“I am the First and the Last.” – Isaiah 44:6

First and foremost, we acknowledge that God is the foundation of everything we do. Without Him, none of this would be possible. Every opportunity, every success, every relationship, and every blessing comes from Him. Our goal is to honor God through our actions, our stewardship, and the way we serve others.

The Marshmaster Classic was founded with a simple vision: create excitement around Texas alligator hunting, celebrate the heritage of our region, and bring people together around a tradition that makes our community unique.

What began as a hunting competition has grown into something much larger. The Marshmaster Classic is a twenty-day event designed to highlight the alligator season, promote local businesses, support conservation, and create opportunities for people to participate in something they can be proud of.

The Roundup serves as the community celebration of the Marshmaster Classic season.

Its purpose is to bring together hunters, families, local businesses, youth organizations, nonprofits, and visitors in a way that celebrates our heritage, strengthens community involvement, and creates opportunities for others to succeed.

While the Marshmaster Classic highlights the alligator season, the Roundup is designed to highlight the people, organizations, traditions, and values that make our community special.

While we honor and respect the legacy of the Texas Gator Fest and Alligator Roundup tradition, along with the countless volunteers, organizers, hunters, sponsors, and community members who built it over the decades, the Roundup represents a new chapter. It is built upon the same appreciation for our heritage while creating new opportunities for future generations.

The Roundup is intended to honor the traditions that helped make Anahuac known as the Alligator Capital of Texas while creating a sustainable event that benefits the community, supports local organizations, and preserves those traditions for years to come.

Our mission is not simply to host an event.

Our mission is to create an experience that benefits the entire community.

We believe local youth organizations, school groups, nonprofits, churches, civic organizations, and community groups should have opportunities to raise funds and showcase their efforts through the Roundup. Whenever possible, these organizations will be given priority opportunities to participate, raise money, and benefit from the event.

The goal is not to take opportunities away from these organizations, but rather to create new opportunities for them. The Roundup is intended to provide a platform where local groups can generate revenue, recruit supporters, showcase their programs, and strengthen community involvement.

Sponsorships and event revenues are used first to fund the infrastructure required to safely and professionally operate the Marshmaster Classic and the Roundup. These expenses include, but are not limited to:

Insurance

Security personnel

Sheriff's Office support and law enforcement coordination

Emergency services planning

Fencing and crowd control

Lighting and light plants

Generators and electrical service

Portable restrooms

Sanitation services

Trash removal

Stage and entertainment expenses

Public safety measures

Operational equipment and logistics

Public safety is a top priority. The Marshmaster Classic is committed to working alongside local law enforcement, emergency services, county officials, and community partners to ensure a family-friendly environment that is organized, secure, and enjoyable for all participants and visitors.

Any profits generated beyond operating expenses are intended to strengthen the future of the event and reduce reliance on sponsorships in future years. Our goal is to build a sustainable event that can continue for generations.

As resources allow, the Marshmaster Classic intends to reinvest in the community through three primary initiatives:

Youth Development

Supporting youth organizations, teams, clubs, and activities that positively impact young people in our community.

Scholarships

Providing scholarships not only for traditional college students, but also for students pursuing trade schools, vocational training, certifications, apprenticeships, and other career pathways.

We believe success comes in many forms, and we want to support hardworking young people who demonstrate character, integrity, good morals, personal responsibility, and a commitment to improving themselves and their communities.

Community Revitalization

Supporting projects and initiatives that improve the quality of life in our community and preserve the places and traditions that make our area special.

Our vision is simple.

To create an event that celebrates our heritage, supports our community, creates opportunities for others, and ensures that the traditions surrounding Texas alligator hunting continue to thrive for future generations.

The success of the Marshmaster Classic and the Roundup will not be measured solely by attendance numbers or financial results.

Success will be measured by:

The positive impact made on our community

The opportunities created for local organizations

The preservation of our traditions

The safety of our guests

The support provided to our youth

The relationships built with sponsors and volunteers

Our ability to leave the event stronger and more sustainable for future generations

This is more than an event. It is an investment in our community, our traditions, and our future.

Our vision is simple.

To create an event that celebrates our heritage, supports our community, creates opportunities for others, and ensures that the traditions surrounding Texas alligator hunting continue to thrive for future generations.

The success of the Marshmaster Classic and the Roundup will not be measured solely by attendance numbers or financial results.

Success will be measured by:

The positive impact made on our community

The opportunities created for local organizations

The preservation of our traditions

The safety of our guests

The support provided to our youth

The relationships built with sponsors and volunteers

Our ability to leave the event stronger and more sustainable for future generations

This is more than an event. It is an investment in our community, our traditions, and our future.

This is more than an event. It is an investment in our community, our traditions, and our future.

Lindsay and Casey Hedges:

Hedges family, here! My name is Lindsay Hedges, and my husband, Casey and I were born and raised here in Anahuac and are more than proud to be raising our children here. Anahuac has so much history and we have a sense of pride in growing up being taught that we were the “Alligator Capital of Texas”. The Lord has blessed us in many ways, and in 2018 he presented the opportunity to get involved with Porter’s Processing and Alligator Farm. After two years of learning from the legacy that is Mark Porter, Casey and I purchased and have continued to run and grow this small business that is such a force in the alligator industry and in the tradition of this community for the last 30+ years.

We’ve also been blessed to open a seasonal restaurant in town, the Crawfish Hideaway Anahuac, that has allowed us to become even more deeply rooted in the community. We try to stay active in our local church, FBC Anahuac, and it has taught us that above all, loving God and giving Him the glory, loving people, serving, and giving back are some of the utmost qualities that have brought us to where we are today. We strive to serve in the church, our businesses, our workplaces, and through other local organizations to be able to give back any chance we get! Casey’s idea of the Marsh Master Classic three years ago was to ignite the passion into the alligator hunting world again. This will be the fourth annual Marsh Master Classic, and we are honored to keep the legacy of a community event alive through the Marsh Master Roundup. This non-profit organization will be beneficial and give back to the community and its inhabitants in many ways. Our goal is to bring families together, support local and small businesses, and give future generations the opportunity to experience the same pride we have had growing up here in this great town of Anahuac, TX.

Becca Kincade:

I am proud to call Anahuac home. My husband, Chris, and I, along with our five children, chose to move here in August 2022 because we were looking for the kind of small-town community where we could put down roots and raise our family. At the time, I was finishing my final three years of active-duty military service before retiring, and we knew Anahuac was where we wanted to build our future.

From the day we arrived, I looked for opportunities to become involved in the community. My first true Anahuac experience was volunteering at the 2022 Gatorfest, where I quickly fell in love with the people, the traditions, and the sense of pride that makes this community so special. Soon after, our family became friends with the Hedges family, who introduced me to Porters Processing and Alligator Farm. Through that experience, I gained an even greater appreciation for the heritage, conservation efforts, and traditions surrounding alligators and the people who have built this community.

To me, the Marsh Master Roundup is about more than an event—it’s about celebrating the traditions that make Anahuac unique while bringing neighbors, families, and visitors together. It represents the pride, history, and community spirit that first drew my family here and continues to make Anahuac feel like home.