This year’s TCR Hostess, Jewellee Kuenstler, is no stranger to the farming and ranching way of life. Born and raised in Lueders, Texas, Jewellee grew up working alongside her family on their farm, where she learned the value of hard work, community, and tradition. Her parents, Jackie and Peggy Jordan, instilled in her a deep appreciation for her roots.

Jewellee is a 1990 graduate of Lueders-Avoca High School. In 1992, she married the love of her life, Tracy Kuenstler. Their son, TJ, now 25, has followed in his father’s footsteps as a pilot and continues the family’s legacy as a Stamford resident.

Jewellee’s passion for education and history has shaped much of her career. She graduated from McMurry University in 2007 with a degree in Education. She went on to teach history in high school and middle school for 10 years, where she shared her love for the past with a new generation of students.

That same love for history led Jewellee to author the WWII book Heavy Date: Over Germany. She continued her dedication to preserving and sharing local history by becoming the Director of the Museum of the West Texas Frontier in Stamford in 2021. Her work earned her the distinction of Citizen of the Year in 2024.

The Texas Cowboy Reunion has been a lifelong tradition for Jewellee. She never missed a TCR growing up and has many fond memories of watching her family and friends compete. She recalls her cousin Sara racing barrels as a TCR sponsor in 1991, and proudly watched her son TJ win a buckle in the Casey Mathis Memorial Steer Riding in 2012.

Jewellee is honored and excited to represent Stamford and be a part of the long and storied tradition of the Texas Cowboy Reunion. Her lifelong connection to the land, her deep love of history, and her unwavering commitment to her community make her the perfect choice as this year’s TCR Hostess.