our story
Nolan + julia
Sundance & Co. was founded by my husband and I long before we were husband and wife.
Our story began in 2009 when Nolan and I met through mutual friends in our small town. With a strong foundation of frequent ice cream dates, weekends spent jackpotting show pigs, and spontaneous adventures, our relationship grew. For a few years we were simply best friends. Looking back, it was pretty evident we had a crush on each other the whole time… It was also apparently obvious to everyone else.
When I was in the 8th grade a friend said to me, “Ju you’re going to marry Nolan some day.” I laughed and said no way. The month before our wedding I found out from one of Nolan’s friends that around that same campfire that night Nolan told him, “I’m going to marry that girl some day.”
the sundance story
You could say our journey to Sundance & Co. began in the fall of 2015 when we packed up our belongings and moved to Texas. That fall, I began my freshman year at Texas A&M University while Nolan continued his career as an auctioneer in Dallas and added 'Texas Auction Academy Instructor' to his resume. During that first semester, even though I was in good company, I found myself 1,300 miles from home and homesick.
I decided to start a personal blog to help relieve my homesickness. I started blogging weekly about whatever was on my mind. At that same time Nolan and I were also exploring our new state every weekend with a point and shoot camera in tow.
After realizing that agricultural economics was not my calling, I found myself in an Intro to Agricultural Communications class in the spring semester. I was sitting in that class when Dr. Tobin Redwine burst through the doors and enthusiastically asked, “Who wants to go to Namibia?”
I was immediately intrigued by his passion for storytelling and for this sub-Saharan African country he claimed would change my life. He explained a study abroad full of adventure, traveling through Africa taking photographs and wildlife and landscape, learning about agriculture in Namibia, and bunji jumping at Victoria Falls (which, I did). By the end of his spiel I was sold.
Long story short: I applied, I went, and my life was changed.
Just a week after returning from Namibia, friends started asking me if I would take their photos. Then, the rare opportunity came about to become the new livestock photographer for the Somerset County Fair. Ready or not, I knew it was an opportunity I had to take! In less than two weeks time, Nolan and I founded Sundance & Co. and photographed the Somerset County Fair! From there this business grew at rapid pace.
In December of 2018 I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications and Journalism. I was faced with the question of what to do with my life — and I knew there was nothing else I would rather do.
It’s amazing how our business has grown since August 2016. I am blessed to wake up every morning and know that I am living my dream.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being here and for being a part of our story.
Thank you, thank you, thank you,
julia
