12/19/2025
🐎🎰🐎 Stetson Country Christmas
I am feeling so Very Greatful and Blessed and not even sure where to start, let's just say our 1st year at SCC will be one we will never forget.
1st of all I just want to say THANK YOU 🤍 THANK YOU 🤍 THANK YOU 🤍 for all the support everyone has shown.
The Booth was a Hugh success thanks to EVERYONE with Record Breaking Days. I definitely couldn't have done it without my hubby, my sister's, my daughter and my good friends that took time from work, family and events to be with me for several nights and days.
We loved meeting sooooo many new people, customers, and friends. This is where my heart is happy, one on one, face to face connections. And with over 150,000 people walking by my booth ..... whether it was a smile, a how are you, a short chat, or helping you find the perfect fit, it filled my heart ❤️.
Years of traveling the one thing I learned is it the things that don't go as planned, are the things that make the memories. I'm not sure these are the memories I wanted to create, BUT .. I have also found some silver lining.
After 9 ⛽️ fill ups and 18hrs driving we made it to the RIO, and the last 5 minutes Kent's truck was tired. So Sunday afternoon he ran to the auto part store and fixed her right up. We got the truck hooked to the trailer that night so we were ready to unload Monday morning at 9am. As we approached the pickup Monday morning, Kent noticed it was unlocked. We then noticed it had been broken into. Both door handles had been picked, the ignition key bust out, 2 sets of keys and another object missing. There intent was to drive off with the pickup and trailer, but something happened and they ran. Lost items never found.
Tip #1 .. never leave your trailer hooked to your truck in Vegas during NFR. This is something the are waiting for and have succeeded many times over the years.
So this put us behind, as we didnt have a way to move our trailer, thanks to the GroupW and staff they were about get my trailer to the loading dock so we could start our setup. Once unloaded, Kent was able to take an Uber to the Part store to get what was needed to replace the ignition, etc.
There is More .... Wednesday morning Kent flew home while Kassie was taking the flight back to Vegas. During this time Holly and I needed to make a Walmart run for some greenery to finish the decor at the booth. Things took a serious turn as I was merging into a left hand turn lane, a car coming from the other direction tried to use my turning lane to pass a truck in front of her. There was no where to go with traffic surrounding us, and only 2 seconds to hit the breaks befor hitting head on. Holly and I are very sore, bruised, and slow moving. The kindest man witnessed the accident, pulled over and stood with us as we tried to pull our selves together, as fire, medic, and PD arrived. The passengers in the other car were transported to the hospital, I dont know what injures they sustained, but the officer informed me that the driver was handcuffed to the bed, for a DUI.
If you didnt know the the Smiths were also at the RIO with their Rank 1 apparel, Zane's wild rags and Makayla's leather goods. And I will forever be greatful as they stepped in to help when needed. Makayla came to pick us up at the site of the accident, took us to walmart to grab our supplies and then transported Holly to urgent care and back.
Thank goodness my daughter arrived about the same time we did back at the RIO, as we had so much to do to be ready the next day, but there was no way, either Holly or I could lift a box or really do much with the pain we were in.
Thursday... the County Christmas opened, with a rush, and thank goodness for adrenaline, after a great day, we took it easy and checked out the after party and slots. And at this point Holly lost her phone 😩 never showed up, and had to ship a new one in.
1st weekend was crazy crazy busy with wonderful people and friends.
With a few more friends showing up, Will and Brett Miller we're able to help clean out the truck at storage, while Michelle helped at the booth so I could get away to go do paperwork. I was so stressed over trying to get this done, thank you lord for family and friends.
The rest of the event went pretty smooth I think. We hit up Freemont Street with old friends before Holly and Kassie went home and a new fresh round of help came in, my other Sister Kalli who extended her trip another 3 days to help, my friend Tracy, Citori and Seth arrived to finish out the week. Thank goodness, they were there, am not sure how I would have gotten my booth refreshed every night without them. It's so frustrating when you can't lift anything. But we has a great time doing some shopping at the SCC and took in the sights at the Botanical Conservatory at the bellagio.
Kent drove back down and arrived on Saturday, let just say in was sooooo happy to see him 10 days after the accident. We (probably hould say They) got the booth packed Sunday night and the trailer loaded Monday morning. Thanks to Kent, Citori, Seth, the union workers and even the security helped when he found out why I was just standing there give instructions instead of lifting and hauling boxes. 😊
The Hospitality of the GroupW Production staff was so good to us. Making sure if I needed help they got it for us. From moving the trailer when needed, to helping me get and load boxes from the trailer during the week for new inventory and just checking to make sure we were OK.
The silver lining is making so many new friends that feel more like family.
We made it home late Tuesday night. Wednesday I slept in and went to the Dr. - Gave me some meds to help with pain. I'm feeling better for the most part, came home with a head cold that hurts like heck when I sneeze, cough or blow my nose. Still hurts when reaching or trying to pick things up sometimes. But Christmas is only days away and I am not ready. 🎄🛍
Christmas gifts and a new Truck.
Oh ... I wasn't sure if "Jon" was going to let me go back after the way it started, but he decided it was such a great event I could sign up for next year 🎉, so the paper work and deposit have been turned in for Stetson Country Christmas 2026.
We learned alot this 1st year and are excited for what's to come.
The website is still on VACATION, as I will need time to unpack it and recount inventory. I'm guessing that will be after Christmas as I am ready to enjoy the Holidays with Family.
Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas
From
Tara Jane and Kenton Jon
