🌾 Rural Texas Summit 2025: Building Power Where It’s Needed Most

📅 June 13–14, 2025 | 📍 Bastrop Convention Center Hosted by 134 PAC and CODA

Rural Texas is at a crossroads.

For decades, rural communities across our state have been underrepresented, underfunded, and underestimated. But the truth is, rural Texas is rich with potential—and it’s time we harness that power. That’s why we’re bringing together organizers, elected officials, activists, and everyday Texans for the Rural Texas Summit 2025.

This isn’t just another political event. It’s a call to action.

💡 Why This Summit Matters

Rural Texans face unique challenges—limited access to healthcare, underfunded schools, economic instability, and political isolation. But these challenges also present opportunities: to organize, to collaborate, and to lead.

The Rural Texas Summit is about building coalitions that last. It’s about creating a space where voices from every corner of the state can be heard, where strategies are shared, and where real, grassroots power is built from the ground up.

We believe that when rural communities are connected and empowered, they can shape the future of Texas.

🎤 What You’ll Experience

Saturday

🔹 Engaging Panels on the Issues That Matter Most

• Talking with Your Rural Neighbors

  Panelists: Jon Mark Hogg, Will Westmoreland

  Moderator: Woodrow Wagner Wilson

• Women Running in Rural Texas

  Panelists: Tanya Lloyd, Theresa Boisseau, Terris Goodwin, Maggie Ellis

  Moderator: Laura Jones

• Urban and Rural Relationships

  Panelists: Pooja Sethi, Ramon Rodriguez Aranda, Carl Jones

• Education Vouchers and the Way Out

  Panelists: Tracy Fisher, Grandparents for Public Education

• Moderator: Nancy Thompson

• Agriculture and Why It Matters for Democrats

  Panelists: Clayton Tucker, Mike Oldman

  Moderator: Judith McQueary

• What’s it like to be an elected Democrat in Rural Texas

  Panelists: Kendric Jones

  Moderator: Thierry Tchenko

Friday panel discussions from 10 am to 3 pm

• DEMS101- Unifying Rural Texas

• Contest Every Race- Helping Rural Democrats recruit candidates.

• THE 134 PAC & Texas Democratic Party: Organizing in Rural Texas: The Way Forward

Plus, a keynote address from Senator Sarah Eckhart and a powerful closing session on Saturday titled “The Way Forward” 

🎉 Friday Night Fundraiser – A Celebration of Rural Leadership

Kick off the summit with an evening of inspiration, music, and community:

• Featured Speakers:

  • Kendall Scudder, New Texas Democratic Party Chairman

  • Nancy Thompson, Founder of Mothers Against Greg Abbott

  • Libby Villari as Ann Richards

• Live Music by Suzanne Choffel

• Silent Auction & Catered Dinner

🎟️ Tickets: $55 (includes dinner and entertainment)

💼 Sponsor or Exhibit

We’re offering sponsorship and vendor opportunities for organizations that want to support rural progress and connect with engaged attendees.

To sponsor and or to reserve a booth follow this link  Rural TX Summit Sponsor & Vendor Form - Google Forms  Make payment to The 134 PAC — Donate via ActBlue

Be Part of the Movement

This summit is about more than two days in Bastrop. It’s about building a long-term framework for collaboration across East, West, North, and South Texas. It’s about creating regional hubs, sharing resources, and continuing the conversation long after the summit ends.

If you care about the future of rural Texas, this is where you need to be.

👉 To register, follow this link   THE 134 PAC Events - 3 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite

👉To plan your trip to Bastrop visit Plan Your Trip to Bastrop, TX | Restaurants, Hotels & Events

Let’s come together to build a stronger, more connected, and more powerful Rural Texas!

Together for Rural Texas,

Carla Schoonover

Co-founder, 134 PAC