Why I Call Texas Home
- Sammi Lee Davis
- Jul 18
- 3 min read
Living in Texas has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Choosing to stay in a small Texas town? Life-changing.
Now, I know there are probably folks in my life who bristle at the idea that I have no desire to move back to Colorado—the place I grew up. I’ve even met people who look at me sideways when they find out I traded the “beauty” of Colorado for the rugged, wide-open Texas Panhandle.
One woman asked me outright: “If Colorado went back to how it was when you were growing up, would you move back?”
My answer?
“No. But I’d probably visit more often. Maybe retire there someday. Right now? Wheeler and the Texas Panhandle is home.”
So what’s life here really like?
We may not have a Walmart. Or a FedEx store. Or even a bar to grab a cold one after a long day.
But what we do have?
We have people who show up—without hesitation. People who care, deeply and genuinely. People who don’t ask, “What’s in it for me?”—they just help.
And honestly… what is beauty if it costs you connection?
What good is a scenic view if it’s the only community you’ve got?
How does a state’s “aesthetic” compare to a town where even acquaintances care enough to ask again when your “I’m fine” sounds a little too shaky?
I’ve lived in a lot of places. Visited even more. Every state has its friendly folks and kind faces, and when you're lucky, you find pockets of purpose and warmth.
But I’ve never been in a whole town that cared—until Texas. Even in Austin, a HUGE city, I was overwhelmed with how friendly it was. I saw this state’s spirit in action. When floods came, Texans mobilized within hours. They didn’t wait for government orders or wade through red tape to start helping. They just showed up—even after losing their own homes.
I see it every day here in Wheeler County.
Over and over again, people step up for one another. And through my work with non-profits, I’ve seen this heart echoed across the Panhandle. The Amarillo Area Foundation inspires me every time I visit—because this spirit of giving is contagious.
And nowhere is that spirit more evident than during The Panhandle Gives—a weeklong giving campaign that raised a record-breaking $11.7 million in 2024 for nonprofits across the region. Think about that. $11.7 million.From one of the most rural areas in Texas, where wide-open skies stretch over communities with fewer than 10 people per square mile in some counties.
We may not have the numbers of Dallas or Houston—but what we do have? Is heart.
That’s why, with a big smile, I say:
“I’m from Texas.”
So please—if you’re reading this—take a moment to support one of the organizations or fundraisers listed below. They’re not just helping our community—they’re helping families all across Texas.
And keep the folks in the Texas Hill Country in your thoughts and prayers as they face extreme devastation. Texans show up for each other. Let’s keep showing up.
Local Fundraiser & Local Texas Hill Country Giving Resources
Missy Oltmanns & Outlaw Daisy T-Shirt Fundraiser - for the Brown Family
Wreaths Across America 'Christmas in July' Campaign - Sponsor a Wreath
Amarillo Area Foundation - Texas Hill Country
Happy State Bank - Donations to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, Inc. flood relief fund can be made at any Happy State Bank branch location - https://happybank.com/locations/