Attractions
4th Annual Food Truck Championship – Graham, Texas
By Jessica Crabtree
Live music, art, activities for kids of all ages and the alluring aroma of diverse food from 50 food trucks is a Saturday in June well spent. The fourth annual event held at the downtown square in Graham, Texas, is as unique as the town that hosts it. The Graham Convention and Visitors Bureau and more than 250 volunteers welcome visitors to their town for the annual Food Truck Championship of Texas, as well as showcase all Graham has to offer.
Making the trip, visitors can enjoy the FTC, shop local at various boutiques and stay to get a taste of all Graham’s delectable eating establishments. Besides hospitality, food and fun, Graham boasts America’s largest downtown square, a whopping one mile in complete radius from start to finish, giving it all the more room to entertain guests.
The Food Truck Championship was created around the idea of incorporating food with fun. “With that in mind we stepped into the food truck phenomenon and the event blossomed from there,” Manager of Graham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jenea Knight explained.
After the initial design, a date was picked, the first Saturday of every June. This year that date is June 2. “This event was founded as a fun, family event. We looked through the lenses of visitors, wanting to create a fun experience and improve upon it every year,” Knight said. From the first year on, Knight and her staff of volunteers have planned and executed those details to a streamlined process, making the event go as smoothly as possible.
The impressive event invites food truck vendors from all over to create and supply their very best food items for visitors to enjoy. From those food items, the trucks will be judged and a champion will be crowned. “We allow for 50 slots. Several apply and there is a process to choosing,” Knight elaborated. Liking variety, the Graham CVB has shared the square with vendors preparing barbecue, tacos, Asian food, Thai food, high-end burgers, dessert vendors and even taco ice cream truck vendors.
To read more pick up a copy of the May 2018 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.4
The Possum Pedal Bike Ride, which some use as a pre-curser to the Hotter N’ Hell Hundred, offers bikers the option to ride from six miles up to 83 miles. (Photo courtesy of the GCVB)
By: Hannah Claxton | Editor
The GO TEXAN program is a Texas Department of Agriculture initiative dedicated to showcasing and supporting Texas based busi- nesses. During the State Fair of Texas, held in Dallas each year, the program puts together the GO TEXAN pavilion. Within the pavilion, presented by Southwest Dairy Farmers, visitors have the opportunity to sample and shop Texas-based products, learn more about agriculture and participate in family-friendly activities.
In 2023, more than $1 million in revenue was generated across nearly 67,000 products sold. Businesses with products produced or processed in Texas are invited to apply to join the program, and can visit http:// www.gotexan.org/JOIN to apply.
When visiting the State Fair of Texas, make sure to visit the GO TEXAN pavilion to support businesses driving agricultural commerce and explore Texas agricultural commodities outside of North Texas.
The State Fair of Texas is held each year in the fall, and is considered to be the first of the “majors” shows for many students involved in showing livestock. Cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, and even llamas all have a class to enter at the fair.
For those not showing livestock, over a hundred creative arts classes are available to enter. Canned goods, photography, quilts, paintings, and butter sculptures are all displayed throughout the fair’s duration. Another contest judges a variety of antique collections and keeps them on display throughout the duration of the fair.
It’s not the State Fair of Texas without world-renowned food. The Big Tex Choice Awards contest has solidified the State Fair of Texas as the top Fair for great food creations. Each year, State Fair concessionaires fry up tasty and unique foods for a chance to become a finalist in the annual Big Tex Choice Awards competition.
The 2024 Finalists in the Savory category are: Dominican Fritura Dog (by Justin Martinez), The Drowning Taquitos (by Tony & Terry Bednar), Hippie Chips (by Rose and Tom Deschenes), Hot Chick-In- Pancake Poppers (by Palmer and Amanda Fortune), Texas Fried Burnt End Bombs (by Nick and Vera Burt).
In the Sweet category, the 2024 Finalists are: Nevins Nutty Bar- Laska (by Tami Nevins Mayes & Josie Mayes), Rousso’s Cotton Candy Bacon On A Stick (by Isaac Rousso), Strawberry Pop-Tarts Beignettfle (by Justin Martinez), Texas Sugar Rush Pickles (by Heather Perkins), and Tropical Two-Step Punch (by Binh Tran).
