Once every year, the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Fairgrounds rightfully becomes the focal point of Texas County.
Without a doubt, the Texas County Fair never ceases to be the county’s biggest annual event, and for a while the fairgrounds transform into a mirror image of the county itself. But every fair is different and unique, and each takes on its own personality.
And the reality is, some are better than others. I’d say you’d have to go back a bunch of years to find one to top the 2015 version – for a lot of reasons.
Of course, this year’s fair featured many of the same wonderful things that make them all great, like animals, carnival rides, food and music. But what gave it a “new and improved” feel was a combination of the addition of new and different attractions and activities and the improved way standard ones were presented.
Once again, the Texas County Fair Board did its usual exemplary job of hosting livestock showing activity on the south side of the fairgrounds. But also as usual, the fairgrounds’ livestock area was again a better place to enjoy it all than last year.
That’s because the board’s fundraising efforts (that basically began the moment the 2014 fair ended) and donations by individuals, organizations and businesses interested in promoting kids’ involvement in FFA and 4H animal activities resulted in a nice, new, covered swine weigh-in station (equipped with state-of-the-art digital technology) and leak-free roofing over the showing arena and the sheep, goat, cow, swine and poultry barns.
What has already been a great county fair livestock venue for a long time now just gets better every year.
On the other end of the grounds, the carnival midway – set up by the Louisiana-based Lowry Carnival Co. (the same outfit that works the Ozark Empire Fair early each August in Springfield) – offered a great selection of rides, game booths and food carts that were all sparkling clean and bore attractive paint jobs.
Several of the rides were big and tall and of the “I’m not getting on that” variety – which certainly made for a better-than-usual experience for folks who did “get on that.”
Meanwhile, there were activities every night – in spite of the weather.
Wednesday was highlighted by an appearance by Riders on a Mission (R.O.A.M.), a couple of motorcycle stunt jumpers who spur those “you won’t catch me doing that” comments. When they’re not preaching the gospel, Wade Woods and Trampas Posey can often be found defying gravity (and logic) somewhere in the vicinity of their bikes high above their take-off and landing ramps.
When I saw Posey completely let go of his vehicle during one jump and then re-establish hand and foot contact just at the “moment of truth” (before gravity caused a problem for his body), it was me who was mumbling, “not me, man.”
But while I won’t be joining R.O.A.M. any time soon, I greatly appreciated standing on terra firma with my camera pointed in these guys’ direction while they did what they do so well.
Among Thursday night’s highlights, sweaty runners and walkers got covered with colorful powder thanks to a “color run” event put on by Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities (HSHC). There were supposed to be other fun and funny activities in conjunction with what was tabbed “Fit Family Night,” but the mud factor was too high in the arena.
Nevertheless, what a cool moment it was when the 30-plus participants gathered at the end of the course to collectively toss powder sky-high. It will surely go down as one of the most colorful moments in fair history. I did, however, feel a bit sorry for people who got some in their eyes as what went up inevitably came down.
Oh well, I guess it comes with the territory.
Friday brought with it – amazingly enough – professional wrestling in the fairgrounds arena. But before the show could go on, a titanic effort was launched to prepare the arena-turned-mud-bog for the night’s proceedings.
But through donations by multiple area businesses and the team effort of a bunch of people (mainly Licking resident Buddy Brazier), a mat of sawdust was placed over a section of the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Swamp so a ring could be erected and a troop of athletes from World League Wrestling (featuring long-time wrestling superstar Harley Race and his son Leland Race) could rock many peoples’ world for a couple of hours (in between lightning bolts).
It was a thoroughly epic moment in the history of sports entertainment in Texas County. The action was fast and furious and the trash-talk between wrestlers (and between wrestlers and crowd members) was downright funny.
On Saturday, the week was topped off by yet another awesome junior livestock sale and a display of horsepower and will power in the form of a truck pull.
Dang, what a four day run.
While they’re not about to seek any back-patting or atta-girls, much of the credit for this year’s fair being such a fine affair has to go to Houston Chamber executive director Brenda Jarrett and board president Gayla Bratton. The two worked countless hours finding and communicating with the various people involved in the 2015 fair’s many new-and-different attractions and activities, and then coordinating a whole new schedule.
And then dealing with lousy weather day after day and making on-the-fly adjustments to compensate.
But wheel, deal and compensate they did, and the result was four days packed with memorable scenes and moments, and the content and effectiveness of the overall package didn’t go unnoticed.
Less than 360 shopping days before next year’s fair begins. I, for one, am looking forward to the encore to 2015.
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. Email him at ddavison@houstonherald.com.