OVERHEARD

WILLIAMSON’S COUNTY JUDGE BILL GRAVELL

I believe we will have vaccinated everybody that wants to be vaccinated in Williamson County by May 21st. I think our county has done an amazing job as best as we could with those that wanted to be vaccinated.

With more than 81% of the vote, Councilman Pitt’s reelection shows that the voters of Georgetown’s District 5 approve of the leadership, hard work and results he delivered for the city during the past three years. I believe his efforts to communicate with his constituents through town halls and social media, especially during the ice storm, brought out the support of his supporters in record numbers.

FORMER GEORGETOWN MAYOR DALE ROSS

PRECINCT 1 COMMISSIONER

Despite the tolls on home budgets caused by the pandemic over the past 14 months; despite the hardships caused by the deep freeze, when the call for monetary assistance went out for the residents being evicted from the Townhomes at Double Creek due to water damage from that storm, the residents of Williamson TERRY and Travis County sent COOK the Serving Center of Round Rock over $24,000 to fund the humanitarian efforts for these families.

Williamson County is a fast-growing and amazing place to live. How we as a County interact with our Cities and communities determines our future.

PRECINCT 4 COMMISSIONER RUSS BOLES

HUTTO: HOMEY, HIP, AND HIGH-TECH

Ann Marie Kennon

annmarie@wilcobr.com

While everyone works to attain balance in their personal lives, cities must do the same to maintain quality of life while they manage growth. The City of Hutto is no different. Growing industrial and commercial sectors are bringing more people—necessitating more rooftops and increasing demand for retail, restaurants, and recreation.

Hutto public information officer Stacy Schmitt says the city is committed to responsible, thoughtful growth.

RESIDENTIAL

While residential growth has boomed for some Hutto home buyers, the city is focused on diversifying the available housing stock, Schmitt said. “We have put more entry-level and first-time homes online and are working on the market for those looking to upgrade,” she said. “Our demographic is typically married, educated, and dual income with children, so we are working with developers to get those ‘next-level’ communities online. A lot of our (residential) growth has been organic, and we are now being intentional about balance, diversity, and a vision for the future.”

RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL

Hutto leaders are also being intentional in recruiting more sit-down restaurant choices. The city is already home to several fast-casual dining options, which were a good start but haven’t satisfied all palates especially among families and younger adults. “Millennials are buying homes farther from city centers,” such as in Hutto, Schmitt said. “They also have a preference for healthy choices and lifestyles.”

At the historic heart of Hutto’s growth is the downtown commercial district, with charming structures dating to the 1800s. Parked cars often line East and Farley streets on any given day, as shops and restaurants attract locals and visitors alike. City Manager Warren Hutmacher is working to further enhance the downtown aesthetic to attract a differentiated mix of new businesses, Schmitt said. “We will begin a comprehensive land-use focused plan which will be a tool for our entire City, including the historic downtown.”

Not far from downtown Hutto is the Co-Op District, a dynamic, mixed-use property being gradually developed. Standing as an iconic reminder of the city’s agricultural roots, the Co-Op will eventually resume its open-air markets and festivals that began before the pandemic. Both the Co-Op and downtown’s reconstructed Farley Street won state awards in recent years for outstanding public improvements. “We are focused on ensuring Hutto’s retail districts embrace the past while also welcoming the future,” Schmitt said. “They are not only beautiful but also progressive.”

INDUSTRY

To maintain a good balance of business growth, the city is preparing for the next phase of construction at Innovation Business Park, intended to attract light industrial and manufacturing companies. Ground is breaking next month on another corporation that chose to relocate to Hutto in order to accommodate its regional market and distribute products to customers faster. “We are looking for just the right projects that will be able to scale up their operations in that location,” Schmitt said. “For our megasite, 450 acres on Hwy. 79, we are not limited to manufacturing. The site may include research and development as well as distribution. Ideally, we will find a large anchor corporation, which will provide the need and resources for ancillary business to grow as well.”

