Fort Bend County Success: A Year to Remember!

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It was a year to remember! Celebrating 88 years, the 2024 Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo featured three weekends of family fun, concerts, livestock shows, rodeo action, a carnival and a BBQ cookoff weekend.  Over 100,000 fairgoers attended this year’s event.

The iconic event began with a parade led by Parade Marshal Olympic Swimmer Simone Manuel. The seven-time Olympic medalist led the parade to an estimated crowd of 20,000.

Over 600 entries for livestock projects were exhibited, and many experienced grand champion moments. Needville high school students Keylan Poe and Rylee Zwahr swept the steer show top honors. Poe, carrying on a family tradition, won Grand Champion Steer, and Zwahr took home Reserve Champion Steer. Compression Components purchased Poe’s steer, and Accurate Meter and Supply purchased Zwahr’s. This year, a generous $1.1 million dollars was generated through the Fair’s auctions: Replacement Heifer Auction, School Art Auction, Jr Livestock Auction, Freezer/ Last Draw Art Sale. The 2024 top buyers (without add-ons) were Perry & Perry Builders, Accurate Meter & Supply and Hays Electrical.

Other Grand and Reserves: Pen of 3 Rabbits, Grand Champion – Owen Strain of Terry FFA, purchased by Renee Butler of Another Time Soda Fountain; Reserve Champion Pen of 3 Rabbits – Gabriella Rodriguez of Travis FFA, purchased by this year’s top buyer, Perry & Perry Builders. Grand Champion Goat was exhibited by Jax Dylla of George Ranch FFA and was purchased by Johnson Development. Reserve Champion Goat was won by Charli Ortega of Big Creek 4-H and purchased by The Official Bootman/Dennis, Darvis Bucking Bulls. Katy FFA’s Greer Gibson took Grand Champion

Pen of 3 Broilers and was purchased by Don & LeBlanc & Debra Spies. Reserve Champion Pen of 3 Broilers won by Miriam Janczak of Needville 4-H was purchased by The Colunga Family. Grand Champion Lamb was Gage Wilson of Big Creek 4-H and purchased by Finnegan Auto, and Reserve Champion Lamb was Jayden Zwahr of 4-H Livestock Producers purchased by Drabek Farm 2. Grand Champion Turkey honors went to a familiar face and name in the winner’s circle, Brody Sebesta, who has won grand or reserve honors in the past few years and was purchased by Hays Electrical. Reserve Champion Turkey was Paislee Tadlock of Terry Jr FFA, purchased by Turquoise Saddle. Grand Champion Roaster was Naevaeh Mattheessen of Foster FFA, purchased by Coopwood Coastal, and Reserve Champion Roaster – Michael Jochen of Needville Jr FFA, purchased by Omni Special Services LLC.

Grand Champion Swine was exhibited by Riley Vodehnal of Katy FFA and purchased by Accurate Meter & Supply. Reserve Champion Swine was earned by Gretchen Leggett of Foster FFA and purchased by Commissioner Vincent Morales Buyers Group and Kovasovic’s Meat Market of Rosenberg. Grand Champion Replacement Halter Heifer winner Zoey Talbott of Ridge Point FFA was purchased by Perry & Perry Builders. Reserve Champion Replacement Halter Heifer winner Jackson Talbott of Ridge Point FFA was purchased by Red & White. Reserve Champion Replacement Pen of 2 Heifers was Grace Wilcox of Lone Star Bend 4-H and purchased by MK Cattle Company.

In the Student Art Auction, over $41,000 was generated for the student artists. Grand Champion “Workin’ in the Coop!” from the WIDE School was painted by Perrin Aucoin, and Reserve Champion “Rodeo Reverie” by Sabrina Smith of Tompkins High School. Perry and Perry Builders, It’s the Pits, Commissioner Vincent Morales Buyers Group and Richmond Garden Club were some of the top buyers.

The Fort Bend County Fair Association awarded over a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships to deserving youth this year. “Whether through the auctions or our scholarship programs, we are helping the youth of our county reach their educational goals. It is an invaluable way to help shape and invest in our future,” said Fort Bend County Fair President Alicia Casias.

A Sensory Calm Down Corral for children with intellectual challenges was established this year. The new initiative was a success providing sensory friendly toys and tools for families with children who have special needs. The Sensory Calm Down Corral provided a calm and quiet environment where children could regulate their emotions and rejoin fair activities once they felt ready. There are already plans to extend the hours of operation for 2025. Old Three Hundred Horse Show, Exceptional Rodeo, and Special Citizens Day were a few more events the Fort Bend County Fair hosted in their inclusion efforts.

With over 70 teams, the Fort Bend County Fair’s BBQ Cookoff weekend was lit up with competition. No Limit Cookers took the top honors of Grand Champion BBQ Team, and the Reserve Champion team was presented to Dr BBQ. This was No Limit Cookers 4th year to compete in the competition.

Sixteen-year-old Saige Katherine Sowa, a Stephen F. Austin High School junior, was crowned 2024 Fort Bend County Fair Queen. Sowa is the daughter of Bill and Lori Sowa of Sugar Land and has a brother, Connor, a sophomore. Both are livestock exhibitors at the Fair. Sowa was vying for the title among 11 young ladies. Maddison Malek of Needville High School was named First Runner-up, and Miss Congeniality was awarded to Hannah Funderburk of Foster High School.

Rodeo action crowned nightly champions. The reunion rodeo crowned three All-Around champions: Junior – Dakota Johnson, Senior – Brayden Sherrill and Adult – JB Collins IV. In the Ike Fredrickson Team Roping, first place was earned by the Wesley Baird/Colton Clayton team, and the Chad Thames Invitational Calf Roping Champion was Tyler Calhoun. The champion Ranch Rodeo team was Tieken Trailers – Rylan Tieken, Reagan Tieken, Dauntae Itishes and Tristan Thorne. Top Horse and Top Hand were awarded to Donald Blackwell.

The county barrel race had 50 entries, with Jasmine Johnston taking first place. In the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, championships titles, entry into RodeoHouston and buckles were presented to the following: Bareback – Kade Sonnier; Steer Wrestling – Holden Myers; Team Roping – Brenten Hall and Kaden Profili; Saddle Bronc – Isaac Diaz, Tie-down- Cory Solomon; Breakaway (tie) -Aspen Miller and Tiffany Schieck; Barrel Racing – Stephanie Fryar; and Bull Riding -Alex Cardoza.

For its second year the Horticultural Competition was held.  Photography top winner was Laylianna Albatainch and Container Grown Plant first place winner was Madalena Diaz.

The 2025 fair will be held from September 26 to October 5, 2025. For event information or volunteer opportunities, visit fortbendcountyfair.com.