North Texas State Fair and Rodeo
Page 6
TALLEY AMUSEMENTS. There is much to do, see, play, and taste at the fair’s midway. From carnival rides and games of chance to corn dogs and the colorful carousel, fairgoers can hardly say they were not thoroughly entertained, did not have enough to eat, or did not enjoy an evening of good family fun during the nine days of the NTSFR. This photograph shows the fair’s proximity to Texas Woman’s University and to Denton Center Shopping Center. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
HISPANIC HERITAGE AT THE FAIR. Renowned Tejano and country singer Emilio Navaira (in the white hat) is standing with Mario Fernandez Jr. and his band, Mariachi Michoacan, who performed during Hispanic Heritage Day at the fair. Navaira’s successful career in both the United States and Mexico has earned him the title of the “Garth Brooks of Tejano.” (Courtesy of NTFR.)
A FAIR FRIEND. Tracy Lawrence is a very recognizable voice in country music, with songs such as “Paint Me a Birmingham,” “Time Marches On,” and “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” With 22 Billboard chart-topping hits and 18 No. 1 singles, Lawrence has sold more than 13 million albums. This multiplatinum, award-winning recording artist has helped shape the sound of country music for two decades. (Photograph by and courtesy of Carl Oberman.)
“THE RODEO IS ON . . . TURN IT UP!” “The Rodeo is On . . . Turn it Up!” was the fair’s 2012 theme. This play on words takes its idea from the phrase “the radio is on, turn it up.” Fair managers wanted to encourage participants, vendors, and fairgoers to go all out to have a great time. Featured attractions that year included Robert Duck’s Great American Duck Race, Trout Fishing, Trackless Train, and Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
DIGITAL BILLBOARDS. The expansion of eight billboards, plus two digital billboards, to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and to Oklahoma increased the advertising potential to a broader audience. The billboard message rotated every eight seconds, allowing moving traffic to view the daily musical lineup. The three rotating images for the last three days of the 2012 fair—featuring Nashville recording artist and main stage performer John Anderson—are reflected in this photograph. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
A FRENCH COWBOY IN TEXAS. French-born Eyan Jayne was introduced to the rodeo by his parents, who performed as trick riders at rodeo shows in France and Italy. Jayne moved to Texas at age 16 and earned a rodeo scholarship to Sam Houston State University. After earning his degree, he juggled a full-time teaching job with his NFR quest. Jayne was the first cowboy to represent France at the NTSFR and is the first European-born cowboy to qualify for the 2015 NFR. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
COWBOY MOUNTED SHOOTING. Cowboy mounted shooting requires skill in both horsemanship and shooting. It involves riding a horse while negotiating a challenging course of 10 balloon targets. Blank black powder cartridges are fired from single-action revolvers to break the balloons. This is a high-speed, timed spectator sport in which the competitor who rides the fastest with the least amount of missed targets wins. In this photograph, Allan Watt is about to score a clean run after shooting one last target. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
SIZING UP THE CROWD. By 2012, sponsorships had increased an additional 30 percent, attendance continued to increase exponentially, and bigger names appeared nightly on the stages and in the rodeo arena. Glenn Carlton and Tamra Stephens are on pictured here on the catwalk overlooking a rodeo performance and sizing up the crowd. The inclusion of more free events provided added value and drew larger crowds. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
TYPICAL LARGE WEEKEND CROWD. This large crowd is typical of the fair’s Friday and Saturday night concert crowds. Between 2005 and 2012, fair attendance increased from 90,000 to 150,000. More than $100,000 in capital improvements has made the grounds more accommodating, and additional ticket booths have allowed for quicker entrance into the fairgrounds. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
CARL ANDERSON. Carl Anderson was named president of the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo Association board in 2012. His 19 years on the association board and his community and business leadership in Denton offer the right combination of skills to lead the fair into a new era of excellence. The association’s purchase of 111 acres of land north of Denton was negotiated during Anderson’s tenure. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL MARKER. From left to right, North Texas State Fair and Rodeo Association (NTSFR) board president Carl Anderson, NTSFR executive director Glenn Carlton, stock contractor Sammy Andrews, former Dallas Cowboy and fair board member Walt Garrison, and rodeo announcer Terry Starnes pose with a State of Texas granite sculpture that marks the overnight campsite of the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial Wagon Train. The fair was awarded a Texas State Historical Commission Marker—the first subject marker to be awarded to a fair in the state of Texas—in 2012. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
“ROCKIN’ TO TRADITION.” In 2012, in a change from the typical, the fair broke away from its customary presentation of country music and hired the rock-and-roll band Madison Rising. A video of the band performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” captured the attention of fair management, who hired the group to perform at the fair. This band pays tribute to America’s men and women in uniform through a brilliant classic rock sound. It is clear they are on a mission not only to make great music but to send a message that American culture is alive and well. Denton’s own patriotic personality, Frenchy Rheault (center), is shown below with Madison Rising. The band members are, from left to right, Tom DiPietro, Dave Bray, Sam Fishman, and A.J. Larsen. The fair offers military service personnel a discounted admission price every year. (Both, courtesy of NTFR.)