Coming out of COVID, the city and ISD worked together to combine municipal goals with resident morale. The “Paint the Hippo” contest invited students to submit their most creative look for the hippos standing at City Hall and the Industrial Park. “It brought the community together,” Schmitt says, “and the results demonstrate how Hutto is an important and innovative partner in Williamson County.”

INFRASTRUCTURE

But no conversation about balanced growth would be complete without mentioning the roads, water, and power needed to responsibly support it. In 2018, Hutto leaders laid out both a Capital Improvement Plan and a Mobility Master Plan to strategically address the community’s infrastructure needs. That same year, Hutto voters supported propositions to establish bond funding for most of these improvements, such as three projects along FM 1660 which together will reduce traffic delays, improve safety both for drivers and pedestrians, and improve the ability to implement a railroad quiet zone. There will also be extensive work done over the next couple of years to enhance the city’s water supply and drainage systems. The Hutto City Council spotlighted these current and upcoming projects May 10-14 during United for Infrastructure 2021, which is a national movement. “Through visionary leadership and voter support,” Schmitt said, “the Hutto community came together in our belief that well planned and maintained infrastructure enhances our economy, our safety, and our quality of life.”

THE 86TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE IS THINKING

OUTSIDE THE BOX FOR THE BENEFIT—

AND FUTURE—OF TEXAS STUDENTS.

As a long-time advocate for education finance reform, Representative Terry Wilson was likely the only person who was surprised he was named Chair of the House Subcommittee on Article III Appropriations.

In simpler terms, Col. Wilson is tasked with leadership of the House subcommittee “where the money comes from to fund public education.” Fortunately, his background in billion-dollar acquisitions at the Department of Defense gives him ample expertise to manage the one-third of the State’s budget appropriated for public education.

FIRST, REFORM

Rep. Wilson explains the legislature is re-working the education finance laws to ensure communities and schools are not in competition for the same dollars. He explains, “We slowed the rate of property taxes because 50 to 60 percent of our taxes go to school funding. But, that also applied to taxpayers who are not making use of the public school system. Today, the State is taking on more of that burden to provide tax relief to property owners. Our Republican House is being diligent about making sure we are providing the resources our schools need while being respectful to everyone in the community.”

GETTING BACK TO SCHOOL

Another priority for the legislature is making sure school districts receive the funds and support they need to continue the mission of educating the next generation.

While schools in Texas are funded based on average daily attendance, changes due to COVID have created an alarming statistic that many children are enrolled but neither attending in person, nor participating virtually. Rep. Wilson says, “It is a travesty that we may have a generation of kids who did not receive the education they needed. The Subcommittee’s primary focus is to make sure the children of our state receive the education they deserve by providing districts the funding necessary to continue paying teachers based on pre-COVID attendance data and hold the ISDs harmless in these unusual circumstances.”

THE VISION FOR CAREER & TECH EDUCATION IN TEXAS

Ann Marie Kennon

annmarie@wilcobr.com

“NOW, LET’S GO TO MARS!”

It is no secret Central Texas is benefiting from a significant influx of high-tech companies opening or relocating to the Lone Star State. In addition to the U.S. Army Futures Command, recent bids by Elon Musk, and Samsung are a harbinger of many career opportunities for the workforce in Williamson County.

Rep. Wilson was instrumental in bringing the Army Futures Command to Central Texas and says he is not finished there. “We have to do things that demonstrate to the Army that we are all in. We want more than just their headquarters; we want to be part of building our national defense and supporting our nation.”

Expanding Futures Command in the region would mean infusing some of its $32-36 billion research and development budget, for their Prototype Testing and Evaluation Center, into the Texas economy. He explains, “This means no matter where the development is happening in the United States, the products will come to the testing center. We’re talking about things that will end up in our cars, washing machines, communications devices—all spun off into commercial products, energy, and other things for which our Texas manufacturing companies can provide resources and a workforce. Once established, we will have even more jobs in the ancillary markets necessary to sustain the industry and workforce.”

