Texas heat wave forces Fort Worth Herd to adjust Stockyards cattle drive for the summer
The Fort Worth Herd is pausing its afternoon show amid the Texas heat.
Since 1999, the Fort Worth Herd has been droving cattle daily through the Stockyards — leading 17 longhorns down East Exchange Avenue., each animal represent a decade of Cowtown’s colorful history.
The Herd drives cattle twice daily at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Because of the heat wave that has gripped North Texas, the 4 p.m. show has been paused until July 31.
“It’s not unusual for us to make adjustments to our scheduling due to the weather or other conditions,” trail boss Kristin Jaworski said. “Whether it be a thunderstorm, a tornado warning, an ice storm and in this case, it’s a heat wave.”
The schedule change comes amid a scorcher across North Texas, where temperatures are expected to be 104 on Tuesday and 107 degrees on Wednesday.
Due to the extremes of Texas weather, the Herd is in constant communication with livestock specialists and meteorologists to best accommodate its cattle and drovers, Jaworski said. While the afternoon drive is paused, the 11:30 a.m. cattle drive and 1 p.m. behind-the-scenes experience is still occurring in the Stockyards.
As July 31 approaches, the Herd will continue to monitor the weather and make a decision on the afternoon drive.
“We’re hopeful and optimistic that this heat wave is not long lasting,” Jaworski said.
