FUN IN FORT WORTH: BEM-VINDO, BRASIL!

What an incredible experience! Unlike anything we’ve ever really done, it was an honor – and truly a treat – to host a bevvy of Brazilians in the Stockyards store on Thursday evening, welcoming them to Fort Worth for the Brazilian PBR festivities this weekend.

Recently, we spotlighted Maria Paula Maia, the Brazilian beauty and online presence who introduced us to the whole Brazilian scene, and in turn, introduced DDR to many of her peers in the rodeo realm. It sparked a flame and became a friendship, and through her, we learned about the robust rodeo community and the upcoming PBR event. As luck would have it, our friend and former Miss Rodeo, Kennadee Riggs, is also connected in that community (and fluent in Portuguese!) and she was instrumental in connecting and coordinating – huge thanks to her! A lot of folks expressed a strong interest in an event, and we were enamored with the idea, so we put together a little welcome party.

And boy, oh boy, was it a success!

“It was a FULL house!” Leeann laughed. “You could hardly move in the store. Everyone was so kind, it was such a great group and good turnout. Truly beautiful people, too! It was our pleasure to have them, but they were very grateful to have the Brazilian rodeo community feel celebrated and ‘seen’.”

The guest of honor was legendary bull rider Adriano Moraes – think, Lane Frost of South America – who graciously agreed to autograph dozens of the signature scarves we had created custom for this event. He was joined by his lovely wife Flávia, and three sons, Antonio, Pedro, and Jeremias, and Jeremias’ wife, Júlia. And, of course, we were thrilled that Maria Maia was able to make it!

“It was an all-around win of an event,” added Leeann. “We made a lot of new friends, and they were loving the leather bikers. I think we all left on a happy high.”