This is significant because our forward-thinking Legislature is on the verge of passing HB1525, which will push $260 million into vocational, and career and technical education (CTE) programs all over the state. Rep. Wilson sums up the need and the benefits; “Success is not only about a four-year college any more, and Texas is making sure every student has access to, and a path in a universe of opportunity as early as middle school.”

EDUCATING THE WORK FORCE

Many Texas schools already have CTE programs that enable high school students to start on a pathway to certification that can end with a high-paying job right after graduation.

Georgetown ISD is very public about being ahead of the curve, having made CTE programs a priority over the past 18 months. School Board President Scott Stribling says, “Our local communities asked for this. We are taking a hard look at creating jobs locally where kids can graduate and find good jobs in the place where they grew up. It is very encouraging that the state is catching up with funding those needs locally. There is a great need for different trades; medical, technical, cosmetology, and we’re able to start preparing these kids now.”

LEARNING THE I.B.C.s

A tri-agency workforce study showed the extent and geography of gaps in our skill sets. Rep. Wilson says, “Texas is very advanced in working with predominant skills sets, like agriculture, that are region-appropriate. The new paradigm is to go full throttle on appropriate CTE classes that will help schools fill demands of specific skill sets in every region. We want to prioritize training for electricians, HVAC, or automotive tech where the skills are needed. With newcomers like Tesla and Bitcoin, we are going to provide Cisco certifications and other expertise that will be in high demand.”

What this means for students is a chance to start exploring new interests as early as middle school, and have the opportunity and choice to continue on those paths in high school. With state-supplied resources, students can continue through Level 4 certification before they even graduate high school, to turn their passions into a high-paying job without the expense of post-secondary education.

Jarrell ISD Superintendent Dr. Toni Hicks says, “Our ISD is intentional about looking for additional opportunities to better position our kids for a more competitive marketplace. Part of that is ensuring they have skills and certifications when they leave high school; especially in Central Texas where we can see the boom happening. We want our kids, regardless of their paths, to have certifications ready before, during, or after college, and even as part of their continuing careers.”

Among the barriers for schools to implement CTE programs is cost, but the legislature is putting full effort into promoting Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) Grants. These are innovative, open-enrollment high schools that provide students an opportunity to receive a high school diploma and a credential and/or an associate degree via workbased education. P-TECH grants help ISDs overcome those cost barriers. Rep. Wilson says, “Tango Flight is a prime example of a superlative program that, because of the costs incurred in building a fully-functioning airplane, schools need help paying for upfront costs and infrastructure.”

Jarrell ISD Superintendent Dr. Toni Hicks noted, “There are a lot of costs associated with CTE programs; welding, for instance, requires funding to set up and maintain. This new state funding will ensure we can develop and expand as new kids come into the district, then carry forward with the level of expertise needed so we can give them what they need to achieve their IBCs.”

Rep. Wilson adds, “If there is a high demand for a particular skill set in a city or region, local chambers of commerce can send a letter of endorsement and have that skill set added to the ‘menu’ of CTEs. Once accepted, the state will then pay for the necessary infrastructure; e.g., refurbished buildings or equipment. What’s missing are enough subject matter experts to train the students in specific lanes. As such, individuals and companies are encouraged to connect with the ISD to help provide CTE instruction hours or fund apprenticeships to prepare these students with real-world experience.”

YOU BE THE BRIDGE

The vision is for workforce and school demands to meet so Texas students will be prepared to fill those future jobs. These changes also offer opportunities for individual communities to contribute to the workforce with their respective skill sets and willingness to train up the next generation.

