LIGHTS, RIDES AND
WOOD FIRED PIZZA
The San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo brings much for the community to enjoy, but outside of the rodeo arena offers much excitement for all ages.
By Ami Mizell-Flint
Photography Lord and Hooks Photography &
DeSoto photography - Daniel Soto
Videography Emblem Media House
First Visit
Will and Lara Slaughter brought their daughter Julia, who is 9 months old, to the carnival for the first time this year.
“Will and I always go,” Lara said. “We have always gone to support the stock show and rodeo, and to support the agriculture business around San Angelo. Will’s family has gone for generations, and I grew up going to the rodeo.”
Little Julia is getting the full experience in her first year attending. She has been to a rodeo performance, then went back to the carnival to see the petting zoo, sit on a longhorn, and ride the carousel.
“We’ll go back another day to see the arts and crafts,” Lara said.
To the Slaughters, the rodeo carnival is more than just an event- It’s giving their child a glimpse into the future.
“I hope she grows up and sees how important this event is to San Angelo,” Lara said. “I hope she gets involved in mutton busting, the arts, and I hope she understands the importance of this event to the kids in our area who get scholarships from showing animals.”
Her husband, who was stationed at Goodfellow, got transferred to San Antonio, where the family lives now. Facebook posts make her realize how much she misses the San Angelo event.
“Not only do I get sad when my friends are posting,” Beth said, “but when I see my own Facebook memories. The kids were tiny when we started, and they were riding bigger rides when we left.”
“I miss San Angelo in general, but especially I miss Christmas at Old Fort Concho, the Pops Concert, and the rodeo fair,” she said.
“I’ve heard the one here (in San Antonio) is huge and amazing, but I don’t want huge and amazing, I want perfect-size San Angelo.”
Fun for All Ages
Tammy Merwin has brought her daughters, ages 12 and 14, to the rodeo fair every year. This year, the girls discovered something new: the Carnival Super Pass, which gives them unlimited rides at the carnival throughout its 17-day run.
“The girls have been going every day,” Tammy said.
They have a group of 12 or 13 friends they meet up with. “They feel like VIPs when they go to the rides and flash their wristbands,” she said.
This is the first year her girls have gone to the carnival without their mom as a chaperone. Tammy said she was nervous at first, but she has faith that the SAPD and the Stock Show and Rodeo Association have gone above and beyond making sure everything is safe.
Tammy will be at the fairgrounds on Friday, but not as a chaperone- She will be performing in the wine tent- new to the event this year- before the rodeo performance begins. Tammy is no stranger to singing at the rodeo- she performed the national anthem last week. But her performance in the wine tent on Friday will consist of two hours of hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Diana Gutierrez and her daughter, Tori, 9 also come to the rodeo fair each year.
“The fair is one of the biggest draws,” Diana said. “Whether you are into the country rodeo scene or not, it’s fun- safe fun.”
Diana and her daughter love the variety offered at the carnival.
“I love all the food, all the vendors, and all the rides- there are rides for little and big kids.
It never gets old- we have some of the classics back year after year, but it never gets old.”