 806.420.0147, facebook. com/ETLTaqueria

LA COMARCA LAGUNERA

Specializes in Lagunera style gorditas made with maiz or harina flour.

2509 Amarillo Blvd. East, 806.680.9726, facebook. com/lacomarca806

LOS ABUELITOS DE VERACRUZ

Tacos, gorditas, tamales, burritos and much more. 1300 23rd St., Canyon, 806.203.0255

OL’ FOLGIES

Breakfast burritos, Mexican burgers and more. Outside seating. 3901 I-40 East, 806.672.8101, facebook. com/olfolgies

PANCHOS BURGUERS

Tacos, burritos, nachos, hamburguesas and more. 806.382.6499, facebook. com/zuleima2020

TACO GUAPO

A variety of tacos with quesadillas, burritos,

churros and more. 806.696.8226, facebook. com/tacoguapoamarillo

TACOS

GUADALAJARA

Mexican street tacos. 818 Martin Road, 806.646.0901, facebook. com/tacosgdl17

TACOS KALIFAS

L.A.-style street tacos and more.

1602 S. Grand St., 806.410.7216, facebook. com/tacoskalifas323

SNACKS

CORN EXPRESS

Corn-in-a-cup, roasted corn, snow cones, lemonade and fruit cups. 812 Amarillo Blvd. East, 806.373.1900, facebook. com/thecornexpress

PORCH SWING

KETTLE KORN

Flavored kettle korn, desserts, pananis, soup and sandwiches. 5202 River Road, 806.373.3737

SODA JERKS BEVERAGE CO.

“Next-level” sodas with syrups. fruit purees, juice, cokes and flavored sodas. With a build-your-own option, the combinations are limitless. facebook.com/ sodajerksamarillo.com

CHEESECAKE HSTL

Choose-your-owntoppings cheesecake. cheesecakehstl.com

COW (CREAM OVER WAFFLES)

Homemade ice cream and Liege waffles. Menu changes daily. facebook.com/ creamoverwaffles

NURSES

Since the pandemic, it seems like the news cycle has rotated between stories about the heroism and dedication of nurses and stories about nursing shortages. Either way, people are talking about nursing, as a profession, more than ever before—and that’s a good thing. To honor this trusted profession, the following pages highlight some of the nurses and nursing educators doing amazing work in this community, from the classroom to the ICU to the skies above.

BRETT OWENS

Patti Thompson Chief Nursing Officer Northwest Texas Healthcare System

What is your nursing specialty and how long have you been a nurse? My clinical background is adult critical care, specifically trauma and surgical ICU. I have many years of nursing experience, graduating from nursing school in the 1980s.

What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine? I wanted to have a career where you feel you can make a difference and help people in a vulnerable time. Being ill in a hospital impacts a patient and their family members. Most individuals begin their life in a hospital and could ultimately come to the end of their life in a hospital. As a nurse, you help guide patients and families through both happy and sad, lifechanging events.

What do you feel is the greatest skill you bring to your career? I thrive when I get to mentor and build strong nursing leaders and teams. I love working alongside strong nurses who truly care about their patients, each other, and our community.

What is most rewarding about your particular field? Being a nurse is a very rewarding career. As nurses, we perform meaningful work every single day. Every day is different and unique. There is never a boring day in the life of a nurse, regardless of where you work. You are constantly learning because nursing is such an evolving field. Being a nurse executive, I work with a senior leadership team who have been very supportive of a strategic nursing plan, allowing the leadership team to make changes within our hospital to help improve nurse retention, patient safety and improve the overall patient experience.

What is the biggest challenge you face every day? Having the capacity to meet the needs and demands of the Texas Panhandle. Northwest Texas Healthcare System supports many hospitals in the region, covering 26,000 square miles in our 26 counties and neighboring states.

What is something most of your patients might not realize about nursing? Nursing has been challenging as consumer expectations have never been higher (and rightfully so!). It is no different for us, as in many other hospitals in the United States, who experience nursing shortages. Nursing turnover in many hospitals exceeds 30 percent. At NWTHS, we have been fortunate to have a nursing turnover of less than 20 percent. The work environment for nurses can be demanding, both physically and emotionally.

