Day of service: Texans shrug off rain to serve community during Tarleton’s annual round up.

Photo/TSU Media Relations

TSU Media Relations

Special to Beneath the Surface News

More than 1,500 Texans braved the wet weather Saturday, March 7, to pitch in on an array of community projects during the annual Tarleton Round Up.

Tarleton Round Up is the largest yearly day of service organized by Tarleton State University students.

The campus-wide initiative organizes students, faculty, staff and community members to volunteer throughout Stephenville and the surrounding area.

Students representing groups across the university including clubs, professional organizations, fraternities and sports teams, as well as self-formed independent crews, worked at over 135 job sites helping residents and community organizations.

Tasks ranged from painting, organizing and cleaning to trimming trees, hauling off brush, raking leaves and various other projects.

“Despite the rainy weather we were able to have a successful 2026 Tarleton Round Up,” said Ericka Key, Assistant Director of Campus Life and Family Engagement. “Students came out and served through the rain.”

Organizing and carrying out this year’s operation was a team of 43 student leaders who went through an application and interview process to be a part of the planning group.

Potential projects were submitted and evaluated before the final list of service areas was determined, said Kallie McCall, 2026 student director of the Tarleton Round Up.

McCall said for her, the most rewarding part of Tarleton Round Up is watching students step up to serve the community that supports Tarleton State.

“Round Up represents the heart of the university, students coming together to serve something bigger than themselves, making a lasting impact on the Stephenville area,” she said.

“It’s more than a day of service; it’s a tradition that shows what our students can accomplish when we come together to serve our community.”

For more information about Round Up and how to get involved in the future, email roundup@tarleton.edu.