Description

TEXAS VENTURE FEST: HILL COUNTRY 2026

Rural students. Remarkable ideas. Community opportunity.

Join students, families, educators, entrepreneurs and community leaders for an evening celebrating the next generation of rural founders at Mason’s historic Odeon Theater.

Student presenters from Mason, McCulloch County and Fredericksburg will pitch their business ideas, receive feedback from business and community leaders, and compete for student awards. Justin McKenzie will serve as MC, with a final demonstration pitch by Miles Murray, CEO and co-founder of Locoal Charcoal Company, and remarks from Representative Wes Virdell.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

6 p.m.: Doors open

6:30–9 p.m.: Student pitches, community remarks, judging and awards

9–9:30 p.m.: Media reception at Fly Gap Winery

LOCATIONS

Odeon Theater

122 S. Moody Street · Mason, Texas

Fly Gap Winery

117 North Spring Street · Mason, Texas

ADMISSION: Free. Please register—even if you already plan to attend—so we can track participation and demonstrate the event’s community impact. Parents, mentors and other supporters are warmly welcome.

LOCAL ORGANIZER: Katie Milton Jordan

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Nutrition By Design / Stock Show Secrets

LOCAL SPONSORS: Central Texas Electric Cooperative, HCTC, Frontera Healthcare Network, Texas Regional Bank, Mason Bank, The Commercial Bank, Nine Bar Land & Cattle, Mason Feed Store, First State Bank of Junction, Capital Farm Credit, Fredonia Peanut Company, Menard Industrial Development Corporation, Yonker Brothers Processing and ERNA Sands.

VOLUNTEERS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Interested in supporting the event? Share your interest through registration.

Visit Hill Country Venture Fest for event updates. Follow Texas Venture Fest on LinkedIn and Instagram.

⭐ TEXAS' SIGNATURE INNOVATION EVENTS:

The Lone Star State shouldn’t have lone star founders. The Texas Venture Fest is a day of networking and programming highlighting the ecosystem of entrepreneur support. More than 15 cities simultaneously host this statewide phenomenon, across our small towns and the nation's biggest metropoles, 3,500+ Texans gather to help innovation flourish.

This event is part of the Texas Startup & Tech Week (9/28-10/2), the state's flagship innovation week. The sister signature event is the Texas Venture Gala & Forum, the largest convening at the Texas State Capitol & awards dinner in downtown Austin for innovators and investors from across the state.

Register Here:Texas Venture Fest: Hill Country 2026 · Luma