If the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce had ordered the weather, it couldn’t have been any better than what those attending the Texas County Fair-Old Settlers Reunion found. The Fair-OSR usually brings hot, humid weather. But not this year.
The event closed a four-night run on Saturday. A junior livestock sale and the last round of the demolition derby – always a crowd pleaser – was held. Saturday also brought the close of various livestock shows sponsored by the Texas County Fair Board.
The Junior Livestock Sale at the Texas County Fair netted about $65,000 for area youths who sold their animals Saturday. Market lambs, hogs, steers and goats were sold at the event, which was at the livestock pavilion at the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Fairgrounds on North U.S. 63.
Trenton Harker’s sheep won the rate-of-gain contest and brought $3.75 a pound from Jake Sheppard. Ten sheep were sold._In the goat sale, a 47-pound animal sold by Lexie Spratt brought $6 a pound. The purchaser was The Bank of Houston. Fifteen goats entered the sale ring.
The grand champion steer shown by Logan Taylor and purchased by C-K Premium Meats of Houston brought $3,211. That’s $2.40 a pound. The top price paid per pound – $2.45 – went to Corey Stallcup. The purchaser was Tuttle Utility Gas Co. Inc. The tally shows 22 steers sold.
The grand champion hog shown by Matthew Wheeler brought $4.35 a pound. Taylor Veterinary Clinic bought it for $1,035. Sixty-two hogs were sold.
Several businesses purchased animals that were in turn sold to benefit several organizations: Texas County Fair Board, University Extension in Texas County, Big Red Quarterback Club and Hospice of Care.
The king of the grandstand entertainment was the annual demolition derby, which drew a huge crowd on Saturday following the preliminaries on Friday. Organizers said the event drew support from many who helped stage the event. “It went extremely well,” said Glenn Romines, an organizer. “The volunteers really pitched in.
Romines said recent improvements made to the arena area – including erection of a new fence – helped in staging the demolition derby. It allowed for better control of the crowd and an armband system also was instituted, he said.