What advice would you give to a new or aspiring nurse? Nursing is considered a noble and highly trusted profession. There are so many different types of nursing jobs: hospital bedside care, administration, home health, public health, school nursing, adjunct faculty teaching, flight nursing, nursing anesthesia—the list goes on and on. You will be overwhelmed at times but will have the ability to contribute to teams that care for patients, no matter what type of nursing you choose. Go for it!

Rico Aviation

In more than 25 years of operations, Rico Aviation has transported thousands of patients across the United States, serving as a 24-hour, intensive care air ambulance for passengers needing fixed-wing aeromedical transport. Good piloting is critical for any flight, but the heart of Rico’s service is its nursing staff.

Jenny Smith has been a critical care flight RN for 13 years, having made a career change after seeing nurses save the day in a highstress situation. “My sister went into preterm labor and my niece, Payton Grayce, spent the first 117 days of her life as a micro-preemie in the NICU,” she says. “The compassion and impeccably diligent care she and my sister received from the nurses every day saved their lives. I changed my profession at 30 and went back to college for a nursing degree, so I could make a positive difference to someone’s family just like those NICU nurses did.”

A family connection also led Brittany Harris into the field. She grew up with a brother who had cystic fibrosis, a progressive, genetic disease that requires regular treatment. “Hospitals were my homeaway-from-home when I was kid,” she says. “I watched nurses take away pain from [my brother] emotionally and physically. I wanted to do the same.”

An RN since 2018, she describes nursing as one of life’s most rewarding professions because it gives her the opportunity to help people during some of their most vulnerable and unexpected moments. “You never know what’s going to happen next,” Harris says. Her patients make her a better person, she adds. “They fill me with humility and gratitude, and I want to give back.”

Former first responder Matt Jolliff has been a paramedic for 12 years and a nurse for three years, currently serving as a flight nurse for Rico Aviation. “I took an EMT course while becoming a firefighter and realized I enjoyed learning about the medical side,” he says.

While nurses in some settings can get pulled in multiple directions, Jolliff says he appreciates the aeromedical setting, which allows him to give patients his undivided attention during flights. “At Rico, we provide advanced critical care and get our patients to the facility they need. Since we only have one patient at a time, we are able to provide the highest quality and compassionate care,” he says.

Jolliff points out that there are a lot of careers that may be easier than nursing, but few are as rewarding. “I love knowing I helped someone when they needed it,” he says. “To be a good nurse means to never stop learning. We are constantly training and continuing our education to provide the latest evidence-based medicine.”

Jenny Smith agrees. “We take care of people on the worst day of their lives. Every patient deserves our best, every time,” she says.

JENNY SMITH

Debby Hall, PhD, RN, CMSRN, CNE Professor of Nursing Amarillo College

What is your nursing specialty and how long have you been a nurse? I graduated with my Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) in 1989. During my career I have specialized in two areas: acute care medical surgical nursing for 20 years, and nursing education for 15 years.

What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine? I always dreamed of being a nurse, but “life happened” and it became a forgotten dream until I was cared for by a nursing student during the birth of my first child. That student inspired me to follow my dream.

What do you feel is the greatest skill you bring to your career? As a medical surgical nurse, I strive to find a higher level of care for our patients whose condition was deteriorating before they coded. (For instance, I got them a bed in ICU before they needed CPR). As a nurse educator, my greatest skill is professional advocacy. I love nursing and I share that love and excitement with everyone I meet.

What is most rewarding about your particular field? As a nurse educator, I love seeing new nurses at work in our area health care facilities.

What is the biggest challenge you face every day?

A big challenge I face every day is clear and effective communication. For a variety of reasons, all of us have experienced moments when the message we are trying to send is not received as intended.

