After almost 40 years of using the words “State Fair” in its name, it became apparent that the names for the Denton and Dallas fairs needed to be more strongly differentiated, and since rodeo was a strong component in the success of the Denton fair, it needed to be recognized in the name. In 2013, the fair association’s board of directors adopted the name North Texas Fair and Rodeo, deleting the word “State.” The ensuing years trended toward more growth in attendance, higher standards in rodeo events, larger purses, and unsurpassed entertainment venues.
In 2015, the fair broke all attendance records as more than 175,000 fairgoers took part in the nine-day event. However, the principal achievement that year was the purchase of 109 acres of land for the proposed new fairgrounds and rodeo. The land, located at the northern edge of Denton, provides the acreage needed to build new arenas, stages, barns, multi-use buildings, and meeting facilities. Indeed, good times are ahead for this valued and valuable entertaining and educational institution.
R.D. MARTIN, STRAIGHT SHOOTER. During the six years (2006 to 2012) when R.D. Martin served as North Texas State Fair Association (NTSFA) president, the event doubled in size and marked its first million-dollar fair. Martin was known for his honesty and integrity in supporting volunteers and members of the NTSFA. He always attended Youth Fair, Grand Champion Club, and Blue Ribbon Club meetings and was the first to support a child in need. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
AN EQUESTRIAN WINNER. Eight-year-old Brooke Bancroft is showing her American Quarter Horse Association mare, Miss ZZ Snip, in this photograph from the 2005 NTSFA horse show. Bancroft had a successful youth career, becoming a multiple Appaloosa Youth World Champion with the Appaloosa Horse Club. She is currently a student at Baylor University in Waco and on the Baylor Bears equestrian team. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
TWISTING WITH CHUBBY CHECKER. Ernest Evans, better known as “Chubby Checker,” got his start at the Philadelphia Fresh Produce Market and made the top of the charts with his hit song “The Twist.” Checker performed at the fair in 2005, but the Texas heat proved too much. After a 20-minute performance, he called it a night, got into his limousine, and departed, leaving many fans twisting in the wind. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
NEW SECOND STAGE. In an effort to expand the musical entertainment and feature up-and-coming artists from this music-rich region, the fair added a second stage close to the rodeo arena so that patrons could enjoy music before the rodeo. This stage created a venue for additional concerts to be held from open to close, except during the rodeo. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
FOUR FOR FORE FUNDRAISER. This annual golf tournament, held since 2002, draws teams of community supporters who play to earn trophies, prizes, and bragging rights for the lowest score. Entry fees and hole and team sponsorships go toward scholarships and to support Denton County youth. Approximately $85,000 has been raised since the first tournament was held. The 2007 tournament winners, Team Reddy Ice (pictured), included, from left to right, Robert Pierce, Jim Davis, Ron Simpson, and Pete Farmer. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
BINGO! Bingo became a Catholic church fundraising opportunity, giving it acceptability as a game of chance. Charity bingo has been a nightly fundraiser at the fairgrounds since 2009, with funds benefiting the NTSFA, Fair 2000 Inc., the Blue Ribbon Club, and the Elks Lodge and raising about $150,000 per year for these organizations. These birthday celebrants appear to be having fun (and hopefully yelling “Bingo!”). (Courtesy of North Texas Bingo Archives.)
“SADDLE UP SOME FUN.” The fair’s theme for 2006 was “Saddle Up Some Fun.” This clever slogan invited folks to enjoy the rodeo, concerts, carnival, and Kid’s Zone. Many sponsors received top billing along with the numerous rodeo events and musicians. This poster was the first to be designed by the new managers of the fair and graphic artist Stephanie Taylor. A thematic advertising tradition has been in place ever since. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
UNDER THE BIG TENT. In 2006, the “big tent” was added over the smaller stage to provide more shade and seating areas for the comfort of fairgoers. The first year, there was not a sponsor for the tent; however, a sponsorship for this highly visible entertainment and concessions location was sold in the second year, and the cost has been underwritten ever since. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
ELSIE THE COW. Elsie the Cow, the Borden Dairy Company mascot since 1936, is meant to symbolize the “perfect dairy product.” The original Elsie was a Jersey heifer, like the cow in this photograph, who made a special appearance at the commercial exhibit building for several years to the delight of young and old. Elsie has received humorous honorary awards, such as Doctor of Ecownomics, Doctor of Bovinity, and Queen of Dairyland. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
DAN BARTH MEDICINE SHOW. Dan Barth—storyteller, humorist, and historian—brought his living history performance and medicine show exhibit to the NTSFR. Barth created and coproduced the nationally aired television series America on Tour with cohost Bill Garlow Cody, who was, at that time, the last living grandson of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Barth never failed to please a crowd. (Courtesy of the Dan Barth website: www.angelfire.com/biz4/danbarthshows/.)
