HEMPSTEAD, Texas – In the 1989 Universal Studios’ movie “Field of Dreams,” Kevin Costner’s character heard the whispering echoes of the same phrase: “If you build it, they will come.”

The Waller County Fair Board has had the same sound reverberating for years, and members of the organization have acted upon that. The upgrades for the Waller County Fairgrounds have been a major source of pride for the community and for people who use it.

“We’ve increased a lot to the facility,” said Paul Shollar, the fair board’s president. “We certainly want to make this complex something that’s put in use as many weeks as we can throughout the year, and we believe this is the best way to do it.”

One of the biggest moves came over the last two years, when construction crews covered the rodeo arena and built a stadium that is not only elaborate but also makes a statement. It was unveiled in time for the 2023 Waller County Fair and Rodeo, but the work didn’t end there. The fair board has just expanded on everything with several other upgrades that will be ready for this year’s exposition, which takes place Thursday, Sept. 26-Saturday, Oct. 5, in Hempstead.

“We’ve added four more elite boxes and have two of them still available for the fair and rodeo,” said Dustin Standley, a longtime fair board member. “We’ve upgraded to a premier sound system for the rodeo arena, and we have added three more Big Ass Fans to help with climate control. We’ve installed an underground sprinkler system, which will expedite our ability to water the arena. That’s just what we’ve done in the arena complex.”

The biggest steps have taken place outside the covered arena, including the addition of a 102-stall barn that features concrete alleyways. A few acres north of the fairgrounds are accessible, and that ground will feature a 200-foot-by-200-foot rock pad for contract personnel, trucks and trailers and will have six RV plugs with water included.

“We’re just opening things up a little bit to make it a little better for the people that come to work our rodeo,” Shollar said. “We’re opening this up to increase donor parking while also allowing our contract personnel a little more privacy.”

In addition to the stall barn and more RV hookups on the east side of the complex, rodeo contestants will also take note of other positive changes. A 50-foot-by-20-foot wash rack has been added to the complex, as has a 120-foot-by-120-foot warmup arena. The contestants’ entry gate has been moved to the northeast side of the complex.

“All of our contestants will come through that gate and won’t have to fight coming through the crowd,” Shollar said. “If they’re at the stall barn, they can go to the warmup area. The minute they’re warmed up, they can come directly across to that gate and come into the fairgrounds there.”

These are just the changes that have happened since the fair and rodeo closed last October, and it’s a symbol of the work that continues to be done to make the Waller County Fair and Rodeo the premier exposition in southeast Texas.

“We’re doing all this to help make for a more comfortable and efficient facility for both the fair and for our renters,” said Clint Sciba, a longtime fair board member. “We are always looking for ways to make it a better experience for everyone involved.”