What is something most of your patients might not realize about nursing? Nurses carry a heavy emotional burden, which hides behind what we call “nurse face.” It is a burden that becomes heavier with increasing levels of care and patient acuity. For example, a nurse may be part of the team trying to resuscitate a patient for 30 minutes—which can be incredibly stressful—but then needs to hide those emotions before moving on to the next patient.

What advice would you give to a new or aspiring nurse?

Sometimes individuals who are new to nursing may find it difficult to keep up with the challenges associated with nursing work. Personal stress management that includes frequent selfreflection may help lighten emotional burdens, build resilience, and prevent burnout.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has been a community partner in health care in Amarillo for 50 years. The expansion of the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in 2022 added a physical presence for the School of Nursing on the Amarillo campus. This May, the inaugural cohort of students will graduate. Three of these nurses—Daniela Arreguin, Taylor Keith and Raynie Spaniel—will stay in Amarillo to provide expert care to the people of the Panhandle.

What inspired you to pursue a degree in nursing? Our passion for serving others is definitely the driving force that has led us to pursue degrees in nursing. We want to provide comfort, be a light in someone’s day, bring awareness to women’s health concerns, and give excellent care.

What do you feel is the greatest skill you bring to your career? We believe that compassion is the greatest skill we bring to the career of nursing. We know how fragile life is and how we should be grateful for each day and each breath we’re granted. Providing compassionate care allows every patient to know you are trying your best to understand what they are feeling. This makes it clear you want the best outcome for them.

What is most rewarding about your field? Being members of the inaugural traditional BSN cohort in Amarillo has been one of the greatest honors of our lives. But on a daily basis, seeing patients get better and go home is always the best feeling.

What is something most of your patients might not realize about nursing? One thing most patients might not realize about being a nurse is how long we have dreamed of meeting those patients. We may not have known them as individuals, but we dreamt about them in nursing school when we should have been making care plans and studying for the countless tests we had to take. We imagined what they would be like. We wondered if we would make a difference in their lives. There are some not-pretty parts about nursing, but there’s really no place we’d rather be than caring for the people who need it most.

For 2022, TTUHSC School of Nursing was named the best nursing school in Texas and the Southwest region by Nursing Schools Almanac. The school also ranked No. 10 nationally among public nursing schools and No. 18 among all nursing schools in the U.S.

Laura Wagner, MSN, RN Instructor-Department of Nursing West Texas A&M University

What is your nursing specialty and how long have you been a nurse? I have been a nurse for 5 ½ amazing years, mainly in Critical Care (Surgical ICU), with experience in Primary Care.

What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine? My parents both have careers in the medical field, so early on I found a fascination with hospitals and health care. My faith also guides me to serve others with compassion and dignity, which are fundamental for working in health care.

What do you feel is the greatest skill you bring to your career? Integrity is a primary characteristic that daily guides my actions. Whether I am on campus, in the community facilities for clinical, or at the grocery store on my days off, I aim to live with integrity in all I do. Integrity, to me, is working with excellence, treating others with kindness/respect, and being honest in all situations—especially when no one is there to witness.

What is most rewarding about your particular field? As an educator, witnessing and sharing in some of students’ most personal moments is a privilege, whether it is the celebration of a student having a breakthrough or sitting with a student as they experience disappointment. And nurses of all kinds get a front-row seat to some of life’s most tender moments. This could be a moment of joy, like a patient showing unexpected improvement, or the unforgettable times when a patient passes from this life to the next. Being a witness to these milestones of life and death is such an honor.

What is the biggest challenge you face every day? Time. Even when it is managed well, there never seems to be enough to dive deeper into content with students or let it marinate for quality. Nursing involves an ever-increasing amount of information, and if time could slow down, we could have more quality to share our knowledge, experience, and time with others.

What is something most of your patients might not realize about nursing? How much the “systems” within health care affect the process, timing, cost, and availability of interventions and resources. When health care providers are rushed, there is often a breakdown in communicating these systems to patients.

