UPDATED: Texas County Fair Board buys fairgrounds acreage, structures

For many years, the Texas County Fair Board has conducted the Texas County Fair in facilities owned by the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.

Things are different now, as the Fair Board has purchased the livestock-oriented portion of the fairgrounds from the chamber.

The transaction involves an eight-acre tract including five where the livestock barns, showing arena, display building, cook shack and restrooms are situated, along with another three that can be used for expansion or parking.

The sale was finalized during a ceremony Thursday at the fair, with Fair Board and Chamber members gathering at tables inside the showing arena. They were joined by numerous youth exhibitors from this year’s fair, many former Fair Board and chamber members, and others who have been instrumental in the establishment and growth of the fairgrounds’ livestock facilities.

The purchase price was $50,000.

“This will provide a lot of long-term security,” said Fair Board president Darren Ice. “It’s always going to be ours now, so the upcoming youth will be guaranteed to have something in the future.”

As owners of the tract, the Fair Board will now be able to pursue various forms of grants to fund future improvements and expansion.

“Maybe now we can use some outside money for that kind of thing,” Ice said.

Ice said the first priority is to pay off the loan for the purchase obtained from Progressive Ozark Bank. Then attention will be turned toward upgrading the cook shack and restrooms, adding handicapped access and more.

“Whatever we can get grant money for, we’ll get to,” Ice said.

The tract will now officially go by the name many people had already used for it: The Texas County Fairgrounds.

“It’s been that way for a long time,” Ice said.

At last Saturday’s Junior Livestock sale (the auction that always marks the end of the fair), the Fair Board raised a whopping $45,000 toward the bank loan via “re-sales” of livestock and other generous donations. A single cow was sold three times, totaling more than $20,000. Bidders were fully aware that their money was going toward the cause.

“It’s incredible,” Ice said. “We can’t thank people enough.”

The Fair Board (which is a 501c3 organization) will host a fundraising event later this year, and donations are always gladly accepted. For information, email texascountyfairboard@gmail.com.

“I want to thank all the past Fair Board members and community members who have put money and time in this and turned it into the fairgrounds we have today,” Ice said. “It started out as an empty field, and now look what we’ve got.”

PAST CONTRIBUTORS SPEAK

Many people who have had a hand in the progression of the fairgrounds’ livestock facilities were present for last Thursday’s big moment for the Fair Board.

Several took time to comment on the situation.

Julius Fraley

During a lengthy career as an agriculture educator in Houston, Fraley began the initial push in about 1970 to move the Texas County Fair from its old location where Tiger Stadium is now situated to a new (and still current) location. He approached the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce and its leader, Eddie Smith, with the idea, and the ball began to roll.

After the first two livestock barns (one for large animals and one for small) and the show arena were completed, the Fair relocated in the mid-70s.

“I know a lot of people who volunteered and worked hard to make that happen,” Fraley said. “A lot has changed in the 50 years; there have been a lot of improvements and additions.

“It’s good to know this is going to keep going.”

Chuck Miller

Miller began a long career as an agriculture educator with a three-year stint in Houston. He then transferred to the Columbia Public School System for 25 years before retiring seven years ago.

Miller is also next year’s president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, is in charge of the “Sale of Champions” at the Missouri State Fair, and has judged many livestock competitions around the state.

While in Houston, he led a movement to expand and improve the livestock facilities at their current location. In turn, many people got on board and chipped in.

“I was kind of the catalyst,” Miller said. “These entities sometimes get stagnant, and there are only a few people who do most of the work. It was about building a fire in the community and getting people to be proud of what you have, and a lot of people got involved and worked together.

“It’s amazing to see what has happened here, and it’s really neat to see the Fair Board actually own the property. It comes down to passion; having a passion for what we believe in and seeing value in raising our kids this way.”

Miller said the livestock competition offered by the Fair is an important tool in the lives of kids, and involves commitment and discipline similar to sports.

“This is really about youth development,” he said. “They just don’t have a ball in their hands. The kids and parents work tirelessly for months leading up to this event.

“Now that the Fair Board controls its own property, we sure to have the opportunity to share this with the next generation.”

Scott Long

Long is Texas County’s current presiding commissioner. He spent decades as an agriculture educator in the area and for many years has been the arena announcer at the Texas County Fair.

Long figures last week’s big transaction was overdue.

“I think this is something that should have been done a long time ago,” he said. “When I came here about 30 years ago, there weren’t many buildings here and we continued to build buildings on someone else’s property. I think this is going to be a really good thing.

“I look at it as the future being sealed for youth looking for agriculture education. That’s what this should be all about – teaching them something about agriculture.”

Curtis Rouse

Rouse was Fair Board president for several years, taking over after Ice stepped down from his first stint and serving in the position until Ice returned at the beginning of this year.

He oversaw many improvements at the fairgrounds and was always aware of the need to have full control over the tract utilized by the fair.

“I’m excited about what this means to the security we have here at the fairgrounds,” Rouse said, “knowing that we have control over the property no matter what the future brings and we can continue to bring all this entertainment and education to the kids. And now we’ll be able to continue to make it grow and make it better than it ever has been.”