The title of “trail boss” conjures up images of a leader who is tough talking but fair, trying to get an unruly herd to the stockyard without anyone getting hurt or lost.

Novella Heffington is a modern day trail boss for the Official Texas Star Trail Ride and she’s heading up a couple of dozen wagons and scores of horses, getting them to move along from La Grange to the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo in Austin and she’s got a lot riding on her shoulders.

The trail ride starts with a parade through La Grange and makes overnight stops at Smithville, Bastrop, Elgin and Manor, ending with a parade onto the grounds of the rodeo in Austin.

Heffington is in her sixth year with the ride and says being trail boss on a large trail ride means riding herd on a lot of things.

“I’ve got great assistants and I try to delegate to them, but there’s a lot to do lining up scouts, campsites, getting permits, bands, food and catering, buttons and badges, printing, mailing and even getting the sound truck ready,” Heffington said. “I don’t think folks realize how much there is to do.”

The trail ride promotes the Austin rodeo and despite all the work, it’s also a lot of fun.

“Its crazy, its a big family reunion,” Heffington said. “You get to see folks you haven’t seen in a long time.”

Heffington, who has been trail riding for almost 40 years, says safety is very important. Scouts help the riders get down the road safely, working with local law enforcement to provide traffic control along the highway and country roads. They also keep the group together and in true trail ride fashion, keep the stragglers moving along. Scouts provide assistance with wagons and skittish horses and keep an eye out for everyone along the trail.

The group averages about 12 miles a day but has a long run from Bastrop to Elgin, covering 21 miles.

The riders will camp at Riverbend Park in Smithville on Monday, March 8. When they hit the trail the next morning they will parade down Loop 230 in Smithville on their way to Bastrop.

The wagon train will stay at the American Legion Hall and Rodeo grounds in Bastrop on Tuesday, March 9. That evening, a country and western dance with Pauline Reese and High County will start at 8:30 p.m. at the hall.

“We are real grateful to our sponsors. We wouldn’t be able to do this without them,” Heffington said.

Heffington said the Official Texas Star Trail Ride is a non-profit organization that also relies on donations from supporters.

“Donations are a big part of making the ride happen,” Heffington said. “Any funds that are left after the ride are put into the Livestock Show auction for the kids. Three years ago we bought the champion goat, which was from Smithville.”
Heffington said this is the first year in a long time that she won’t be riding Indigo, her 18-year old Appaloosa.

“He was a three-time cancer survivor and I really miss him,” she said. “He lost his battle with cancer on Jan. 2 of this year.”

For more information about the trail ride, schedules and sponsors go to www.texasstarrodeotrailride.com/.