“COWBOYS, KIDS, AND CONCERTS.” At upper right on this 2007 “Cowboys, Kids, and Concerts” theme poster, Rudy Burns, barrelman and rodeo clown, gestures his positive “thumbs up” message to let the crowd know that all is well at the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo. Burns was featured because he embodies the essence of the fair. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE AIR. Billboard advertising for the fair was jump-started by a partial sponsorship through James Wood Autopark and Ben E. Keith Distributors. This cooperative advertising featured both the headlining entertainment and logos of the sponsoring companies. The exposure of the fair began to expand with this outdoor advertising. Interest in the fair was growing to reach outside of the Denton area, and these billboards helped attract the traveling public. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
JUMP5. Formed in 1999!, Jump5 was an American dance-pop contemporary Christian music touring group that enjoyed a string of hits on Radio Disney. Jump5 released a final album in 2007, stopping at the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo before ending their promotional tour in Nashville. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
LONGHORN LIK-A-MELODY. Texas Longhorns are a popular attraction due to their size, diverse coloration, folkloric history, and immense horns. The horns of these animals can extend up to seven feet from tip to tip for steers and exceptional cows and from 36 to 80 inches for bulls. The grin on David Nance’s face is typical of owners of these gentle but spirited beasts. LIK-A-MELODY, Nance’s prize Texas Longhorn, has a 52-inch horn span. (Courtesy of DRC at DCOHC.)
“THE COWBOY WAY.” “The Cowboy Way,” the theme during the fair’s 80th anniversary in 2008, summarized the cowboy ethics of everyday living. At right, Cade Pennington is learning the ropes from seasoned cowboy Weldon Burgoon in the Ron Bonge drawing that was used for the fair’s advertising campaign. Pennington, who participated in the 2007 Mutton Bustin’ contest, was chosen to represent the fair in its 2008 marketing program. James P. Owen’s bestselling book, Cowboy Ethics, defines 10 principals to live by: 1) live each day with courage, 2) take pride in your work, 3) always finish what you start, 4) do what has to be done, 5) be tough but fair, 6) when you make a promise, keep it, 7) ride for the brand, 8) talk less and say more, 9) remember that some things are not for sale, and 10) know where to draw the line. Below, longtime supporter and volunteer Tom Shaw has handed down these traditions and ethics to his daughter Jill Shaw, current chairman of the North Texas Fairgrounders. (Both, courtesy of NTFR.)
RANKING THE RIDER. The saddle bronc riding competition is a throwback from the old Wild West days. Cowboys mount the rankest broncs, whose sole purpose is to buck off their riders. A bronc rider must start the ride with his feet placed over the bronc’s shoulders. During the eight-second ride, the cowboy must synchronize his spurring with the movements of the bucking horse in order to achieve a high score. The unidentified cowboy at left is mentally preparing himself before riding in the saddle b
ronc competition. Tol Cawley (below) displays perfect form on Sugar Shack as the PRCA judge scores his ride. (Both, courtesy of NTFR.)
BREAK FOR EIGHT. Rough and explosive bareback bronc riding is one of rodeo’s most physically demanding events. Cowboys have to ride fiery rough stock for eight seconds with nothing but a single handhold rigging cinched around the horse’s girth. The special leather rigging has a hard, rawhide, suitcase-type handle (pictured at right). Custom leather gloves are coated in resin to aid with the grip. Below, Chad Rutherford’s draw, Andrews Rodeo Company’s Walk Hard—a volatile, bucking bronc—is kicking high in an attempt to dismount his rider. Rutherford is showing perfect form for a high-scoring eight-second ride. (Both, courtesy of NTFR.)
