GALVESTON COUNTY FAIR – A LITTLE HISTORY AND A LOT OF GROWIN’

It started in 1938 as a “Dairy Show” Dairy Farmers
Cooperative had 53 cattle entered an about 500 attended
at Arcadia Park. In 1946, was the first auction, first carnival
and swine and beef calves were shown and over
$1500 in prizes awarded. Texas City and Ball High Bans
presented concerts.
In August of 1953, signs were erected along the Gulf
Freeway inviting attendees; with the Darrington Prison
9-piece string Band was the entertainment. In 1947, 129
cattle competed and we had a new exhibit building with
concerts and picture shows. In 1957 added lambs breeding
sheep and capons. The auction collected over$6800
. In 1958 it was moved to June to get the produce farmers
to be able to participate. In 1961 was the first “Girls
Lamb Scramble” and our first Champion Rodeo was held
and the first annual Trail Ride was held. In 1978, the first
annual barbeque cook off was held with 4 entries – In
1989 featured an exotic bird show and a Junior Cook off.
Today, at Jack Brooks Park in Hitchcock, every community
in the county is represented, with about 80,000
people coming through the gates. It takes a lot of effort
and a whole lot of people to something together like this
and Saturday night a whole bunch if them showed up at
the fair grounds for a Kick-off Thanks to the Sponsors
Dinner.
Photographs by Tammy Lee Warren