Every fall, many public school students use their free tickets to attend the annual State Fair of Texas. However, with a new rule getting rid of free tickets for high school students, the State Fair of Texas hit a record low in attendance at what was once one of the most anticipated events for Texans.
For decades, students have been able to receive their ticket from the public K-12 education system. Children and teens could go rides like the ferris wheel and try an assortment of food from sweet funnel cake to savory chili fries, but with no more free tickets for those in grades 9-12, many future high schoolers, especially those from low income families, will be forced to decide between making memories and pricey fees.
Rising prices have been attributed as the main reason for lower attendance this year, leading to less vendors able to keep their businesses open, which creates budget cuts. Not only are the admission ticket prices increasing for students, but many vendors also have bumped up their prices to make ends meet. With rising prices, Texan families have opted to skip the year’s fair simply because they cannot afford to put enough money aside every month to cover such costs. This raises an important question of how the local community can work together to make this event accessible to more families.
While the fair is known for its food along with its rides and eccentric energy of excited fairgoers, the State Fair of Texas exposes students to fields that are significant to the cultural history of the state such as agriculture and creative arts.
Live events such as the agriculture livestock fundraising gives students the opportunity to showcase their agricultural skills and win scholarships to cover their college or associated career expenses. Furthermore, creative art competitions in painting, sewing, and more art mediums demonstrate the creativity and interests of the youth in Texas, allowing them to explore new realms of self expression to win prizes.
Having free tickets gives more children the chance to partake in such events, learn about Texas history, and gain practical experience outside the classroom. However, these former opportunities for the youth community have instead seen the effects of lower attendance rates.
With the Texas Board of Directors insisting that the introduction of this change was a planned and strategic decision for the best interest of Texans, the future of the State Fair remains unclear as attendance rates are predicted to continue a downward trend. Moreover, with a lack of initiative to reinstate the decade-long custom of free tickets to all public K-12 students, the state fair presents a complex situation with currently no proposed solutions and sparks a major concern for keeping the Texas spirit and its Big Tex alive.