What advice would you give to a new or aspiring nurse? Nursing is a team sport that, when every teammate is giving their best effort, can be the most rewarding experience for all those involved. It requires a person to go beyond him/herself and extend compassion to others. It requires perseverance, passion, and purpose, but is completely worthwhile.

Pampa, Texas Population 16,474

On U.S. Highway 60, 55 miles northeast of Amarillo

BY KAREN WELCH, PANHANDLE PBS

Where in the 806 can you time travel back to 1916, scramble

All can be done in Pampa, Texas.

The story of the settlement of a large swath of the Texas Panhandle lies at the White Deer Land Museum at 112 S. Cuyler St. The museum’s 1916 main building served as the last headquarters of White Deer Land Co., a London-financed and Wall Street-based trust that owned 631,000 acres in Gray, Roberts, Carson and Hutchinson counties—equal to the size of the state of Rhode Island.

The White Deer firm formed in the 1870s-80s during widespread British speculation into Texas cattle and ranching. The original vault, land deeds, furniture and other items are on display. The museum also contains scenes and artifacts of life in Gray County through the years, an art exhibition gallery and a wing sharing the story of the 1870s Red River War between the U.S. Army and indigenous tribes.

You’ll know Freedom Museum USA before you ever step foot inside. Military rolling stock and aircraft occupy the grounds of the building at 600 N. Hobart St. The Pelican Sikorsky HH-3F Coast Guard began its service as a test helicopter for environmental cleanup—oil spill dredging—and continued a long life in the guard.

Among the other craft is a Mitchell B-25 D Medium Bomber on

loan from the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia. It’s the type that would have been used in pilot training when the old Pampa Army Airfield operated during World War II. Inside the museum, you’ll find a large array of artifacts and memorabilia from most every war, with a lot of it coming from locals who served and their families.

On most Friday evenings, you can catch a weekly jam session with area musicians at the Woody Guthrie Folk Music Center. There’s also the occasional concert by a touring band.

Displays in the center tell the story of Guthrie, the singersongwriter behind classics like “This Land is Your Land.” The iconic American folk singer arrived in Pampa in his late teens, started playing guitar there, and worked at the Harris Drug Store, which now houses the center. His experiences in Pampa inspired lyrics to some of his well-known songs.

Check out Panhandle PBS — panhandlePBS.org /where-in-the-806 and the station’s social media—for video tours of these museums and other highlights from Pampa.

PHOTOS BY PANHANDLE PBS

into a Coast Guard helicopter and jam to the vibe of a Dust Bowl troubadour?

The White Deer Land Co. operated from 1886 to 1957. The office built for the company in 1916 now houses the White Deer Land Museum, which focuses on the firm, as well Gray County history. Notice the black-and-white photos on display. They show the office and furniture in use in those early days.

B&E Recommends

Brick & Elm offers these insider tips to make the most of your visit to Pampa. Fuel up and grab snacks for the road at an Amarillo Pak-a-Sak before your adventure!

EAT HERE:

Coney Island Cafe (114 W. Foster) is a classic oldtime diner known for its from-scratch meals and homemade chili. Grab a chili dog and enjoy the midcentury charm.

Finley’s Fountain (114 N. Cuyler) is a bakery and American diner serving old-fashioned burgers, shakes and malts, and classic breakfasts. Try the cherry limeades.

Mejia’s Bakery (315 W. Foster) is home to amazing pastries and churros at truly affordable prices. The Mexican eatery serves authentic Mexican favorites plus La Michoacaña ice cream.

STAY HERE:

Hampton Inn Pampa (2820 Perryton Pkwy.) is a standard 3-star hotel located near the Walmart Supercenter.

Holiday Inn Express (3119 Perryton Pkwy ) offers another familiar hotel chain option, just a short step down Highway 70.

Urban Hidden Acres RV Park (1708 W. Kentucky) is on the quiet west side of town, with 25 fullservice hookups.

PLAY HERE:

Pampa H20 Aquatic Center (1400 N. Sumner St ) is an inexpensive aquatic facility for the whole family, with children’s areas, diving boards, thrilling slides and more.