The TEA offerings are based on statewide labor market data that support varying regional programs of study. However, each year, local education agencies with labor market data may apply for new regional programs of study. Wilson explains, “If there is a high demand for a particular skill set in a city or region, local chambers of commerce can send a letter of endorsement and have that skill set added to the ‘menu’ of CTEs. Once accepted, the state will then pay for the necessary infrastructure;, e.g., refurbished buildings or equipment. What’s missing are enough subject matter experts to train the students in specific lanes. As such, individuals and companies are encouraged to connect with the ISDs to share the responsibility to provide CTE instruction hours or fund apprenticeships to prepare these students with real-world experience.”

Dr. Hicks adds, “We are already looking for more internships that will allow students to get practical experience alongside their classwork to earn their IBCs. As large companies open in or relocate to Texas and new needs in health care, technology, and industry manifest, we want there to be no need to bring skills from out of state; Texas will be more than capable of supplying the work force. As such, new partnerships will be more and more important.”

In addition to community buy-in, there is great potential to ensure that all students are included, whether they attend public, private, or virtual school. “The expansion of video instruction means whenever an agency offers dual credit, or technical training, we just need to ensure there is enough broadband to allow access to it,” Rep. Wilson says. “We may even bring more kids back to public schools and raise parent satisfaction. I am prepared to push the envelope with this vision. Everyone is paying for public education whether they use it or not; let’s open the envelope, like they do in college, and let kids sign up for classes they need, not just the ones where they are.”

Contact Rep. Wilson at

Terry.Wilson@house.texas.gov

The bottom line is that manufacturing is back and needs to be in Texas. We do that by making sure our public and higher education is well positioned to provide that workforce.

Ann Marie Kennon

annmarie@wilcobr.com

Modern Longhorn cattle, once numbering in the millions, have been a part of Texas culture since the 19th century. Keith Hagler, owner of Hagler Longhorns in Taylor, is producing and selling Longhorn beef to meet a growing public demand, but he has always had a special interest because of the variety and robust nature of the breed. “Longhorns are very Texan. People don’t stop on the side of the road to take selfies with regular cows. I got into breeding and ranching as a hobby, as many are able to do, but I enjoy the people who raise them so it’s a great business to be in.”

Hagler takes his cattle personally. “I have owned all kinds of cattle over the past 40 years, and Longhorns are the easiest; they are calm, and they eat anything. As a business proposition, they provide continuity and longevity because they are very self-sufficient, and females can calve well into their 20s.”

Many people may not have been aware that, for most of 2020, there were meat shortages. Perhaps, while media was busy talking about toilet paper, they missed that COVID restrictions were also causing processors to slow or shut down operations, leaving many ranchers and farmers with no way to get their products to market. Fortunately, while not immune to problems caused by the slowdown, the Longhorn market, occupied mostly by small and mid-sized ranchers, continues to thrive nationwide, in Texas, and in Taylor. According to recent sales, “thriving” may be an understatement. Keith Dubose, Chairman of the Board of the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America, says typical sales for Longhorns average $3,000-8,000. However, he attended an auction in April in which the average Longhorn price was $20,000; one sold for $200,000. “It never ceases to amaze me how people decide to get into this business. But, owning a cow that is smart enough and able to get up on its hind legs to eat leaves from trees when grass gets short, makes good business sense.”

MULTIPLE MARKETS

Mr. Dubose explains the Association has grown thanks to people who found the old-time cattle intriguing and became interested in raising them. “Many ranchers find it to be a great hobby. Longhorns are so hardy and self-sustaining that it’s almost as simple as just having a fence, and they are extremely agile and strong. With other breeds, a mother cow might be down for half a day, but a Longhorn “A longhorn cow in your front pasture will stop mother is nursing within 20-30 minutes and her more cars than a dead man lyin’ out there.” new calf can outrun the rancher by then too. Over ~Longhorn Auctioneer, Eddie Wood (1922-2008) the past eight years, demand has grown, as well, for entertainment cattle; i.e., roping and rodeos. They are also very gentle; many a show I’ve seen a 6- or 7-year-old child working with a 1,000-pound animal with 65-70 inches of horn.” Aside from requiring only a reasonable amount of maintenance, Longhorns are superior to other cattle because, aside from the beef, there is a market for their hides, skulls, and horns. Hagler says, “These are not the skinny plains animals that people have seen in old movies and photos. Ranchers appreciate that every animal is different, and we breed them today for color, horn length and size, and body shape.” Mr. Dubose, a fifth-generation rancher himself, has seen it all. “There has been a great diversification in the past decade. People began line-breeding smaller cows, which created a huge mini-Longhorn market. There are also those who prefer standard cows but breed just to HAGLER RANCH FAMILY see how much horn they can get. Others are constantly working toward better health and larger meat mass for the beef market. All of these animals have pure Longhorn DNA, but the breed is able to accommodate a spectrum of rancher preferences and remain healthy.” Hagler’s ranch is in Williamson County and he sells processed beef directly from the freezers in his office, but he cautions weekend farmers not to take the simplicity of the