TEXAS RODEO COWBOY HALL OF FAME (TRCHF) INDUCTEE SAMMY ANDREWS. Glenn Carlton (left) and James Andrews (right) congratulate Andrews on his induction into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2008. Andrews was recognized for his contribution to the sport of rodeo as a stock contractor whose expertise produced championship bucking bulls for many years. A rare event occurred in Denton when the TRCHF traveling display appeared at the fair in 2008; the display arrived just in time to include the photograph taken when Andrews was inducted into the TRCHF. This display is now permanently housed in the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth. (Above, courtesy of Andrews Rodeo Archives; below, courtesy of NTFR.)
“LET’S RIDE.” “Let’s Ride” was the theme for the 2009 fair. The entertainment lineup included the Eli Young Band and Jamey Johnson. Also featured on that year’s poster was Ty Grayson Purcell, the two-year-old son of Ryan and Ryan L. Purcell, who was selected not only for his cuteness but because of the cowboy attitude he already exhibited at his young age. Atwood Hat Company used this image in their advertising campaign along with the slogan, “If you start them out with the very best.” (Both, courtesy of NTFR.)
ACM WINNERS AT THE FAIR. The Eli Young Band, featured at the fair in 2009, met at the University of North Texas in the late 1990s. They were nominated for a 2009 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award as New Vocal Group. The band earned its first platinum record and the American Country Awards Song of the Year in 2011 and was nominated for a Grammy in 2013. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
JAMEY JOHNSON. Jamey Johnson—shown here autographing a CD for Ryan L. Purcell—is considered a restless maverick songwriter who not only records his own songs but also writes songs performed by country stars such as Trace Adkins, George Jones, and Joe Nichols. Johnson was the 2009 winner of Academy of Country Music (ACM) Song of the Year for “In Color,” and cowriter of the County Music Awards and ACM 2007 Song of the Year, “Give It Away,” recorded by George Strait. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
A DONKEY OF A DIFFERENT COLOR. Hammie Boyd and his team of zeedonks were a hit at the fair parade in 2009. A zeedonk (also known as a zedonk, zebrass, zebronkey, zonkey, zebadonk, zenkey, or deebra) is a rare interspecies zebra mule—a cross between a zebra stallion and a horse mare or donkey mare. Boyd was as colorful as his zeedonks and a favorite at the annual parade. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
ALL ROADS LEAD TO TERLINGUA. Chili heads gathered at the fair to make the meanest, hottest, tastiest chili in the county. This contest was a Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI)–sanctioned event whose winners garnered points to qualify for the CASI Terlingua Chili Championship. A portion of the chili cook-off entry fee is designated for local charities. Jody and Yvonne Wilkins are shown in their booth at the fair’s chili competition. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
TAF&E AWARD OF EXCELLENCE. The North Texas State Fair and Rodeo won its first Texas Association of Fairs & Events Best Overall Award of Excellence (for fairs with attendance of 100,001–500,000) in 2009. Pictured here are Nanci Kimmey (left), Stephanie Taylor (right; graphic artist with the Crouch Group), and Glenn Carlton. The NTSFR won this prestigious award from 2009 through 2011 and was runner-up in 2012 and 2013, when a member of a competing association made the remark, “Well, thank goodness, someone else had a chance to win.” The NTSFR won first place again in 2014 and 2015. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
“DON’T MAKE US COME GITCHA!” The 2010 fair theme—“Don’t Make Us Come Gitcha!”—was a tongue-in-cheek play on words about this posse rounding up thousands of people to attend the fair. The limited-edition art by Ron Bonge (above) was inspired by this rowdy group of five young buckaroos (below)—from left to right, Levi Nelson, Clay Akins, Tyler Akins, Riley Webb, and Ronnie Sellers—who are dressed to honor the cowboy tradition. (Both, courtesy of NTFR.)
