Cotton prices rally as Texas growing conditions turn mixed

By Karn Dhingra
Texas AgriLife

After two years of low prices, cotton prices rallied — though Texas growers’ fortunes still depend heavily on where they farm, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Exten- sion Service expert. 

John Robinson, Ph.D., an AgriLife Extension economist- cotton and professor in the Texas A&M De- partment of Agricul- tural Economics, said conditions form “a definitely mixed bag” depending on location. 

He said conditions for cotton across the state match a Drought Monitor map that shows distinct lines between dry, mod- erate-drought and drought-free areas.

XIT Melodrama coming to La Rita next week

A longtime tradition of XIT weekend is that a melodrama is per- formed at the La Rita Theatre. This year that melodrama is “The Girl in the Tutu, or the Villain Kept Her on Her Toes.” It will be performed at 7 p.m. on Thursday August 6 and Friday August 7, with a matinee on Saturday August 8 at 2 p.m. to give those at- tending time to make it to the World’s Larg- est Free BBQ.

XIT starts Saturday with junior rodeo

BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

The 90th Annual XIT Rodeo & Reunion starts this Saturday, August 1 with the junior rodeo. Rodeo stars under the age of 18 will have a chance to show off their skills during the annual event. 

The junior rodeo includes two different age groups. The young- est kids compete in a stick-pony rodeo on the grass just north of the actual arena. The events include pole bending, barrel racing, and removing a ribbon from a goat’s tail. This age group will also start off the rodeo with mutton bustin’ in the arena, riding a sheep as long as possible.

WT releases May 2026 graduate list
15 local students receive degrees

 By Chip Chandler
Special to the Dalhart Texan

 CANYON, Texas — The final tally is 1,220 graduates for West Texas A&M University’s Class of May 2026. 

Overall, the University awarded 927 baccalaureate degrees, 279 master’s degrees and 14 doctoral degrees to spring graduates at the May 15 and 16 commencement ceremonies, following procedural confirmation from the University’s seven deans.

Wellington State Bank celebrates 120 years

 Left: The employees of Wellington State Bank in Dalhart gather for a photo during the 120th anniversary celebration. Back row l-r: Zach Bickel, Bianca Cervantes, Shayla Hornof, Diamond Lillie, Gracie Spinar and Jeff Lloyd. Front row l-r: Tessa Bradford and Camila Anguiano. Not pictured are Kristi Bradley and Jay Oznick. Photo submitted.

Hartley ISD receives cooler, grant from Dairy MAX

 “Fueled by Farmers,” a Dairy MAX program supporting local schools and student-athletes with milk cooler grants, installed a custom-branded, glass-front refrigerator at Hartley High School a couple of weeks ago, on Wednesday July 8. Hartley also received a $2,500 chocolate milk grant from the program.

Pasture mealybug raises alarm for livestock producers

By Adam Russell
Texas AgriLife

As Texas producers come to grips with the threat of New World screwworm, another new invasive pest — pasture mealybug — is casting a growing shadow over the state’s forage and livestock industries, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.

The pasture mealybug continues to spread rapidly across Texas, threatening pastures, hayfields and forage resources that underpin the state’s $15.5 billion cattle industry as well as the state’s other pasture-based livestock industries.

DHS student council holds leadership camp

Members of the Dalhart High student council, along with sponsor Laura Amaya, hosted a one-day leadershipcamp for junior high students on Tuesday July 7 at Frank Phillips College, teaching the junior high studentsabout some of the different functions of the student council and leadership in general. Bill Kelly | Dalhart Texan

Joie Read named TGCAAll-Star

Dalhart High seniorJoie Read received anumber of accoladesafter the basketballseason ended duringher junior year a fewmonths ago. She wasnamed District 1-3ACo-Offensive Playerof the Year, and wasnamed to the Class 3ARegion I All-Regionteam by the Texas As-sociation of BasketballCoaches.

