A couple of weeks ago (before the Texas A&M football team began its swan dive), we took a week in Dallas for a couple of football games and a visit to the Texas State Fair. In our 33 years in Texas, this was our first time to visit the state fair. Some people think the fair is great and can't wait for it to open every year. Our take was -- as usual -- just a little different.
Big Tex Big Tex
What the heck do Big Tex, cholesterol, and the Mattress Firm all have in common? Well, it seems they are the three mainstays of the Texas State Fair.
Big Tex is pretty easy to understand. He is an icon and considered the face of the fair. He has been its face since 1952 when he was bought by the fair from the city of Kerens, Texas where Tex spent his first two years as the "World's Biggest Santa."
Tex was rebuilt sometime in the 1990s, and then during the final week of the 2012 fair Big Tex caught fire and burned. So there have been two different times the fair has had the chance to create a great statue. Unfortunately, they failed both times. Big Tex is truly the ugliest, most awkward statue I have ever seen. But he is the face of the Texas State Fair. After all he is 55 feet tall, and he does talk.
What the heck do Big Tex, cholesterol, and the Mattress Firm all have in common? Well, it seems they are the three mainstays of the Texas State Fair.
Big Tex is pretty easy to understand. He is an icon and considered the face of the fair. He has been its face since 1952 when he was bought by the fair from the city of Kerens, Texas where Tex spent his first two years as the "World's Biggest Santa."
Tex was rebuilt sometime in the 1990s, and then during the final week of the 2012 fair Big Tex caught fire and burned. So there have been two different times the fair has had the chance to create a great statue. Unfortunately, they failed both times. Big Tex is truly the ugliest, most awkward statue I have ever seen. But he is the face of the Texas State Fair. After all he is 55 feet tall, and he does talk.
A Chloresterol Haven The Cholesterol Thing
It is possible the Texas State Fair is the cholesterol capital of the world. In just one day you can get an entire year's worth cholesterol. All the pharmaceutical companies in the country cannot possibly produce enough statins to offset the fried foods at the Texas State Fair. I am talking about such delicacies as the Deep-Fried Pickle; Deep-Fried Smoked Brisket (just plain barbecued brisket isn't good enough for fair-goers); the Fry Dog (a hot dog on a stick is dipped in batter and rolled in french fries and then deep-fried); and the Fried Chocolate Maple Bacon "Amazeballz" (don't ask). More food will be deep-fried during the four weeks of the Texas State Fair than will be deep-fried in this country the entire rest of the year. It is truly a celebration of the clogged artery.
It is possible the Texas State Fair is the cholesterol capital of the world. In just one day you can get an entire year's worth cholesterol. All the pharmaceutical companies in the country cannot possibly produce enough statins to offset the fried foods at the Texas State Fair. I am talking about such delicacies as the Deep-Fried Pickle; Deep-Fried Smoked Brisket (just plain barbecued brisket isn't good enough for fair-goers); the Fry Dog (a hot dog on a stick is dipped in batter and rolled in french fries and then deep-fried); and the Fried Chocolate Maple Bacon "Amazeballz" (don't ask). More food will be deep-fried during the four weeks of the Texas State Fair than will be deep-fried in this country the entire rest of the year. It is truly a celebration of the clogged artery.
Mattress Firm
In Texas, Mattress Firm stores seem to be on every street corner. Maybe it is like that where you live. It seems just the same at the Texas State Fair. Apparently Mattress Firm is the primary sponsor of the fair, and as such, they have signs and booths everywhere. I have never seen so many mattresses in one place in my life.
Life-threatening cholesterol and a new mattress every six months. Is it any wonder the rest of the world hates us?
Livestock and Cowboys
Now here is the one part of the State Fair that fits with the state of Texas. There will be rodeo competition and animal husbandry events throughout the fair's four weeks. We happened upon the Calf Sorting competition. Ten calves are numbered and two cowhands have to move the calves from one pen to the other in numerical order in the fastest time possible. One rider cuts the correct calf from the group while the other prevents (or tries to) any wrong calves from moving from pen to pen. It was fun to watch. This short video will give you some idea.
In Texas, Mattress Firm stores seem to be on every street corner. Maybe it is like that where you live. It seems just the same at the Texas State Fair. Apparently Mattress Firm is the primary sponsor of the fair, and as such, they have signs and booths everywhere. I have never seen so many mattresses in one place in my life.
Life-threatening cholesterol and a new mattress every six months. Is it any wonder the rest of the world hates us?
Livestock and Cowboys
Now here is the one part of the State Fair that fits with the state of Texas. There will be rodeo competition and animal husbandry events throughout the fair's four weeks. We happened upon the Calf Sorting competition. Ten calves are numbered and two cowhands have to move the calves from one pen to the other in numerical order in the fastest time possible. One rider cuts the correct calf from the group while the other prevents (or tries to) any wrong calves from moving from pen to pen. It was fun to watch. This short video will give you some idea.
So unless you need yet another mattress, or you want to clog your arteries in record time, or you need to see the one of the world's worst statues (although it is 55 feet tall and does talk), then the only real reason to go to the Texas State Fair is the livestock exhibitions.
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