Bells whistle, people laugh and deep-fryers boil as the students walk down Grand Ave, the main street at the 24-day-long Texas State Fair. More than 3 million people attend the Texas State Fair each year. For three MSU students, the fried food, the Texas Star—the largest Ferris Wheel in North America—and the crowds were just a part of their first-time experience.
“I decided to give it a go and explore what America actually has to offer,” Maxyna Cottam, art freshman from New Zealand, said.
Tice Porterfield, theater sophomore, said he has not gone in the past because he is from Austin, three hours away.
“Craig really wanted to go because he wanted to experience the ‘American dream’ from what he had seen from American movies,” Porterfield said. “I honestly didn’t want to go at first but he convinced me to.”
Craig Abrahams, an education freshman from South Africa, said going to the Texas State Fair, the longest running fair in the nation, was part of his “American bucket list.”
“My main goal was to win a goldfish,” said Abrahams. “Unfortunately, we didn’t see any games giving goldfish as prizes.”
The Texas State Fair is notorious for its food, such as bacon-wrapped turkey legs, fried Oreo’s and foot-long corn dogs, and it did not fall short this year.
“My favorite part would have to be the food,” Cottam said. “There were strange, different types that you would not have a chance to try back in New Zealand. You Americans come up with some strange stuff.”
The three students said they rode rides, played midway games, listened to music, attended the auto show, visited Hall of State, ate food and took pictures with Big Tex—a 55-foot tall statue and icon of the Texas State Fair.
Abrahams said he tried to win a prize on the ladder climb game.
“I really thought I had the technique down,” Abrahams said. “I’m going to Google how to do it so next time I can win.”
Porterfield said once was enough and even though he had a good time, he probably would not go again.
“I definitely would go again next year if given the chance. I would like to try things I didn’t get to this time,” Cottam said.
The Texas State Fair closes Sunday, Oct. 18.