FUEL HERE:

Pak-a-Sak (1701 N. Hobart) is located right down the street from the Aquatic Center. Get gas and snacks before heading home.

PRESENTED BY

Military aircraft and rolling stock can be seen up close at Pampa’s Freedom Museum USA.

The stage at the Woody Guthrie Folk Music Center awaits its next performer.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FREEDOM MUSEUM USA

BRANDON BELFLOWER

Photography is my life,” says Brandon Belflower, who was first drawn to photography in 2019 when taking classes at Amarillo College. He’s captivated by the power photography holds to capture a moment of time. “Every time my shutter closes, a fragment of time, with all of its immense possibilities, is sealed within a photograph.”

He dreams of being able to travel the world, capturing and preserving the beauty in these fleeting moments. For now, though, photography remains a side hustle. Belflower is the general manager at the popular Crumbl Cookies location in Amarillo. He shares his photography with the world through his Instagram feed and online.

Some of his most unique work is represented in a series he calls “Diagonal Art,” which crops familiar scenes in the shape of a

diamond. “My perspective on life, while capturing time, isn’t always in a rectangle shape,” he says. He found himself regularly tilting his camera to get a certain perspective on a scene or object, and wanted to try to force that off-kilter perspective on the viewer by restricting the image within diagonal framing.

See more of his work at belflowerart.com and on Instagram @belflower_art

The City’s BEST Local Information Source

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This is a FREE program with valuable marketing elements that puts your charity in front of a captive audience at Hodgetown.

Spots are still available this season! Learn more and sign up at milb.com/amarillo/forms/charity-spotlight

Presented by

Iwant to take a road trip like it’s 1975. Start off at the Conoco fillin’ station for a map (free with fill-up), pack some sardines, shoestring potatoes and RC Cola and drive until everyone in the family has the urge to vomit and cry.

When I’m so tired I can’t see up from down, I want to find a decent motel with a swimming pool for the young’uns and a coffee shop that opens at 5 a.m. so I can get up in the dark, destroy everyone’s sleep with nose blowing and whatnot and then walk across the parking lot for a sweet roll and black coffee served by a waitress who calls me hon.

I figure I can go pretty deep into this charade with the sardines and maybe an old paper map, but the scarcity of motels—real motor hotels—would cause me to break character and initiate a Google search on my iPhone to find what I need.

Motels were once the kings of the road, but somewhere along the way the word motel was excised from our road trip lexicon as America’s lodging companies decided it was too low-brow. Our “upgrade” was a fake-stucco, multistory box sealed off from the outside world. Instead of driving up to the door of our room, we now schlep all our stuff in totes across a parking lot. Then everybody gets squashed into an elevator that most often is terrifyingly slow and jerky. Next morning, we serve our own lukewarm breakfast on styrofoam plates waiting behind people who haven’t combed their hair or changed out of their pajamas.

But travel with me, if you will, to Amarillo’s old Northeast Eighth—Route 66—during a time when stopping for the night was the best part of a trip. Under the glow of humming neon signs at the Plainsman, the Vic Mon or the Chalet, travelers could rest up for the next day’s drive, in comfort and style. Along Route 66, the motor hotel reached the apex of indulgence on a budget, and Amarillo (you’ll see) was a motel mecca in the golden years of highway travel. Motels were the offspring of tourist camps—campgrounds for cars where folks either slept in car seats or pitched a tent. Mentions of “tourist camps” first appeared in Amarillo newspapers in the early to mid-1920s. Then in 1926, U.S. Route 66 was laid out from Chicago to Los Angeles with Amarillo smack dab in the middle, and it didn’t take long for local entrepreneurs to see that paved roads and better tires were helping Americans travel longer distances without stopping. When they stopped, they were dog-tired and needed a good bed and hot food in order to recharge. The rustic tourist camps quickly evolved into tourist courts featuring cabins that sheltered both the traveler and the car they drove up in. This transformation gave us the word motel, a portmanteau of motor and hotel.

