Greenville
Life
PUBLISHER
Lisa Chappell
EDITORIAL CONTENT
Alex Havardasky Travis Hairgrove
Laurie White King Kent Miller
ADVERTISING
Holly Day Miranda Lopez
DESIGN & COMPOSITION
Ashley Garey
COVER PHOTO
Laurie White King
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Greenville Life Magazine 2305 King St.
Greenville, TX 75401
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Copyright ® 2026 Greenville Life A Publication of
Bringing you compelling and entertaining stories from across Hunt County
From a berry farm birthed by a couple of newbies to a life-saving kidney transplant, a new football coach building“ magic,” a centuries-old Austrian noble lineage turned East Texas A & M rodeo cowboy, a cotton empire that built a city, summer fun and learning and a 132-mile trail across Northeast Texas, this issue of Greenville Life spans some of Hunt County’ s most compelling and entertaining stories.
More Than Just Berries Blackland Berry Farm near Royse City was founded by Justin Orrick and his father David after personal loss. Starting with 18 acres, it has grown into a pick-your-own destination featuring blackberry fields, picnic spaces and natural shaved ice for families.
A Picture of Health
Greenville attorney Dan Perkins faced Stage 5 kidney failure before an unexpected transplant restored his health. After urgent surgery and recovery, he returned to advocacy work, grateful for his family, doctors and the rapid turnaround that changed his life.
Looking To Make a Little‘ Magic’
New Greenville ISD athletic director Chris Castillo, a Palmdale native and former college and Texas high school coach including work with Koy Detmer, leads with experience shaped by his parents Nick and Denise. He focuses on growth, opportunity and making a little“ MAGIC” in local athletics.
The Count of Commerce Clemens Herberstein, descended
FROM THE EDITOR
Kent Miller
from Austrian nobility and a former soldier in the 6th Mountain Brigade, is the cover story of this issue. Now at East Texas A & M University, he left Europe for Texas, joined the rodeo team and pursued saddle bronc riding before injury ended his competitive career.
When Cotton Was King
Greenville, founded in 1846 and named for Thomas Jefferson Green, rose as the“ Cotton Capital of the World” after the railroad arrived in 1880. Fueled by rich soil, cotton compress records and global trade, it became a major North Texas agricultural hub.
A Mix of Summer Fun and Learning
Summer break in Hunt County brings“ summer fun and learning” to Greenville and Commerce, where families explore the Audie Murphy / American Cotton Museum, interactive children’ s exhibits and East Texas A & M’ s planetarium for hands-on history, science and space exploration.
Hitting the Trail
The NorthEast Texas Trail stretches 132 miles across 19 towns from Farmersville along a former rail line. With paved stretches, gravel paths and historic bridges, it offers hikers, cyclists and riders outdoor recreation and small-town connections across Northeast Texas.
And don’ t forget to don your best chef’ s apron to try your luck with one of our yummy recipes or see how many of your neighbors you can spot looking back at you in our It’ s Your Life photos.
4 GREENVILLE LIFE