Hill Country Telephone Cooperative (HCTC) is directing $10,000 to each of the 26 schools across its service area, a total commitment of $260,000 that underscores the cooperative's deep investment in the communities it serves. Madysen McDonald of HCTC explained the decision on How Texas Youth Are Changing The Game at VentureFest, a podcast episode of The Building Texas Show hosted by Justin McKenzie. McDonald said the timing was right because "there's a lot of communities right now that need it," and the co-op is "really excited to see how they can use that money to help them and help their students." The donation is significant not only for its size but for what it represents: a rural utility choosing to return surplus value to the next generation, rather than distributing it to distant shareholders.
The cooperative's engagement extends beyond dollars. On Friday nights, HCTC sets up a tent near the ticket gate at football games such as Comfort vs. Ingram and Mason vs. Junction, handing out trinkets and prizes to fans on both sides. McDonald noted that students often approach the tent saying, "Hey, my parents have HCTC. We love you." This grassroots presence builds loyalty and demonstrates that the co-op is part of the community fabric, not just a service provider. Such visibility matters in rural areas where personal connections often determine trust in institutions.
Those same students are the focus of Hill Country Venture Fest in Mason, where McKenzie served as emcee. He observed that pitching a business in front of hundreds of people builds resilience, a quality that will serve students well beyond the classroom. McDonald shared the enthusiasm: "I can't wait to see how these kids' brains are working." By supporting entrepreneurship early, HCTC helps cultivate a mindset that could lead to new businesses and jobs in the region, addressing the outmigration that often plagues rural Texas.
HCTC's service area stretches from Ingram to Fredericksburg and out to Big Lake, including Mason, Sonora, Junction and El Dorado. The co-op began with landline service and has expanded into fiber and fixed wireless, the latter reaching ranch properties where running fiber from the gate is impractical. McKenzie noted that a landline can still be a lifeline when cell service fails and someone needs to call 911. This mix of legacy and modern infrastructure reflects the cooperative's mission to keep rural residents connected regardless of geography or economic circumstance. More information is available at Hill Country Telephone Cooperative.
For McDonald, the cooperative difference is personal. HCTC employees live in the communities they serve, so members see them at the grocery store and at T-ball games. That proximity creates accountability and a shared stake in local outcomes. The best way to give back, she said, is to show up at HCTC events and stay connected through its social media pages. McKenzie closed on the cooperative spirit: when the business is local, the money goes back into the community's kids, teams and events like Hill Country Venture Fest. The full conversation is available on https://www.buildingtexasshow.com.