STEERS TO STUDS. This Ron Bonge poster carries on the 2012 theme of “Rockin’ to Tradition” by featuring nine-year-old Gracie Clark and her grand champion mini-Hereford steer, Pilot. Texas-born songwriter and performer Jack Ingram and bull riding champion, singer, and rodeo commentator Justin McBride round out the rock-and-roll facet of the 2012 marketing campaign. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
A COWBOY BY ANOTHER NAME. Jesse “Shorty” Wilkins served in the Army National Guard before devoting the last 32 years to working at the fair. Wayne Johnson talked Wilkins into volunteering on the rodeo committee 20 years ago, and he never looked back. In 1995, Johnson and Wilkins went to Hope, Arkansas, to watch rodeo clown Rudy Burns work. They came back with rave reviews, and Burns was hired the next year. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
CAUGHT IN THE “WEBB” OF RODEO. A mainstay at the fair, Riley Webb has been mutton bustin’ since he was three years old. After learning to rope and mastering rope tricks, he earned his way to the National Finals Rodeo, where he performed for thousands of people. Now, he competes in the 21 and Under Rodeo in goat tying. In this photograph, Webb, clenching his “piggin’ string” between his teeth, runs for another win. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
KNOWLEDGEABLE YOUNG JUDGES. Dillon Hodge (left) and Carson Esker served as judges for the livestock competition for the Valley View Future Farmers of America at the fair. Livestock judging requires a knowledge of the ideal characteristics of particular animals and teaches skills like effective communication, analytical thinking, decision-making, and the ability to defend choices while working as a team. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CVB. Veronica Maldonado (right) assists the North Texas Fair and Rodeo with marketing through a Denton Convention and Visitors Bureau advertising cooperative program. Sonia Salas, television personality from Despierta Dallas (Wake Up Dallas), interviewed Maldonado on the network program. Maldonado has put her bilingual skills and vivacious personality to good use in promoting the fair. (Courtesy of Veronica Maldonado.)
BOULEVARD BANNERS. These boulevard banners, produced with sponsorship by Denton Municipal Electric, lead the way down Carroll Boulevard toward the fairgrounds. Whether one is traveling in an automobile along the interstate highway or driving through the heart of town, these banners, along with digital billboards, make it hard for folks to miss that there is an exciting and entertaining event being held in Denton. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
CAN-DO SPIRIT. “It’s What Cowboys Do” was the theme for the 2014 fair,
reflecting the can-do spirit, courage, authenticity, strength of character, humbleness, chivalry, and heart of the cowboy. The logo features a bucking bronc and cowboy based on World All-Around Rodeo Champion Casey Tibbs. This entertainment poster features the upcoming musical lineup on both Budweiser stages. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
JORDAN MALONE, OLYMPIAN. Jordan Malone, of Denton, was the 2014 fair grand marshal. Malone achieved greatness by winning bronze at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and silver at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi in short track speed skating. Accomplished in short track and in-line speed skating, Malone has won numerous world championships while competing all over the world. He currently attends the University of North Texas School of Engineering. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS. This heartwarming image of a tough bullfighter lifting up a mutton buster offers an iconic view of what the toughness and tenderness of the rodeo is all about: love of family, love of God, and love of country. This award-winning image was so popular that it has been used by other fairs in their promotional materials. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK. Five-year-old Drake Armes, shown here with his mother, Neelley Riley Armes, smiles with excitement as he is about to ride his sheep in the Mutton Bustin’ competition. Drake is no stranger to the rodeo. His mother is a professional barrel racer, and his father, Bray Armes, is a professional steer wrestler. (Courtesy of the Armes family.)
