The Big Tex Scholarship Program has awarded college scholarships to more than 3,000 students for a total of more than $17.4 million. Eligible recipients include graduating high school seniors around the state of Texas who have participated in competitive youth livestock events held at the State Fair, graduating seniors from six Dallas Independent School District high schools in the Fair Park area, and seasonal employees of the State Fair of Texas or their dependents. Scroll down for more information on our various scholarships, in addition to frequently asked questions.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Juanita Craft Scholarship
Honoring the legacy of South Dallas resident and civil rights activist, Juanita Craft, the State Fair of Texas awards multiple $6,000 scholarships to selected applicants from the following Fair Park-area high schools: Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, James Madison, Lincoln, North Dallas, and Woodrow Wilson High Schools.
Youth Livestock Scholarship
The State Fair of Texas awards $6,000 scholarships to selected applicants who have competed in specific competitive youth livestock events held at the State Fair. Scholarships are given to applicants who are graduating from a Texas high school, with preference to those enrolling in an agricultural-related or agricultural-benefiting natural science curriculum at a Texas college or university.
Eligible applicants must have competed in one or more of the following 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
- 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
- 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
- Youth Dairy Cattle Show
- Youth Dairy Cattle Showmanship
- Youth Dairy Goat Show
- Youth Dairy Goat Showmanship
- 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
Seasonal Employee Scholarship
First awarded in 2018, the Seasonal Employee Scholarship awards scholarships each year to seasonal staff members directly employed by the State Fair of Texas or to a dependent child, step-child, grandchild, step-grandchild, foster, or adopted child of the qualified seasonal employee. This scholarship is available for applicants who plan to attend an accredited two-year or four-year Texas college, university, or vocational-technical school. Eligible seasonal staff are those who have completed at least three years of seasonal employment as of January 1st of the year in which the scholarship is to be awarded, and have worked an average of 20 hours a week during the prior Fair. Recipients receive a $6,000 grant, renewable in pre-determined increments (paid by semester or term) if the student maintains a 3.0 GPA while working towards the completion of an eligible degree.
View Scholarship
Awards Available: 150