The cattle ranching life in Friona
The livestock that free roam across the Texas Panhandle have always been central to Friona. Back when it was initially established in the early 1900s, Friona was a farmer’s town along the Pecos Valley and Northern Texas Railway that completed construction of its first post office, school and church buildings. But after the Cargill food company opened a meat-processing plant 4 miles southwest of the city, it brought 2,000 jobs to the area and seasonal tourists who come through for the annual Cheeseburger Festival every summer. “The Cheeseburger Festival started because of the three separate industries in Friona – agriculture, dairy and meat-packing,” 20-year Dimmit resident Halley Wales says. “Cheeseburgers combine all three of those things.” With various restaurants, a local school system and low-cost houses well below the national average, it’s clear why the Texas State Legislature declared Friona the Cheeseburger Capital of Texas.
Mexican restaurants and burgers by West 11th Street
Dining establishments are primarily clustered to the north along West 11th Street. Becky’s is a Latin American joint that serves breakfast and lunch burritos and tacos, while Carniceria Hernandez and the La Casita Restaurant are a few Mexican eateries well-known for their tacos and quesadillas. Hunan’s Thai Cuisine is the local Chinese restaurant, and Pam’s Kitchen serves burgers and pizza from a Phillips 66 gas station. The 412 Coffee Shop serves lattes and espresso drinks, and Tortilla Martinez makes fresh homemade flour and corn tortillas. There are also a few convenience stores and dollar shops, as well as a Lowe’s Market grocery store.
Country homes with large acreage
Ranch-style homes are mainly located within a gridiron street pattern south of the highway. Driving down the gravel roads leads to fenced homes with patchy lawns, some of which have small gates, trees and cacti. Average-sized single-family homes with quarter-acre lots cost $100,000 to $250,000, while larger homes with four bedrooms and six-car garages will be between $250,000 and $400,000. Two-story country homes with 10-acre lots and horse stables will be most expensive in the $400,000 to $500,000 range.
City parks and playgrounds around Chieftan Stadium
Friona has a handful of parks and recreational spaces around the community. Playgrounds can be found in the city park by Main Street, by the local elementary school and by the community center to the north, which hosts small events year-round including stock shows, banquets and Quinceaneras. Baseball and softball fans can practice their swings at the sports fields to the south by the railroad tracks, while high school football fans can catch local games at the Chieftan Stadium during the fall.
FFA learning through Friona ISD
There are three schools within the community managed by the Friona Independent School District, which has a C-plus on Niche and a competitive FFA program. “One of their FFA teams went to state this year,” Wales says. “There’s a great emphasis on community and being there for each other.” Friona Elementary occasionally takes its students on field trips to Amarillo and has a C. The Friona junior and high school campuses both have low student-teacher ratios of 10-to-1 and 9-to-1 with B-minus ratings on Niche.
The Cheeseburger Capital of Texas
The city of Friona attracts thousands of visitors from across the High Plains every summer for its annual Cheeseburger Festival. Held since 2006, this cook-off competition pits teams against each other to see who can make the best burger for a cash prize. Besides burgers fresh off the grill, the annual event also features music, face painting and water games.
Routes and highways to Amarillo and Lubbock
Friona is over 70 miles west of both Amarillo and Lubbock, with both cities reachable within an hour-and-a-half drive. “It’s in a really good location,” Wales says. “You still have access to the big city, but you also have a better connection with your community.” U.S. Route 60 leads over 20 miles northeast to Hereford or around 25 miles southwest to the border of New Mexico. Texas State Highway 214 runs around 60 miles north to Interstate 40 or around 30 miles south to U.S. Route 84. The Panhandle Transportation Group offers rides to surrounding communities ranging between $2 and $35 depending on the distance. The Friona Rural Health Clinic is open for 24 hours Monday through Friday.
