From cropland to native grassland:
a different future for the High Plains

 (Editor’s note: Jacob Meyer is a senior at Dalhart High School and is active in the FFA, having just returned from the All-American Dairy Expo National Dairy Contest, where the team placed fifth overall and Meyer placed third as an individual in Jerseys. He recently completed the Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade, a camp offered by the Texas Brigades. The Texas Brigades’ mission is to educate and empower youth with leadership skills and knowledge in wildlife, fisheries, and land stewardship to become conservation ambassadors for a sustained natural resource legacy. Meyer graduated as the Top Cadet and was also named Top Shot.)

Dalhart FFA team takes 5^th place at national dairy competition

 The Dalhart FFA’s dairy team competed at the All-American Dairy Expo National Dairy Contest over the weekend and placed fifth overall at the national competition.

Dalhart EDC donates $1 million to new nursing home

 The Dalhart Economic Development Corporation presented a check for a donation of $1 million to Louise Rahll and the Dallam-Hartley Counties Healthcare Foundation for the new nursing home that will be built by the hospital district. Louise and her late husband Gene Rahll made a pledge to donate $10 million if $5 million was raised by the rest of the community for the new nursing home, and that commitment was met back in March. The new facility will be called “The Rahll” in honor of Gene and Louise Rahll. Back row l-r: Alfonso Venegas, Tripp Stone, Jared Ball, James Stroud, Kevin Caddell, Dyke Rogers, Zach Bickel, Sean Overeynder, Melissa Bundy and Brad Riley. Front row l-r: Sarah Crone, Emily Oznick, Sarah Suggs, Jenny McDaniel, Louise Rahll, Sherry Hasche and Shellie McNabb. Lisa Boggs | Dalhart Texan 

Pecan production, prices up in Texas as disease, dry weather loom

By Karn Dhingra
Texas AgriLife

Texas pecan growers are looking at an above-average crop and are hoping price improvement will follow.

Expectations are that Texas’ 2026 pecan season will produce modestly larger yields than last year, but that disease, extreme dry and hot weather in August could negatively impact nut kernel fill, said Monte Nesbitt, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service pecan specialist and associate professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, Bryan-College Station.

Texas Comptroller reports state sales tax revenue totaled $4.6 billion in August

(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Don Huffines said state sales tax revenue totaled $4.62 billion in August, 7.1% more than in August 2025. The majority of August sales tax revenue is based on sales made in July and remitted to the agency in August.

It’s All About Kids donates money to elementary libraries

Karen Lang and Jaime Kvanvig presented a check for $500 to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School’s elemen- tary library to help purchase books. Photo submit.

Texline’s Raley Valdez wins national championship 

Gold, silver medals complete comeback

 By Autumn Smith
Special to the Dalhart Texan

 For Raley Valdez, gymnastics has always been just one part of who she is. She is an athlete, competitor, daughter, teammate and someone who has never been afraid to take on a challenge. This summer, all of those qualities came together as she returned to the national stage and earned two medals at the 2026 Stars and Stripes Nationals in Sevierville, Tennessee.

First Baptist Church celebrates 125 years in Dalhart

 By Sandy Reynolds
Special to the Dalhart Texan

 (Editor’s note: This is the third and final part of a three-part series about the 125^th anniversary of the First Baptist Church and its history in Dalhart. The first was published on August 20, and covered the time period from 1901 through about 1938, and the second was published on August 27 and covered the time period from 1944 through about 1971, and included the creation of Lincoln Street Baptist Church, Antioch Baptist Church, and the early beginnings of La Primera Iglesia Bautista.)

People’s Church, Dalhart honored by Operation Christmas Child

 An Operation Christmas Child delegation came to People’s Church in Dalhart on Sunday August 16 to present the church and its members with a 15-Year service award. Since 1993, nationally & internationally, Operation Christmas Child has worked to send gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need around the world. Along with the shoeboxes, Operation Christmas Child presents the children with the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

First Baptist Church celebrates 125 years in Dalhart

By Sandy Reynolds
Special to the Dalhart Texan

(Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part series about the 125th anniversary of the First Baptist Church and its history in Dalhart. The first was published on Au- gust 20, and covered the time period from 1901 through about 1938.)

Comptroller distributes sales tax revenue

City of Dalhart receives over $355,000

(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Don Huffines said many cities and counties can reduce property taxes due to increased sales tax revenue as local governments will receive $1.4 billion in sales tax allocations for August, 13.6% more than in August 2025.

Dalhart’s Sandy Stenson honored by United Supermarkets

Dalhart’s Sandy Stenson honored by United Supermarkets

Sandy Stenson, who has been with the United Supermarket in Dalhart for nearly 10 years, was recently honored by United Supermarkets and its parent company, Albertson’s, for her contributions to the company and her fellow employees and commitment to excel- lence.

Rice crop harvest continues as rice delphacid infestations remain low

By Blair Fannin
Texas AgriLife

 

Texas rice crop harvest continues with steady yields and relatively mild insect pressure, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.

XIT Empty Saddle races raises money for new nursing home

 The 49th Annual XIT Empty Saddle Trail 5K and One-Mile races were the first event of the final day of the 90th Annual XIT Rodeo & Reunion, starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday August 8. 166 runners competed in either one or both of the races.

First Baptist Church celebrates 125 years in Dalhart

 August 25 marks 125^th anniversary 

 By Sandy Reynolds
Special to the Dalhart Texan

 (Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series about the 125th anniversary of the First Baptist Church and its history in Dalhart.)

AgriLife Extension economist: Cattle prices haven’t hit the ceiling yet

By Kay Ledbetter
Texas AgriLife

Cattle prices still have room to go up, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

With smaller supplies of cattle on hand and good demand for beef continuing, prices could hold and go higher yet, said David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension livestock marketing economist and professor, Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Economics, who spoke at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course.

Josey Dunavan crowned 2026 XIT Rodeo Queen

BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

Josey Dunavan, a 15-year-old from Clayton, New Mexico, was crowned the 2026 XIT Rodeo Queen a little after 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 8 in the arena, about an hour before the start of the final night of the XIT rodeo.

Josey will spend the next year representing XIT along with the XIT directors at different events around Texas and in other parts of the country.

Josey was thrilled to win the crown. “I was real excited,” she said. “I’ve wanted this, so it’s really exciting.”

90th XIT Rodeo & Reunion in the books

BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

The 90th Annual XIT Rodeo & Reunion ended Saturday night, August 8 with the final night of the rodeo and the dance afterwards. With the third round of rodeo events complete, the results of the PRCA rodeo are available. (The results of non-PRCA events, barrel racing, breakaway roping and ranch bronc roping, were not listed on the PRCA website.)

Before the main rodeo, a separate team roping event was held on Sunday August 2.

Texas forest industry remains steady with large economic, ecological impact

By Sarah Fuller
Texas AgriLife

The Texas forest industry continues on a steady trajectory thanks to ongoing demand for new housing and construction, as well as other manufacturing sectors that rely on renewable wood fibers, said a Texas A&M Forest Service expert.

90^th XIT Rodeo & Reunion underway

 BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

 The 90^th XIT Rodeo & Reunion officially started on Saturday August 1 with the junior rodeo for kids 18 and under. 

Mutton bustin’, which involves the youngest kids riding sheep, was held first in the arena. Henley Hinojos was the champion for the girls, and Carson Lyons was the champion for the boys.