Attractions
Nat Fleming always said, “You can tell by lookin’ if it came from the Cow Lot.”
By contributing writer Judy Wade
Hats and boots don’t make a cowboy, but they are essentials to the profession, both in looks, practicality and protection. In its day, the Cow Lot in Wichita Falls was THE place to go for hats, boots and all other western wear.
Patrons of the now empty building will remember the almost magical hands of Gene O’Brien, J.R. Gahagan and later J.C. Dunn as they steamed and caressed that straw or felt hat into just the right crease. But the crème de la crème was having a pair of boots fitted by Nat Fleming himself. He knew boots, he knew the leather, he knew the manufacturers, and he knew feet. He would not try to sell you a pair of boots unless they really fit.
Raised by his widowed mother in the Valentine area northwest of Byers, the youngest of eight, he was born six months after his father’s death.
Fleming’s love affair with boots began in 1947 when he went to work for the legendary Dixon Boot Company in Wichita Falls. There he met and fit country music stars Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Little Jimmy Dickens, Marty Robbins, and many others, resulting in their returning for more of the handcrafted boots and forging lifetime friendships. To read more pick up the September 2014 issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch.
I am happy to announce that last month marked the re-opening of the legendary Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, Texas.
Originally built as a steady home for Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys in early 1950, the legendary concert and dance hall is now open for business and will continue presenting its star studded line up as in years past.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Martha Crump | marthacrump@comcell.net
Every year, we calve out our first-calf heifers, and we jokingly say things like, “That’s it, no more first timers,” or, “What were we thinking? We are too old for these hours.” Every subsequent year finds us with, you guessed it, an even larger heifer herd. This past month has been no exception. You can find small notebooks in all of the work trucks and gators, a go-bag full of supplies, full buckets of powdered milk, colostrum, bags of electrolytes, and a row of bottles just waiting till they are needed.
They all sit patiently in the company of clean towels and heaters that can be activated quickly. When calving season starts, they are needed; probably not nearly as often with mature cow herds but definitely with the heifers. Combine calving and the North Texas weather pattern of freezing rain, sleet, snow, and ice being more prone to come to us in January and February, and the plot gets even more complex.
Whether we are dealing with calves born to our new mothers, or to our mature herd, obviously the goal is the same; ensuring the babies are not stressed from a complicated birth, able to get on their feet and able to nurse quickly. Unfortunately, that is not always what happens. That is when the watchful producer needs to kick things into a higher gear to ensure calf survival.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Donna Long
If you are hankerin’ for home cooking just like grandma used to make with fresh ingredients, then look no further than Dixie House Cafe with locations in Fort Worth, Saginaw, and Euless. Dixie House, which was originally named Theresa’s Cafe after its owner, opened its first restaurant in 1983.
In the early days, it was just Theresa and one employee that ran the cafe. Between the two of them, they created mouth-watering meals from scratch using tried and true recipes. Dixie House is where the nostalgic vibe of a 60’s diner meets the charm of Southern hospitality and cooking. The portions are substantial, and the flavor is reminiscent of a time when meals were slow-cooked with families gathered in the kitchen and not hurriedly microwaved.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
-
Country Lifestyles3 months agoScott & Stacey Schumacher: A Growth Mindset
-
HOME6 years agoGrazing North Texas – Wilman Lovegrass
-
Country Lifestyles3 years agoAmber Crawford, Breakaway Roper
-
Country Lifestyles6 years agoStyle Your Profile – What your style cowboy hat says about you and new trends in 2017
-
Country Lifestyles7 years agoCowboy Culture with Clay Reid – Being a Man
-
Country Lifestyles7 years agoDecember 2016 Profile, Rusty Riddle – The Riddle Way
-
Country Lifestyles7 years agoJune 2016 Profile – The man behind the mic: Bob Tallman
-
Country Lifestyles2 years agoCody Lambert