MARK AND MOE. Texas-born Mark Chesnutt (upper right) is a country music artist who is passionate about keeping country music alive. He made his debut in 1990 with the hit single “Too Cold at Home” and has had eight No. 1 hits. Chesnutt earned a certified gold album with his 1994 effort, What a Way to Live. “Moe” Bandy (second row, far left) began his country music career in 1962 after trying bronco-busting and bull riding. The height of his popularity came in the late 1970s when he scored several hit songs, both alone and with his singing partner Joe Stampley. Two of his hit songs are “I Just Started Hating Cheatin’ Songs Today” and “Bandy the Rodeo Clown.” Bandy summed up his music by saying, “My songs are about life. There’s cheating, drinking and divorcing going on . . . that’s what country music is about.” Moe Bandy and his brother Mike, a six-time NFR bull-riding qualifier, were inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2007, three years before Moe performed at the fair. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
RHINESTONE ROPER. Dan Mink, the Rhinestone Roper, gives performances that showcase his rope, whip, knife, and gun skills and tricks. The Rhinestone Roper decided that to have an all-out Wild West show, he had to include a talented horse. His paint horse, Lucky Joe, fits the bill, performing humorous and unusual tricks. Teaching gun education and safety to children is important to Mink, so he interweaves these lessons into every program. (Courtesy of Dan Mink.)
KIDS’ PEDAL TRACTOR PULL. This unidentified little girl is pedaling with all her might in one of the most popular additions to the Kid’s Zone, the kids’ pedal tractor pull competition. Boys and girls from ages 4 to 12 pedal down a 25-foot path pulling a weight transfer sled filled with between 25 and 250 pounds (depending on the child’s age). Every child is cheered to the finish line. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
DENTON BENEFIT LEAGUE (DBL) TRACTOR. The motto of the Denton Benefit League, founded in 1973, is “enhancing the quality of life in Denton.” The women of DBL serve Denton by raising funds for nonprofit organizations, volunteering in the community, and building leadership skills in women. The DBL, one of the hardest-working and most generous organizations in the community, partially funded a tractor to help maintain the fairgrounds. In past years, DBL has provided partial funding for two telephone systems and a color copier, all of which eased the day-to-day tasks of fair employees and volunteers. From left to right, fair executive board and staff Mickie Blagg, Nanci Kimmey, R.D. Martin, Lane Brewer, Carl Anderson, Mark Foster, Harry Hall, and Glenn Carlton (seated in the tractor) are displaying a bucket of appreciation to DBL. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
“IT’S GATHERIN’ TIME.” The 2011 fair theme was “It’s Gatherin’ Time,” reflecting the idea that the NTSFR is an annual reunion for many participants and fairgoers. Crowds were treated to entertainment by the Randy Rogers Band, Tracy Lawrence, the music of two-time bull riding champion Justin McBride, and singing cowboy Colby Yates. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
RODEO COMMITTEE. It is impossible to conduct the annual fair without a faithful, hardworking crew of volunteers who serve on the NTSFR committee. Members are responsible for setting up the rodeo arena, working with the stock and the stock contractor, maintaining the equipment and arena for the duration of the event, and working with sponsors and special guests. Tamra Stephens (at center in the first row) sets up cowboy camp and feeds all the volunteers and stock contractors during the fair. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
PICKUP ARTISTS. Pickup men work in tandem to help bronc riders dismount safely and to guide bulls that might be looking to hook a rider or bullfighter. The
Andrews Rodeo pickup cowboys help the bronc rider to safety and are always there in the nick of time. These men are crucial in keeping both two- and four-legged athletes safe. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
COWBOY PROTECTION TEAMS. Sixteen of the top bullfighters divide into eight cowboy protection teams to compete for a trophy buckle and prize money. The team’s job is to protect fallen riders from rampaging bulls. These teams consist of nationally renowned bullfighters. Each team has a community business sponsor and wears custom jerseys. In this photograph, the men of Team Trailer Storage guard a cowboy while showing off their bullfighting skills. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT. A popular competition in the Fair Hall exhibit area is the display of photographs by amateur shutterbugs. Vada Schneider, wearing her white cowboy hat, is carefully studying photography entries, perhaps thinking of someday entering her own snapshots in a future contest. Photographs are judged on composition, originality, style, and content. (Photograph by Alex Lieban; courtesy of NTFR.)
North Texas State Fair and Rodeo Page 5