Barbecue brought Ashley Weaver to UTA.
Dayne’s Craft Barbecue was started by Ashley and her husband, Dayne, in Fort Worth. Ashley Weaver wanted to know how to best propel the business, so she earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations from UTA in 2020.
“I was fortunate to be able to put into practice many of the assignments I had,” she says. “My mock assignments in the classroom were real-life happenings with our business. My professors embraced that and supported me in putting those lessons into practice.”
Ashley Weaver’s public relations degree helped propel Dayne’s Craft Barbecue to success.
Education and barbecue weren’t the only things on her mind when she was finishing up her degree, though. She was also pregnant with her fourth child. By then, though, the total commitment to barbecue was beginning to take shape.
“Barbecue was an outlet, but it was a hobby still. It’s not a cheap hobby, though,” she says. “You have fridges full of briskets. There’s only so much you can do to convince your kids to eat brisket for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
The Weavers began catering neighborhood celebrations and other events. They had pop-ups in their yard, and people started making inquiries. Now, Dayne’s is a staple in Fort Worth, and they’ll be moving to a new building in the fall. Texas Monthly named it one of the Top 50 BBQ Joints in Texas for 2021. Ashley Weaver says the recognition has made them extremely busy.
How do they stay on top of it all? Dayne handles the meat, while a small team of employees helps manage the kitchen, carry the sides, and set up trays for hungry customers. And, of course, Ashley handles everything else.