breed too lightly. “Many are able to raise longhorns for Ag exemptions because they are sustainable on a small scale. But it’s crucial to run even a small ranch correctly; like a business, and with good records. Done right, it can produce a good income while you spend quality time with the animals.”

PERFECT WEEKEND RANCH

Hagler emphasizes that being in the cattle business means liking the cattle business. “Everyone wants to be a cowboy, until you have to be a cowboy. Cows get sick or get out of their enclosure; you deal with bad weather and they rely on you to provide for them. Longhorns are the oldest breed of cattle and are survivors—they were the only cattle that would gain weight on the Chisholm Trail and other historic drives of the past. But, ranchers have to be prepared for drought and provide water, have plenty of green grass to grow the best meat, and understand how supply fluctuations in everything from hay to fuel to fertilizer will affect how you are able to care for, and afford your herd.”

In addition to selling the beef, Hagler Ranch also auctions and sells Longhorns to allow others to enjoy owning their own for Ag exemptions, or sideline farming.

Both caution potential ranchers to not get excited and get too many cattle. Mr. Dubose says, “Longhorns can handle any kind of weather, which is why we have breeders as far north as Canada, but also in Australia, Belgium, and many other countries worldwide. They can eat acorns without getting sick, and even West Nile doesn’t affect them. But, in any conditions, they still need adequate food and water for good health.” Hagler agrees, “Texas weather is unpredictable; you have to make sure you have can produce or purchase an adequate supply of hay. It’s easy to look around in the Springtime and see plenty of green grass, but that has to last the season, whether rain comes or not. You have to consider the full length of the season—cows eat every day—maintain numbers, and not allow them to overgraze the land they are on.”

BEEF CHALLENGES

Hagler says there are factors beyond COVID that have been responsible for the processing and packing backup. Still, processors have reached a critical point at which the expense has gone up nationwide, and accounts for shortages that appear in grocery stores from time to time; i.e., he expects they will be playing catch-up for possibly the next two years. “There are plenty of animals, we just need to be able to get them to the plant. Longhorns are bred to be superior to commercial cattle and, while there is no danger in leaving them at pasture, they do reach an age at which the meat is no longer premium.”

The challenges present because all but the biggest ranches must outsource the process to meet USDA compliance. “A processing plant is not a do-it-yourself proposition,” Hagler says. “It requires permits and inspections and a great deal of specialized equipment.” As costs and wait lists increase, social and other media indicate some family-owned ranches have taken to selling and butchering animals privately, while medium-sized operations are left shaking their heads as grocery store prices continue to go up, but cattle prices continue to be down. Hagler adds, “Somewhere in the middle, people are making a lot of money.”

TO YOUR HEALTH

Regardless of the slowdown in processing, Hagler says the market and popularity of Longhorn beef is growing, and more and more ranchers are getting into the business every day. Sales in Texas and around the world demonstrate the uniqueness of the meat; the rich red color and the health benefits speak to increased sales for all those in the TLBAA who are in the market. Research has shown grass-fed Longhorn beef is the healthiest meat on the market with respect to calories, cholesterol, and even vitamin content. Mr. Dubose echoes that data; “Longhorn meat is higher in protein than almost anything, and the only thing more lean is venison. The health-conscious public has opened up a whole new market for breeders and ranchers, who can hardly keep up with the demand.” To that end, everything Hagler Ranch sells is certified, USDA inspected, and very cost-competitive with local grocery stores.

