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The Texas flag can be seen from every heart-pounding ride at the Texas State Fair. Tom Stewart -
Big Tex greets all State Fair guests. He’s been one of the best attractions for decades. Tom Stewart
Wednesday, October5, 2022 was not only a beautiful fall day it was also a great day to cross the state line and visit the Texas State Fair. An adventuretoTheTexasState fairmightseemabitoutofthe norm but it is quite appropriate for Texoma as the term Texoma originates from the blendofTexasandOklahoma that has existed long before the Red River was dammed up to create the Chickasaw water body known today as Lake Texoma.
The blending goes even deeper than that as a glance at any 1800 circa map notes that a great deal of what is now Texas up and down the Red River and most of the Texas part of the Oklahoma panhandle were in fact considered Indian Territory and Comanche grasslands. It is a little-known fact that several Dragoon companies were formed in Indian Territory to assist in the forming the state of Texas.
Digging a little deeper reveals that The Chickasaw nation actually processed many of the treaties and agreements pertaining to the Kiowa and Wichita along with many other tribes and their removal and protection in what is now Texas. In modern times, a well-loved iconic meeting of two Wild West states often referred to as The Red River Rivalry, Red River Shootout, and Red RiverShowdownisapproaching the 118th match. As for a winner, it depends on who you are pulling for.
The University of Oklahoma and University of Texas Football game was first played in the year 1900. This matchup resulted in victory for Texas, but it set no precedent for future as the outcome has little to do with any previous meeting or previous season game for either team.
In all fairness, ”go team”, is the safest way to cheer before any OU/Texas game. Regardless of the outcome, the match is always played at the Cotton Bowl in the center of the Texas State Fairgrounds.
One might say the Wednesday adventure was as much about scoping out the battlefield for the Saturday October 8, 2022, match, but the trip included a whole bunch more than that. First, whenvisitingtheTexasState Fair, one must navigate the trip through miles of mixmasters, overpasses, exits, and highways.
Walking into the fairgrounds from the main entrance includes a grand ole Texas howdy from Big Tex who towers over the grounds. Next, is the smell of all the wonderful fried fair foods and any beverage the taste buds desire.
The competitions bearing judgment include all sorts of livestock as well as, canned goods of all sorts of fruits and vegetables and some of the most intricate quilting, all types of foods prepared by the best of cooks, and the art displays are exquisite. Of course, the butter sculpting is a sight that must be seen in person.
Thefairincludesamidway with some of the greatest heart-pounding rides. The Urban Greenhouse is a sight to see and the accolades that go with it are impressive.
To include all the many things at the fair would be next to impossible and most positively an attempt would exclude possibly the best of all, so for a complete list, visit the State Fair of Texas website. Within the fairgrounds, a visitor will notice the Hall of State building that is as impressive. The building includes full size statues of all the founders of Texas as well as many historical facts and articles pertaining to the alamo.