STATE FAIR OF TEXAS
PO BOX 150009, dallas, TX 75315 www.bigtex.com

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS CELEBRATES ALL THINGS TEXAN BY PROMOTING AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THROUGH QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT IN A FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT. THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH PROCEEDS HELPING TO PRESERVE AND IMPROVE FAIR PARK; UNDERWRITE MUSEUM, COMMUNITY, AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS; AND HELP IMPROVE STATE FAIR OPERATIONS TO HELP PUT ON THE NEXT STATE FAIR OF TEXAS. OUR NONPROFIT PURPOSE IS FUNDED THROUGH THE PROCEEDS FROM THE ANNUAL 24-DAY STATE FAIR OF TEXAS EVENT, WHICH SERVES AS THE ORGANIZATIONS LARGEST FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR. THE FAIR IS COMPLETELY SELF-SUPPORTIVE AND RECEIVES NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING.

the state fair of texas celebrates all things texan by promoting agriculture, education & community involve- ment through quality entertainment in a family-friendly environment.

Since its inception in 1886, the State Fair of Texas has celebrated all things Texan by promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement through quality entertainment in a family-friendly environment. Agriculture serves not only as a pillar of this organization, but as a fundamental feature of the Lone Star State and its history. The State Fair of Texas offers a variety of interactive exhibits focusing on agriculture and livestock implementing hands-on activities that are both enjoyable and informative. Activities range from feeding furry friends at the petting zoo to learning about different livestock species during daily guided tours through the livestock barns. In addition, each year, thousands of students from around the state work diligently in preparation for the competitive livestock events and leadership contests at the State Fair. The largest of these events, the annual Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction, celebrates the agricultural heritage of our great state, while also providing scholarships and prizes to students all over Texas. The Fairs educational initiatives extend far beyond our 24-day exposition. With education at the very core of our foundation, the State Fair of Texas continues to serve as a showcase for Texas history, agriculture, and the community that connects it all. In support of its student ticketing program, which provided more than 2.29 million free tickets to students and teachers, the Fair expands its educational initiatives to the classroom with an innovative curriculum, created in partnership with Big Thought. The online curriculum combines the unique culture of the Fair with Texas history and agriculture, incorporating it into a TEKS-aligned program that focuses on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) for grades 4 through 12. With a focus on educating visitors about Texas history and agriculture, the Fair offers a unique experience that is both informative and entertaining. As a long-standing Dallas institution, the State Fair of Texas has a distinctive appreciation for the local support that makes such a big event possible every year. With the ultimate goal of having a positive community impact, the Fair aims to give back through our partnerships with local organizations and initiatives. The Fair continues to expand outreach programs while placing a special priority on promoting community involvement at the local level. Our impact in the community focuses on three areas that complement our mission social capital, human capital, and financial capital. In addition, the Fair seeks to assist food insecurity in the South Dallas/Fair Park area through its Big Tex Urban Farms initiative. Each year, the State Fair of Texas brings guests from all walks of life together for 24 days in celebration of the Lone Star States evolving culture. Beginning in 1886 as a local gathering place for people to share ideas and learn from new cultures, the annual state fair and exposition in Fair Park became a breeding ground for Texas education and innovation. The theme for 2019 gave a nod to Texas past and present by connecting the Fairs own deep creative roots with the many Texans and Texas organizations who have driven progress through their visionary thinking. "celebrating texas creativity" served as a platform for showcasing texas' history of creative progression over the years and applied it to how we approach our own nonprofit mission of promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement. With dedicated shows and exhibits during the Fair, as well as programs throughout the year, the 2019 theme worked to highlight the many achievements rooted in the creativity of Texas and inspire the next generation of artists, innovators, and pioneers. The 2019 State Fair of Texas proved to make a difference in more ways than we can count. Below are just a few of the noteworthy successes from the 2019 exposition: - The State Fair welcomed more than 2.5 million fairgoers; - Approximately $61.8 million was generated in gross coupon sales for food, beverages, and rides, supporting more