Visit HaglerLonghorns.com for information about breeding, ranching, or to order up some healthy food.

Dell Diamond

Keeping America’s Pastime Alive in Williamson County

9 years highest season attendance in the league

Every year since inception they have been #1, 2, or 3 in total attendance

46 times there were more than 12,000 fans at one game

Typical season is 70-72 home games

On March 12, 2020, as did the rest of the nation, Williamson County awoke to its first day without sports. Facing an unknowable number of days before they would return, conference tables everywhere filled with the best and brightest in the front offices of respective leagues and conferences to try to strike a balance between safety and survival of the business.

Biggest crowds for Independence Day & Fan Appreciation Nights

The NBA had walked off the court the night before and, while opening day was still three weeks away, Major League Baseball immediately postponed its season for another month. Even our own Round Rock Express had to consider the possibility that people were suddenly unwilling hazards to each other, and crowds—the lifeblood of the sports industry—were impossible.

Round Rock Express President Chris Almendarez says the team was scheduled to begin “March Madness” Spring training the Monday after the shutdown. “Baseball season is what we do, and we were already prepping our facilities and our people to be ready for Opening Day, which was still three weeks out. When MLB decided to postpone the season, we immediately set about pivoting and shifting to identify other activities and events that could take place in early April that would allow us to re-purpose our stadium and keep our employees on the payroll.”

Looking at their attendance records—finishing in the top three in total minor-league attendance in all 20 years since the team’s founding—an inability to fill seats for a full season was among the worst possible consequences of a lockdown. As such, seated at his conference table were General Manager Tim Jackson, Senior Vice President of Marketing Laura Fragoso, Assistant General Manager Stu Scally, and Senior Director of Stadium Operations Gene Kropff. Each simply asked what he or she could do to help.

While, nationally, teams and leagues had varying levels of success dealing with COVID practices and enforcement, the staff in Round Rock were “all hands on deck” and did whatever they had to do to make people feel safe coming to Dell Diamond. Thanks to hard decisions by leadership, and the willingness of staff to wear many hats in order to keep the train running, the team was months ahead of other regional business sectors that rely on crowds for their livelihood, and the Express success provided a model for others in Central Texas and beyond. Almendarez said, “Everyone got to work wherever they were needed. Executives and managers were cleaning, painting, and getting things ready to go so we would be ready when the government gave us the green light.”

PLAN B, C, & D

When Dell Diamond staff began hearing rumors that the whole season might be cancelled, they got tougher, and asked how they could sustain over a full year to get ready for Opening Day 2021. “That was when we had to make the hardest decisions,” Almendarez says. “The bulk of our revenue, around 95 percent, comes between April and September, so, at that time, we had The Round Rock Express were founded in to lay off 40 percent 2000 by Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainof our staff. We looked ment, which was created by Nolan Ryan, from top to bottom to his sons Reid and Reese, Don Sanders, identify our strengths and his sons Bret and Brad. It is one of the premier sports and entertainment and considered who operators and ownership groups in the could get us through nation. The group also owns Express the most challenging Youth Baseball, RS3 Events & Entertainof times, and back to ment, RS3 Strategic Hospitality, RS3 Turf, thriving for the next and the Nolan Ryan Foundation. season.”

On June 30, the Minor League Baseball season was cancelled, which left the Express looking for events that could fill the gap but still make sense for an arena of their size and type. Fortunately, Almendarez says, the Texas Collegiate League, a summer wood-bat college circuit fell into their laps, and they became one of the first venues to begin having events again.

