Big Tex Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by State Fair of Texas

Overview
The Big Tex Scholarship Program has helped more than 3,700 students pay for college — over $20.1 million in awards to date. If you’re a graduating Texas high school senior, a summer/seasonal employee of the State Fair of Texas (or a qualifying dependent), or a student from one of six Fair Park–area high schools, read on. Below I’ll explain what the program is for, the three scholarship tracks, who qualifies, and the awards.

Why this matters
The State Fair of Texas puts education near the center of its mission because supporting students is one of the best ways to “celebrate Texas.” The scholarships are designed to help Texans pursue higher education, whether in a trade school, two-year college, or four-year university — and in some cases to encourage studies related to agriculture and the natural sciences.

Scholarship tracks (quick summary)
- Juanita Craft Scholarship: $6,000 awards for students from six Fair Park–area high schools.
- Youth Livestock Scholarship: $6,000 awards for students who competed in specific youth events at the State Fair and are enrolling in a Texas college or trade school. Preference is given to agricultural or related majors but it’s not required.
- Seasonal Employee Scholarship: $6,000 awards for qualifying seasonal employees (or their dependents) that can be renewed if the recipient maintains a 3.0 GPA.

1) Juanita Craft Scholarship
This scholarship honors Juanita Craft, a South Dallas resident and civil-rights activist. The Fair awards multiple $6,000 scholarships to selected applicants who attend one of these Fair Park–area high schools:
- Franklin D. Roosevelt High School
- Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School
- James Madison High School
- Lincoln High School
- North Dallas High School
- Woodrow Wilson High School

2) Youth Livestock Scholarship
Who’s eligible
- Graduating from a Texas high school.
- Enrolling in a Texas college, university, or trade school.
- Must have competed in one or more of the State Fair’s listed youth events (see list below).
Preference is given to applicants who plan to pursue agriculture or related natural science fields, but that is not a requirement.

Award
- $6,000 scholarship.

Eligible events (if you competed in any one of these at the State Fair, you may qualify)
Equine and livestock events
- Donkey & Mule Show, Youth Class
- Horse Show: AHA, Youth Class
- Horse Show: 5D Barrel Race, Youth Class
- Horse Show: Youth RSNC Ranch Sorting
- Horse Show: 4‑H 4X4 Chute
- Youth Rodeo
- Junior Llama Show
- Junior TLBT Longhorn Cattle Show
- Junior TLBT Longhorn Showmanship

Livestock breeding/showmanship
- Youth Breeding Beef Heifer Show
- Youth Breeding Beef Heifer Showmanship
- Youth Breeding Gilt Show
- Youth Breeding Gilt Showmanship
- Youth Breeding Goat Show
- Youth Breeding Goat Showmanship
- Youth Breeding Sheep Show
- Youth Breeding Sheep Showmanship
- Youth Breeding Rabbit Show

Market shows and poultry
- Youth Market Barrow Show
- Youth Market Broiler Show
- Youth Market Goat Show
- Youth Market Lamb Show
- Youth Market Steer Show
- Youth Prospect Steer Show
- Youth Poultry Showmanship

Dairy
- Youth Dairy Cattle Show
- Youth Dairy Cattle Showmanship
- Youth Dairy Goat Show
- Youth Dairy Goat Showmanship

Judging, skillathons, and contests
- National Youth Food Challenge Contest
- Youth Food Challenge Contest
- Youth Agricultural Job Interview Contest
- Youth Agricultural Public Speaking Contest
- Youth Agricultural Science Fair
- Youth Agriculture Mechanics Premier Exhibitor Sweepstakes
- Youth Agriculture Mechanics Project Show and Tractor Restoration Contest
- Youth AgRobotics Contest
- Youth Archery Contest
- Youth Agriculture Product Identification Contest
- Youth Range and Pasture Plant Identification Contest
- Youth Wildlife Contest
- Youth Dairy Judging Contest
- Youth Livestock Judging Contest
- Youth Beef Skillathon Contest
- Youth Sheep Skillathon Contest
- Youth Swine Skillathon Contest

3) Seasonal Employee Scholarship
Background and award
- First awarded in 2018.
- Awards a $6,000 scholarship to seasonal State Fair employees or to a qualifying dependent (child, step-child, grandchild, step-grandchild, foster or adopted child).

Who qualifies
- The seasonal staff member must have completed at least three years of seasonal employment with the State Fair as of January 1 of the award year.
- They must have averaged at least 20 hours per week during the prior Fair.
- The staff member must be in good standing.
- The applicant (employee or dependent) must plan to attend an accredited two-year or four-year Texas college, university, or trade school.

Renewal
- The $6,000 award is renewable in preset increments (paid by semester or term) if the student maintains a 3.0 GPA while working toward an eligible degree.

Where to get more information
This summary covers the program structure and eligibility. For application deadlines, required documents, and FAQs, check the State Fair of Texas website or contact the Fair’s scholarship office directly. If you want, I can help you draft questions to ask them or outline an application checklist.