FOUR GENERATIONS OF FAIRGOERS. The fair “bug” catches hold at a very early age and continues throughout a lifetime. Four generations—ranging in age from 2 years old to 88 years old—are shown in this photograph. From left to right are Nanci Kimmey; Nanci’s father, the late Bill Monroe; Nanci’s daughter Ryan L. Purcell; Nanci’s granddaughter Keeli Purcell; and Nanci’s mother, Dorcas Monroe. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
TWO GENERATIONS OF VOLUNTEERS. Producing a successful, multifaceted, major event such as a fair requires hundreds of reliable and responsible volunteers who have the same work ethic and enthusiasm as the participants and vendors. From left to right are (first row) Tracy Ford, Mickie Blagg, and Blagg’s granddaughter Amanda Kish; (second row) Eddie and Susan Schoenthal and their son Josh. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
JON STRATTON, VOLUNTEER OF THE DECADE. Jon Stratton can be seen all over the fairgrounds applying his indispensable skills to various projects. This willingness to do anything for the fair earned Stratton the “Volunteer of the Decade” buckle, which was created just for him! Volunteer of the Year award spurs are given out annually, but only Stratton owns this buckle. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
CARLTON NAMED PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR. Glenn Carlton, executive director of the North Texas Fair and Rodeo, won the coveted Professional of the Year award at the Texas Association of Fairs and Events (TAF&E) annual meeting in 2014. Pictured when he accepted the award are, from left to right, executive board members Jim Fykes, Layne Brewer, and Mickie Blagg; Carlton; Nanci Kimmey; and Carl Anderson, board president. (Courtesy of TAF&E.)
“IT’S WHAT COWBOYS DO!” In 2014 and 2015, fair officials settled on one brand that would carry the fair through the upcoming years. “It’s What Cowboys Do!” encompasses all aspects of the fair as a venue for promoting educational, spiritual, and patriotic values, as well as building memories. In honor of his 27 years with the fair, Sammy Andrews—featured on horseback in the center of the poster—was presented with this Ron Bonge print. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
HORSE SHOW. The 2015 North Texas Fair and Rodeo Open Horse Show was held at the Will Rogers Complex in Fort Worth, Texas. Pictured is the grand champion gelding, Hot Roddin in Winter, shown by Dominique Gauthier of Pilot Point, Texas. Horse show superintendent Kim Wendt Collinsworth (left) and Jennifer Hulcher, owner of Equine Salt Water Therapy (center), are presenting Gauthier with her prize. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
RONNIE MILSAP. Ronnie Milsap has not let his blindness deter him. Milsap has earned 40 No. 1 country hits, six Grammy awards, eight Country Music Association (CMA) awards, and four Academy of Country Music (ACM) trophies, including the ACM lifetime honor known as the Pioneer Award. He used pop, rock, and R&B elements to push the borders of traditional country music. Milsap’s show, held on August 22, 2015, broke all previous attendance records for fair entertainment. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
CHARLIE DANIELS BAND. Charlie Daniels, a talented and showy fiddler, has become a symbol of conservative country values. Although he is best known for the 1979 song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” Daniels’ career has spanned more than 50 years, and he and his band have sold more than 20 million records. His success has supported cancer research, severely handicapped children, and veterans’ organizations. The Charlie Daniels Band’s appearance at the fair on August 29, 2015, produced an all-time record-breaking crowd, eclipsing Milsap’s record set just seven days earlier. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
TERRY STARNES, RODEO ANNOUNCER. Terry Starnes (right) began announcing for the fair on a recommendation from Sammy Andrews. Andrews called Glenn Carlton and said, “I found the guy who is the perfect fit for your rodeo.” Shelley Starnes travels with her husband, producing the music that accompanies the fast-paced action. Often described as “the real deal,” Terry Starnes personifies the true values and ethics of the cowboy way. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
MICHELE CONN, RODEO SECRETARY. Terry Starnes (left) shares a joke with the crowd and Michele Conn, rodeo secretary since 2002. Conn has the daunting tasks of recording contestants’ fees; providing contestant information on a day sheet for announcers, judges, stock contractors, and media; timing events; recording results of each event; posting the results; and providing payment information to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). (Courtesy of NTFR.)
