NEWS & PRESS

If you’ve spent any time at Two Step Farm, you’ve probably crossed paths with Leslie — or at least felt the Texas-sized ripple of her work. She’s the spark behind the warm welcomes, the neighborly connections and that easy sense of belonging that seems to show up the moment folks arrive. With a background in placemaking and community strategy, she’s here to help define what it really means to be a Two Step resident. And in a community built on Texas music, wide-open nature and good ol’ Montgomery County hospitality, that’s no small job.

We sat down with Leslie to chat about her work, her Texas roots and what she’s most excited to bring to life as Two Step Farm keeps growing.

Where Leslie steps in

Q: How would you describe your role at Two Step Farm?

A: My role is all about deep placemaking, creating an environment of engagement instead of simple involvement. I want residents to take an active role in shaping this place — that spirit is what makes Two Step, and Texas, so special.

Q: What part of your role lights you up most?

A: Seeing people connect. Watching neighbors become part of something bigger always gives me that warm, contagious feeling. The kind that reminds you you’re in the right place.

Why Two Step Farm feels like home

What excites Leslie most about Two Step Farm is how deeply Texas runs through it: not just in Two Step Hall or the Farm Shop, but in the people, the pace and that easy Texas warmth you can’t fake. To her, the partnership with Texas Music Project, the spotlight on local artists and the love for preserving dance hall culture all come together like a well-played fiddle line. It’s Texas stitched into every corner.

Community experiences with a Texas beat

Q: What kinds of gatherings or traditions do you think will resonate here?

A: Anything tied to music, nature or farming. Every experience should connect back to one of those three in some way.

Q: How do you see events evolving as more residents move in?

A: We’ll start small and personal, then scale into bigger celebrations that bring everyone together. Even as events grow, I want the connection to feel intimate, like you’re part of something warm and familiar.

The Leslie behind the work

Leslie’s Texas story runs long and true. Her family’s been rooted here since the early 1900s and music has been running right alongside them. She’s a classically trained musician, a former flute performance major and even spent time in Austria prepping for a life as a professional performer. So when she talks about the soul of Texas music, she isn’t just whistlin’ Dixie — she’s lived it.

It’s no wonder Two Step Farm’s commitment to Texas artists and music education hits so close to home for her.

Q: After a long day, what’s your favorite way to unwind?

A: Jammies, my cat and a lineup of true crime, action flicks or horror movies.

Q: What’s something residents might be surprised to learn about you?

A: That I’m a classically trained musician who spent most of my life studying music and once planned to pursue it professionally.

Looking ahead at Two Step Farm

Q: What’s one thing you’re most excited for residents to experience next year?

A: Two Step Hall and The Co-Op, of course, but more than anything I can’t wait to watch people gather in these spaces. There’s something magical about seeing a community find its rhythm in the places built for them. When people start to feel a sense of belonging, I get the warm feelies!

With Leslie helping shape the experience, Two Step Farm’s future looks neighborly, musical and rooted in the spirit of Texas. (Just the way it ought to be.)