We had been impatiently awaiting OPENING DAY at the STATE FAIR OF TEXAS, and that day finally arrived and found us on the road to Fair Park at 8:00 a. m. with each of us sipping a Diet Coke from our local 7-11 (great carbonation and friendly service) and anticipating the Fletcher’s Corny Dogs that would be our noon meal!
The grinning/friendly gentleman at the toll booth appeared to be the same one who helped us last year, and again we were directed to park not exactly where we wanted (It was now designated a handicapped area only.) but pretty close to the entry/exit gates. Entrance there was easier and faster than ever, even though the umbrella I was carrying for emergency use set off the “alarm.” We were happy to see several security people and also some friendly police officers as we made our way to the information booths that provided “opening day” buttons, a map of the grounds, and special tote bags.
Things we saw included the automobile buildings, which helped us to decide that the Ford Bronco Sport is “cute but too small,” according to Vivian, and that the Chevy Trailblazer looked better and had more features than Don had expected. We decided the Ford Expedition was too large and too expensive and too gas guzzling for just the two of us to use!
Also, the “Go-Texan Pavilion” (presented by Southwest Dairy Farmers) provided many samples of some really good jerky, toffee, cookies, honey, salsa, and the best in my opinion, an ice cream sandwich. I will admit, we came back in a few hours and each sampled another one that was just the same and just as tasty!
As we strolled the grounds, we sampled various beverages, listened to the spokespersons tell us theirs is the best, and looked over all the food offerings, before succumbing to the long-awaited Fletcher’s Corny Dogs, slathered with mustard. While we ate those, we listened to “Angel White” and his band play and sing some pretty good music and talked to some “youngsters” (probably all under 30 years of age), who wanted the spots at our table and then told us their “stories” when over we scooted!
Next, we walked through the barn that housed the Budweiser Clydesdale Horses, and watched them being showered and prepped for the parade.
That was followed by a trip to the “birthing barn,” and we were enthralled by the baby chicks.
Next, to the livestock areas and views of goats and sheep—hundreds of them “all prettied up.”
Then, on to the “Giant Pig” (Boris, the Champion Big Boar) that weighed 1,000 pounds and mainly slept and ate and snorted.
The Tower Building Food Court also enticed us with so many offerings that we just decided to eat from booths outside!
On to the Creative Arts building where we saw some winning entries by Forney Folks—Mary Nichols and Nancy Townsend, the butter sculpture, and a “cooking show” with samples of “fried egg” rolls. We walked through the Midway and r eminisced about some of our first visits as newly-marrieds and newly parents and the games to which we had given our hard-earned money in order to win glasses and ashtrays and little fuzzy animals.
We saw “Sarah Twister,” who could bend herself into shapes that almost made me squirm and cry for fear she would hurt herself— but never did!
The Starlight Parade and its “floats,” sponsored by Kroger, were a welcome interlude while we found some shade and places to sit, and there were also marching bands, baton twirlers, dancers, etc.
Next, we saw “Street Circus” and a young lady who performed with Hula Hoops and twirled about 30 at one time!
The HIGHLIGHT of this first day was the REAL Championship RODEO (UPRA) in the arena, which was jam-packed. The contestants were “champions,” trying to increase their yearly records and earnings and were better than most I have seen in a long time. And all the events were covered— ladies’ barrel racing, bare-back bucking horse riding, calf-roping, saddle bronc riding, steer-wrestling, “ranch-horse” riding, bull-riding, tie-down roping, team roping, women’s break-away roping, and more.
And, there was a REAL RODEO CLOWN!
As we walked back to the Escape and found it still in good shape (after we searched a little bit), we looked back upon a wonderful day that had made us feel a little younger and ready to go back soon.
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