Archives > Plano Star-courier > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
State Fair comes close to home
By Stephanie Flemmons, Staff Writer
Opening day for the State Fair of Texas has a different meaning for Plano couple Ron and Deanna Berglslien.
With weeks of preparation prior to the big day, the couple commits to working steadily every day during the 24 open fair days, weeks before and prior.
“After you do it one year, you realize how interesting the fair is,” Deanna said. “There is such huge excitement and it gets you hooked. I’ve hung in there and they ask me to come back every year and I’m grateful because I love the job.”
“We call them our fair friends,” Deanna said. “It’s a thrill to go back every year and have the same ties we had the year before.”
In mid-August the Berglsliens head to the fair ground’s Creative Arts building to collect art and cross stitch entries.
A team of judges select the winners of each category and then the work begins.
Deanna and Ron both categorize and display the winners work for the public to view throughout the fair.
Then they transition to the jobs, they say, keep them coming back.
Ron sells cookbooks and Deanna serves food to judges during daily contest.
Although Ron has never been a salesman, his track record while selling the cookbooks proves record sales.
“I enjoy it,” Ron said. “I get to talk to people everyday about the fair or give them directions and always try to sell them a cookbook.”
Deanna’s cooking role goes in a different direction. With daily food competitions, Deanna spends her time collecting the food entries, categorizing them and serving it to the judges.
During some of the most popular days, such as cake day, pecan day, spam day or bread day, Deanna said they categorize and serve around 280 entries.
“When you look at the numbers and figure the work it takes to put the items in the right categories, serve them to the judges, and have it all done between 10:30-12:30, you realize it’s hard work,” she said.
Different judges from restaurants around the metroplex, take time out of their day to taste the food.
“We try to maintain friendships with all the judges as well,” Deanna said. “They take time out of their busy days to be a part of the fair experience.”
Although the haul from Plano to Fair Park is a long one, Deanna said she will continue dedicating her time for years to come.
“As long as they will have me, I’ll be there,” she said.
BIG TEX: New style
Although Big Tex has dressed “Big” since 1997, Fort Worth-based Dickies decided to give him a new look for this year’s fair.
Big Tex will sport a yellow western shirt, which is 600 percent larger than standard patterns and buttons measuring 3.5 inches in diameter.
“It takes a team of eight Dickies sewing experts two weeks to make his shirt and a third week to make his jeans,” said Misty Otto, public relations director for Dickies.
Decorative Artist Ger Giles gave Big Tex a boot shining and belt buckle change that added to Big Tex’s new look this year.
“This is his third pair of boots in 10 years,” said Giles, who also has painted rides for the fair. “It takes a few months to paint the new boots.”
This the fourth outfit Dickies has produced for the fair’s 52-foot-tall icon.
The company also created a Facebook.com page for Big Tex. For anyone who signs up on his page, Dickies will donate a garment to the Dallas Independent School District.
The State Fair of Texas runs Sept. 26-Oct. 19.
For fair information visit www.bigtex.com.
Contact Stephanie Flemmons at sflemmons@acnpapers.com
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