In addition to baseball, they scheduled a Granger Smith concert, which allowed 2,500 socially-distanced guests to attend throughout the bowl. Almendarez says, “Safety was our priority, and it was a little scary to jump out ahead of the crowd, so to speak, but in the end, we were just figuring out how to keep going and the concert generated good revenue. We got great recognition from Country Music Television who said, ‘This is how you do it.’ Pretty soon, other promoters began calling and we were able to schedule more than 30 events during a pandemic, which helped get us ready to open for 2021.”

The sports industry in general took the pandemic quite hard, but having an outdoor venue helped make the difference. Almendarez reports Travis County venues are still unable to open their doors, and while everyone has been hurt, their flexibility and outside-the-box thinking also made the difference.

Their creativity and flexibility were not lost on fans who came back again and again for concerts, parking lot drive-in movies, bull riding, and more. Almendarez says, “We are always open to any proposals for events and entertainment. We love baseball, of course, because that’s what we’re good at, so we are also happy to host high school games to give kids the opportunity to play here. My staff and I will continue to look at different types of programming to dig us out of the hole COVID put us in. We just need events that make sense, and we will do anything we can to create revenue.”

2021 SEASON

No one has had that experience for 13 months, so when we opened the gates May 6, we were thrilled to have people here. We are as eager to feel safe, watch baseball, and return to a tiny bit of normalcy as they are.” He also credits Dell and H-E-B for standing with them from the start and giving them grace periods as everyone knew it was just a matter of time to work through the challenges. “The biggest thing for us, and our partners, is that we all want the group to thrive, individually and together. Everyone contributed something different and each step up was another step to recovery.” Given the nature and strength of these partnerships, it is no surprise that Dell Diamond is the two-time defending Texas Turfgrass Association Baseball Field of the Year, recipient of Ballpark Digest’s Best Ballpark Improvement Award in 2018, and in 2016, they were named Baseball America Bob Freitas Triple-A Organization of the Year. Other awards include MiLB John Henry Moss Community Service Award, National Sports Forum OM Foundation Organizations of the Year, and the Austin Gives Generous Business Award. Opening day is scheduled for May 6. After a change in the MLB system, the Round Rock Express has changed its affiliation back to the Texas Rangers who have already opened up their stadium for the Express to train. The schedule has It was wonderful when excited fans and guests came through the been modified to minimize travel until restrictions gate and thanked us for being open, for being there for them. are further loosened, but the Express will begin the ~ Round Rock Express President Chris Almendarez 2021 season with a 12-game homestand before hitting the road. The team will have Wednesdays off throughout the season, but fans can expect

IT’S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS superlative play every game as the same great coaching and

Almendarez says, above all, he is most proud of his staff, who athleticism that enabled 146 Express alumni to be promoted to kept everything going, and did whatever we asked them to. the Major Leagues over 20 seasons will continue in 2021.

“They signed up to work in baseball and not doing that was Almendarez adds, “We are excited to get to opening day and tough on a lot of folks. catch our breath. It will have been two years of a lot of hard Collegiate summer baseball, nicknamed “wood-bat leagues” Asking them to pivot in their personal tasks to do work and trying to figure things out. We are asking Central Texas and Williamson County to come on back to a safe and because players are only allowed things they didn’t sign social environment to support the Express, or anything we have to use wooden bats, are amateur up for; from making sure going on.” leagues in the U.S. and Canada, made up of players who have attended at least one year of the diamond is painted to directing traffic in the Among their biggest—and also eager to return—fans is Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell, who says, “The Round Rock college and have at least one parking lots—suddenly evExpress are an amazing example of a small business surviving year of eligibility remaining. eryone was in ‘operations’. and thriving during a global pandemic. I applaud the leadSports is not only an outlet ership of the team and the organization, and I am pleased to for the fans, but also for the know Williamson County will begin the new season May 6th all people who work in the business. No matter what is thanks to the Round Rock Express and their leadership. It’s time going on in your life, for three hours you can just to play ball!” sit back, eat a hot dog, and enjoy a game.