than 80 businesses, many of which are small and independently owned. - Military Appreciation Day provided free admission for more than 9,600 members of the military and their families; - More than 5,600 first responders and their families visited the Fair for free on First Responders Day; - The State Fair provided more than 2.29 million free admission tickets to students and teachers throughout North Texas; - in line with the 2019 theme, "celebrating texas creativity," community members got crafty with more than 10,500 entries in the Fairs Creative Arts competitions. With more than 4,000 contestants, nearly 2,000 newcomers tried their hand in entering Creative Arts competitions; - With more than 11,000 exhibitors competing, the Fairs livestock and agricultural events hosted a total of more than 15,000 livestock entries; - On Friday, October 4 the annual Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction raised a record of more than $1.3 million in scholarships and prizes for youth livestock exhibitors; - The Grand Champion Market Steer of the Youth Livestock Auction was sold to the Big Tex Champion Club, led by an anonymous donor, for a record high of $155,000; - Ag Awareness Day gathered more than 7,900 students and leaders representing 165 chapters of 4-H, FFA, and FCCLA to participate in the canned food drive, donating more than 30,000 pounds of food to the North Texas Food Bank a program record; - More than 650 people were involved in several community events sponsored by the community affairs team of the State Fair of Texas, which were held throughout the 24 day run; - The Fair hosted the Second Annual Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards, awarding seven individuals following in Mrs. Crafts footsteps, making a positive impact in their community and in civil rights efforts; - Sensory-Friendly Mornings were held for the second time this year for all three Wednesdays of the Fair reducing noise and lights across the grounds to accommodate those with sensory-related concerns; - The Fair-funded, newly restored Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial had more than 17,000 flags placed on the memorials panels to honor those Texas veterans who sacrificed their lives during the Vietnam War. - The Hall of State welcomed more than 118,000 fairgoers through the doors to showcase its featured exhibits, Texas Cinema and A Shared Border: An Exhibit of Tex-Mex Culture; - Shopping at the Fair included 278 commercial exhibit locations across the fairgrounds, supporting 230 small business owners. - The State Fair of Texas invested more than $2.6 million in partnership with the City of Dallas, Fair Park First, and Spectra for new features at Cotton Bowl Stadium, increasing the quality of the game experience for more than 156,000 guests in attendance for the State Fair Classic, AT&T Red River Showdown, and State Fair Showdown; - Free concerts were once again held on the Chevrolet Main Stage, with Daughtry, Big & Rich with special guests Cowboy Troy, Rick Springfield, La Maquinaria Nortea, 98 Degrees, and Billy Ray Cyrus drawing the biggest crowds; - Fifty-two events were hosted at the Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center throughout the Fairs 24-day run; - In 2019, the Fair awarded more $1.25 million in new college scholarships to 203 graduating seniors throughout the Lone Star State; - The State Fair of Texas partnered with Goodwill Industries of Dallas, Inc. to host the Fourth Annual Big Tex Job Fair following the annual Fair in the Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center. More than 35 local companies took applications and interviewed for employment positions across a broad range of skill sets. On top of the initiatives and donation programs that take place during the annual exposition, the Fair works to maintain a year-round presence in our community. Through new and existing efforts in 2019, the Fair was able to contribute more than $676,000 in community support, which included sponsorships, program funding of goods, and investments made through our signature programs, benefiting 76 South Dallas/Fair Park area organizations and several agricultural-related programs across the state. In addition to offering financial resources, our Community Affairs & Strategic Alliances department has connected with more than 200 local organizations to foster community relationships, form partnerships, and develop initiatives that work to make a positive impact. Our ability to serve and continue growing our scope of service is strengthened through the support of fairgoers, relationships with like-minded organizations, and the dedication of our State Fair team. Through this investment, we were able to help serve more than 130,000 people in the community and look forward to expanding our impact for future years. Introduced in 2016, the Fairs Big Tex Urban Farms initiative is a mobile agriculture system comprised of portable planting beds and hydroponic systems housed in the heart o

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Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (public 990 form dataset) from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202033219349310778_public.xml