Amarillo boasted more than 30 motels by the 1930s, mostly along Route 66. Many evoked a Southwest feel with faux adobe walls complete with vigas protruding from the roofline. Almost every room came with a one-car garage, so the Roadster could get some rest, too.

By the ’50s and ’60s, Amarillo’s motels caught the Mad Men bug hard, rocking a modern aesthetic of plate glass and sleek lines. Swimming pools, in-house diners and, oh yes, ice machines were de rigueur for a prime motel experience. Some offered full-service banquet facilities, like the Vic Mon, built in the early ’60s along the new 66 bypass. Lodging felt like a Las Vegas resort. The traveling public loved it.

Interstate 40, a late-1960s addition to the highway network, largely destroyed this magic on old 66 in Amarillo. Business dried up, by the ’70s, the empty rooms found more exotic uses. Some memorable new motels were built on the Interstate, however. We got the Camelot out of that trade, and don’t forget the lush tropical atrium of the Villa Inn or the recreational wonders of the Holidome at the old Holiday Inn off Ross.

These motels brought the outside in sans the dust and wind. Shutting out the world, however, was the trend that ultimately pushed motels toward irrelevance. The older, autocentric accommodations began to seem outdated in the ’80s and ’90s. Travelers started to prefer rooms that didn’t open into a parking lot.

Motor hotels have struggled in the decades since but are making a comeback. Taking inspiration from Tucumcari, our Route 66 sister to the west, owners of some of the remaining properties on old 66 have made some nice changes. One example is the former True Rest Motel, which has been spruced up and rebranded as the Route 66 Inn in an effort to bring tourists back to the old road.

A growing class of travelers are keen on a more traditional type of road trip (without the vomit and tears) and a restored motel is a trip back to a simpler time. That’s a good thing. There’s a certain poetry in road noise and sunsets viewed from a patio chair at the front door of your room, and that poetry reads like America.

The best advice I ever heard is: The early bird gets the worm; get up early and attack the day. Take care of the small things. Whatever the current task at hand is, do it well. Everything else will fall into place.

My three most recommended books are: The Bible (ESV); The Energy Bus, by Jon Gordon; Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business, by John Mackey/Raj Sisodia.

To me, success means: From a personal perspective, living a balanced life prioritizing Christ, family/work, and friends in that order. I see family/work as interrelated because work supports the family and a good family life makes for a more present and productive work life. When the scales shift, I can sense things start to go haywire, and it’s time to rebalance priorities.

People who know me might be surprised that I: like granola on my cheerios and cinnamon in my coffee. Early morning time alone and routine is critical to the productiveness of my day.

My biggest pet peeve is: poor service at a restaurant. I know that low unemployment numbers and COVID made it harder, but like many industries, service is the lifeblood. Without it, there is no incentive for folks to come back. It seems to me that management, cooks and waitstaff all have much incentive to make this happen if they truly value job security. Those that figure this out thrive!

TREVOR CAVINESS

PRESIDENT, CAVINESS BEEF PACKERS

Everyone in Amarillo needs to experience: Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Alibates Flint Quarries, a Sod Poodles Baseball game.

If I could change any one local thing it would be: to figure out how to get city “quality-of-life projects” completed. AEDC funds cannot currently be used for this, and we need to find a way to get a portion of them allocated this way. It is just as vital for recruitment as incentive funds for businesses to relocate here.

This city is amazing at: embracing the cowboy culture of grit. We have a determination and get-it-done attitude. For the most part, people follow “The Code of the West”: unwritten rules centered on hospitality, fair play, loyalty, and respect for the land.

My favorite place in Amarillo is: on a downtown restaurant patio on a sunny (non-windy) weekend evening.

A local organization I love right now: the Amarillo Area Foundation, for all it does as a conduit to help serve a large number of Texas Panhandle nonprofit organizations through fundraising, consulting, education, networking, and resources. Every region needs an organization like this. Our part of Texas would not be what it is today without it.

PHOTO BY KAIT BRADFORD BELLMON