Most importantly,she was named All-State by the TexasGirls Coaches Asso-ciation (TGCA), andwill also be the firstDalhart player to playin the TGCA Class 1A-4A All-Star basketballgame as she competesfor the red team tomor-row night, Friday July17 at Arlington High School. Read is oneof only 24 incomingseniors from across thestate who attend Class1A-4A schools to bechosen for the game,with 12 on the red teamand 12 on the blueteam.

Hilmar celebrates America’s 250^th Anniversary by being good neighbor

Donates cheese to Good Samaritan, other organizations to support food security

 HILMAR, Calif. July 1-Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc., a global leader in dairy products and ingredients, is honoring America’s 250th anniversary by living its purpose of Improving Lives Together with more than 7,500 pounds of cheese donations to food banks and community organizations in California, Texas, and Kansas. This effort supports food security and expands access to high-quality protein for families facing food insecurity.

90^th XIT Rodeo & Reunion Plaster Day

2025 XIT Rodeo Queen Ellie Clift, along with 2026 queen candidates Josey Dunavan and Journey Melear, stopped by the Dalhart Texan office on Wednesday July 1 during Plaster Day as they helped the XIT Directors plaster the city with XIT posters. This year is the 90th XIT Rodeo & Reunion. Bill Kelly | Dalhart Texan 

Dalhart’s 250^th American Independence celebration

Top: The Dalhart Rotary Club placed flags around town on July 4, and also put up 250 flags at Rita Blanca Lake for the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. Bill Kelly | Dalhart Texan

WT President announces retirement

By Chip Chandler Special to the Dalhart Texan

CANYON, Texas — After a decade of innovative leadership and service to West Texas A&M University, President Walter V. Wendler has announced his retirement, effective Sept. 1. 

That comes 10 years to the day after he was appointed to the presidency at WT, where he would go on to be tied for the third-longestserving president in University history. 

“Universities earn confidence the right way, through clarity of mission, responsible stewardship and service to the public good,” Wendler said. “I am grateful to the faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners who make WT what it is: The Panhandle’s University. WT’s future is bright thanks to the character of its people and the strength of its purpose.”

250 years of American Independence Special section in this edition

This Saturday, July 4, 2026, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence from England. A special section in today’s edition of the Dalhart Texan features a number of articles about this anniversary, including some interesting facts about different people and places, and different ways to celebrate this important moment.

Dalhart finishes summer school for 2026

Dalhart ISD had students participating in different summer school programs at the elementary and the high school from June 1-June 25. Those programs have now concluded, and students and teachers who participated will have a little over a month off before school starts again in August. Dalhart students who participated in the programs A Bright Beginnings (ABB) & Project SMART concluded their summer instruction. Educators for A Bright Beginnings promoted the love of reading, fostered oral language skills and developed writing skills for children who are threefour years old. Project SMART teachers focused on math and literacy for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Grand Ol’ Americana Show returning to La Rita tomorrow night

 Will Hearn’s Grand Ol’ Americana Show, which has been performed at the La Rita Theatre in the past, is returning just a week before the 250th birthday of the United States. The show will be performed tomorrow night, Friday June 26, at the La Rita Theatre at 7 p.m.

TEFA passes 100,000-student milestone

 (AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock recently announced that Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) have reached a major milestone, with more than 102,000 students awarded accounts for the 2026-27 school year.

 Texas Panhandle Motors hosts first summer car show

 BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

 Texas Panhandle Motors (TPM), a car group formed a few months ago by a group of students at Dalhart High School, along with a few from other nearby schools (including at least one senior from Hartley and one senior from Tascosa High in Amarillo) held its first ever car show at the Rita Blanca Coliseum on Saturday June 20.

Sales tax revenue sent to local entities

(AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced June 10 that he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts $1.3 billion in local sales tax allocations for June, 7.4% more than in June 2025.

The Bronze Glow Tanning Salon hosts ribbon cutting

The Dalhart Area Chamber of Commerce helped The Bronze Glow Tanning Salon hold an open house and ribbon cutting on Wednesday June 10. Those in attendance included Kristy Detwiler, Jody Jones, Travis Jones, Haylee Jones, Jamie Bland, Ola Bland, Margaret Pollock and Ryder Pollock. Bill Kelly | Dalhart Texan