HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The Waller County Fair Board is made up of visionaries who donate their time to the annual exposition.
Not only has the group worked hard preparing for this year’s event – set for Friday, Sept. 26-Saturday, Oct. they’ve got their sights set on a bright future for Waller County Fair and Rodeo.
“We have had so much community support for our fair and rodeo that it allows us the opportunity to think ahead and think of ways that we want to grow,” said Dustin Standley, the sponsorship chairman for the fair board. “We want our fair and rodeo to be the best. We want it to be the best in southeast Texas; we want to be the best fair and rodeo in the country.
“That’s our goal, and we’re working hard to get there.”
Many of the improvements have come this year. The fair board expanded parking and increased electrical hookups and space for more and bigger carnival rides. They’ve also added to the rodeo arena.
“We’ve got a new press box, new bucking chutes and will have a video board,” said Clint Sciba, the fair board president. “All of this is done to make it a better experience for everyone. We’re bringing in Double Rafter D Enterprises, which has a new, state-of-the-art LED scoreboard and replay board.
“That, alone, is going to enhance the experience for our rodeo fans. Whether they come Thursday, Friday or Saturday, they’re going to get a great show.”
It’s with that thought in mind that the fair board is looking to expand in the coming years.
“We are working with Preifert Complex and Facilities in designing a 200,000-square-foot covered arena,” Sciba said. “One side will be our rodeo arena with chutes, a VIP area and a capacity for 4,000 people. We will have a secondary arena with a return ally for team roping, calf roping and barrel racing activities.”
Initial plans call for the complex to have a conference room, four office and additional rooms for meetings. It’s being set up for multiple uses.
“We want to be able to have other events there, from graduations to monster truck shows to other Western lifestyle competitions,” said Paul Sholler, co-chairman of the rodeo committee. “This is just one of the many ways we show our community that we support them as much as they support us.”
That’s the defining statement for fair board members.
“Our VIP area is going to be exciting with six executive suites like you would see at any major sporting facility,” Sciba said. “It’s something we’re all looking forward to. This is Phase 1 of what we’re doing that we expect to be six or seven phases. This is a seven-year plan, but we hope to get started the next year and break ground on the new rodeo facility.”