Livestock & contests schedule of events is available in the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Dave Alexander
Most everyone will agree that when it comes to great music, the state of Texas ranks as one of the best, and where you will find great music, you’re bound to find great musicians.
Meet my friend, fellow musician and renowned Texas pianist, Floyd Domino.
Floyd has recorded with such greats as George Strait, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and The Texas Playboys to name a few.
He is a two-time Grammy award winner for his work with
Asleep At The Wheel and has also produced six albums of his own. His latest CD “Floyd Domino’s All-Stars” remains a top seller and is available on Amazon. His entire collection can be found at www. floyddomino.com.
Considered by his counterparts as one of the best Texas Boogie Woogie and Western Swing styl- ists of our time, Floyd remains in constant demand for his magical and charismatic touch on the key- board. Take a minute to visit his website and order his latest CD. You will be glad you did.
To see where Dave Alexander’s Radio Show will be next, pick up the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by phone, call 940-872-5922.
The North Texas Fair & Rodeo, in Denton, Texas, just wrapped up its 96th year, and the North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine was glad to have gotten to be a part of the action!
Whether you’re an aspiring rodeo queen, a creative arts conisseur, or a rodeo enthusiast, the North Texas Fair & Rodeo has something for everyone. New rodeo royalty was named, the best of the best were selected out of impressive slates of sheep, goats, heifers, and steers, and each night of the rodeo was more exhilirating than the last.
Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Miss Rodeo North Texas Fair royalty!
Miss Rodeo North Texas Fair – Reanna Santos
Miss Rodeo North Texas Fair Teen – Rhealyn Bridwell
Miss Rodeo North Texas Fair Princess – Caroline Mataska
Miss Rodeo North Texas Fair Junior Princess – Harper Mays
Congratulations to the 2024 Creative Arts Winners!
Grand Champion (Adult Arts & Crafts)- Maranda Haschke
Reserve Grand Champion (Adult Arts & Crafts)- Eric Housel
Grand Champion (Antiques)- April St. John
Reserve Grand Champion (Antiques)- KC St. John
Grand Champion (Canned Foods)- Salome Foster
Reserve Grand Champion (Canned Foods)- Christine Safieddine
Junior Grand Champion (Canned Foods)- Charlotte Kelly
Junior Reserve Grand Champion (Canned Foods)- Emerson Eck
Grand Champion (Clothing)- Lynda Harvey
Reserve Grand Champion (Clothing)- Lynda Harvey
Grand Champion (Intermediate Arts & Crafts)- Jancsi West
Reserve Grand Champion (Intermediate Arts & Crafts)- Emma Haschke
Grand Champion (Junior Arts & Crafts)- Avery Hamil
Reserve Grand Champion (Junior Arts & Crafts)- Ros Carnes
Grand Champion (Needlework)- Jeanne Jacobs
Reserve Grand Champion (Needlework)- Dana Hornung
Junior Grand Champion (Needlework)- Alana Eiter
Reserve Grand Champion (Needlework)- Taylor Thompson
Congratulations to the 2024 Youth Art Contest Champions!
Grand Champion Overall- Hailee Clemens
Reserve Grand Champion Overall- Harper Hues
3rd Place Overall- A. Tyson
Congratulations to the Cooking Contest winners!
Grand Champion Adult Cake- Lynda Harvey
Grand Champion Junior Cake- Bristol Shoemate
Grand Champion Children Cake- Landry Schwarzentraub
Grand Champion Adult Bread- Theresa Robertson
Grand Champion Junior Bread- Cason McCollum
Grand Champion Children Bread- Mia Mack
Grand Champion Adult Pie- Toni Steger
Grand Champion Junior Pie- Gibson Thomas
Grand Champion Adult Cookie- Jennifer Lee
Grand Champion Junior Cookie- Elizabeth Hall
Grand Champion Children Cookie- Mia Mack
Grand Champion Adult Candy- Dianne Ragain
Grand Champion Junior Candy- Leilah Burnside
The Horse Show and Barbecue Cook-Off are still upcoming, so make sure to stay tuned. Congratulations again to each champion for their excellent acheivement!
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