When patrons and participants occupy the livestock showing area during next week’s Texas County Fair, they’ll be doing so amongst several improved facilities.
Included in the improvements orchestrated by Fair Board chairman Darren Ice is a major facelift in the pig barn, where old wooden holding pens have been replaced by 40 sturdy metal units. Helping make the upgrade possible was local welding business owner Bill Sponsler.
Ice said he, Sponsler and numerous helpers spent about 10 Saturdays making the change.
“It took about 10 hours or so each day,” he said. “Sometimes there were three or four of us, sometimes seven or eight.”
Other upgrades fair visitors will notice include the previously wide-open chicken house now being enclosed with chicken wire, and spectators at the showing arena being protected from potential loose animals by a metal fence that now stands between the showing arena and grandstands. During rainy fair days in the past, water would flow from the parking area into the sheep and goat barn, but a ditch and French drain system has been installed to prevent that.
Also, the cook shack now sports a new coat of paint, and plumbing has been added to provide running water. It’s also now equipped with an awning to shield customers from sun or rain.
“It rains pretty much every year during the fair,” Ice said. “Hopefully we’ll get some again this year.”
Some of the materials used in the improvements were obtained by donation, while others were purchased with money gathered at a fall fundraiser that pulled in about $5,000.
Ice, in his third year as Fair Board chairman, said about 90 pigs are expected to be available for sale at the annual junior livestock sale on day three of the fair (Saturday), along with more than 60 sheep and goats and about 16 steers. Those numbers are slightly up from last year.
“We’re getting new entries about every day,” he said, “but going by what we weighed in, that should be pretty close.”
Ice said that people who show animals at the fair are likely to be long-time area residents.
“A lot of the kids you see here at the fair are ones you see stick around in the community,” he said. “Some of them move off, but the high percentage stay and you end up seeing their kids showing animals. My kids grew up showing here, and I grew up showing here.”
Fair Board co-youth chairman Abby Ice said there’s a lot more that goes into preparing an animal for the fair that meets the eye. The Ice family – and others – simply camp out and live at the fairgrounds for the duration of the fair.
“The steers are especially hard because you have to get them up every single day and tie them up, work with them, give them a bath, brush them and feed them,” she said. “That takes a long time. And you have to constantly keep the pigs fed and watered so they don’t die.”
“And feed’s about as high as it’s ever been,” Darren Ice said. “Animals are going to have to bring a bunch of money for some folks to break even this year.”
The Fair Board will likely conduct another fundraiser this fall, with the goal of constructing a fence around the entire perimeter of the fairgrounds’ livestock area.
“Every year an animal gets out,” Darren Ice said. “Last year we had a steer running around in the field behind the grounds and it took about half a day to get it caught.
“But there has been a lot of work put in to make improvements here and we’re very thankful for all the people and businesses that helped make things better this year.”
Fair Board Sheep Department superintendent Imogene Ray said most people can’t imagine all that’s involved in making the livestock portion of the fair possible.
“I am surprised and absolutely amazed at how many hours of volunteer work go into making this happen,” Ray said. “And that goes for prior to, during and after the fair.”
See this week’s newspaper for a special section previewing the 102nd annual Texas County Fair.
Entire event
––Sonshine Amusements is providing the carnival midway. Armbands are $15 nightly
––Vendors and other booths will be at the community building on the grounds. Entry to the fairgrounds is free
Thursday, Aug. 2
––Horticulture, field crops, agriculture mechanics, home economics and junior fair judged
––9 a.m. – Dairy, beef, swine, steers, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry must be in place for weigh-in and ultrasound
––3 p.m. – Sheep will be judged with goats to follow
––6:30-7 p.m. – Music featuring Taylor Ingram
––7-9 p.m. – Worship service and Youth Fun Night with Undivided Hearts
––8 p.m. – Music featuring “Shine on Trio” and “The Elmores,” sponsored by The Bank of Houston at Murfin Building
Friday, Aug. 3
––9 a.m. – Swine followed by breeding and market beef judged
––10 a.m. – Rabbits and poultry judged
––4 p.m. – Registration for demolition derby
––6 p.m. – Horticulture, field crops, agriculture mechanics, home economics and junior fair on display.
––7 p.m. – Demolition derby – grandstands open at 5:30 p.m. A raffle also is planned for a derby car.
––8-11 p.m. Music with Kevin Lee
Saturday, Aug. 4
––9 a.m. – Registration for ATV Rodeo. Entry fee is $15. Categories: peewee, ages 5-11; youth, 12-15. Utility class, powder puff, two stroke and four stroke. Call 417-967-2220 or 573-202-4123 for details.
––9 a.m. – Dairy judged
––10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – ATV Rodeo
––4 p.m. – Demolition derby check-in
––4 p.m. Junior livestock sale
––7 p.m. – Demolition derby – grandstands open at 5:30 p.m.