PRECISION ON THE GROUNDS. The North Texas Fairgrounders are an all-female precision-mounted riding team that represents the spirit of the fair. These hardworking ladies are well respected as the heart of the NTFR. They set the tone of the rodeo as they open every performance with a lively routine, as well as presenting the United States, Texas, and sponsor flags. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
RUDY BURNS’S THUMBS UP SYMBOLIZES THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF THE NORTH TEXAS STATE FAIR & RODEO. Since 2005, fair attendance has doubled—to 175,000. Between 2005 and 2015, gross revenues have increased from $750,000 annually to more than $1.75 million. The nightly charity bingo fundraiser boosts this number to more than $3.7 million. The NTSFA has invested $681,000 in capital improvements, acquired the 109-acre site for the future fairgrounds, and continues to contribute about $400,000 into the community each year. (Courtesy of NTFR.)
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW. The North Texas State Fair and Rodeo has provided the area with more than 130 years of cowboy entertainment. The fair began in 1885 as a horse race and fair and was held intermittently until World War II interrupted its run. It has been a continuous staple in Denton since 1949, making it the longest-running annual event in the city. This photograph captures the thrills and spills, the dreams of the cowboys and cowgirls, and the essence of the fair; somewhere “over the rainbow,” “dreams that you dare to dream really do come true” from a view at the top of the Ferris wheel, where “skies are blue and troubles melt like lemon drops away above the chimney tops.” (Courtesy of NTFR.)
INDEX
Akins, Clay, 2, 101
Akins, Tyler, 2, 101
Allen, Bill, 42
Amyx, Joe, 75
Anderson, Carl, 104, 112, 120
Anderson, John, 109
Andrews, James, 80, 96
Andrews, John, 109
Andrews, Sammy, 65, 80, 81, 95, 96, 112, 121, 123
Armes, Bray, 118
Armes, Drake, 118
Armes, Neelley Riley, 118
Arthur, Zach, 84
Bancroft, Brooke, 86
Bandy, “Moe” Jr., 102
Barron, Darrel, 56
Barth, Dan, 90
Bayless. Sam A., 7, 13
Ben E. Keith Distributors, 91
Blagg, Mickie, 104, 119, 120
Blocker, Jerry, 56
Blount, J.P., 7
Bodacious, 65, 81
Bonge, Ron, 93, 101, 114, 118, 121
Boston Store, 25
Boyd, Hammie, 99
Bradford, Ed, 48, 75
Bray, Dave, 113
Brazil, Jimmy, 56
Brewer, Lane, 104, 120
Brown, Anna, 12
Bullock, Cody, 55
Bullock, Mike, 56
Burdick, Kenneth DeWayne, 65, 66, 67, 85,
Burdick, Madeline, 67
Burdick, Pat, 67
Burgoon, Charles Weldon, 27, 32, 33, 50, 56, 93
Burns, Perry, 47
Burns, Rudy, 65, 82, 83, 84, 91, 104, 114, 124
Calvert, Tommy Sr., 34
Carlton, Glenn, 48, 67, 79, 85, 96, 100, 104, 111, 112, 120, 123
Case, Gary, 63
Castleberry, Claude, 34
Cauble, Rex, 46
Cawley, Tol, 94
Charlie Daniels Band, 122