The 12th Annual Big Tex® Clay Shoot Classic event was the most successful shoot yet. A record-breaking $212,185 was raised, with all proceeds going directly to the State Fair’s Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Program. The 2021 fundraising total passes the previous record-setting year by 10%, set in 2020.
“As we emerge through this pandemic, the ongoing support for students across the Lone Star State continues to be of the utmost importance,” said Daryl Real, senior vice president of livestock and agriculture for the State Fair of Texas. “Thanks to the support and sponsorship of these organizations, we were able to hold an event to continue our support of our mission-based initiatives, specifically supporting agricultural and education.”
One hundred percent of the money given to and raised at this event goes to support the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Big Tex Scholarship Program. The Scholarship Program supports 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.
The event was held on April 23 at the Dallas Gun Club in Lewisville, Texas, with the health and safety of all involved as the top priority. More than 305 shooters, representing 61 teams, competed at the event. First-place teams from three courses were recognized. Earning first-place honors on the blue, green, and orange courses, respectively: the Barry Pickett Fence Company team, Team Richardson, and the Long Straw Ranch team. Second place honors went to the Watkins Construction team, the Hicks Lightning Protection team, and the Hargrove Electric 2 team. Each member of the winning teams received a trophy and enjoyed recognition amongst their peers.
The first-place individual shooter on the blue course was Kenny Stringer, while Paul Deridder earned first-place individual shooter on the orange course. Andrew Stahl was the first-place individual on the Green Course. Each individual winner received a custom State Fair of Texas belt buckle created by Gist.
A special thanks to the following organizations and individuals:
- 2021 Presenting sponsor: United Mechanical
- Shooter gear sponsor: Heritage Land Bank
- Shooter hat sponsor: Crest Cadillac
- Event day sponsor: Bobcat Contracting LLC
- Flurry side game sponsor: Watkins Construction Company, LLC
- Shirt sponsor: Texas Building Controls
- Team photo sponsor: Axcent Networks
- Course sponsors: Marsh & McLennan Agency, Miller Knauff Attorneys & Counselors, EGR Architectural Millwork
- Benefactor: Sharp Insulation Company
- 30+ valued volunteers
Shooting station sponsors included 501 Ops, AON, Axcent Networks, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, C & K Williams LLC, Dalrock Plumbing, Eastern Plumbing Supply, Elements of Architecture, Frost Bank, Hargrove Electric, Holleman Construction, Housley Group, HP EnviroVision, Lone Star Ag Credit, Long Straw Ranch, Lynx Mapping, Matchbox Studio, MIINC Mechanical Contractors, Moore Supply Co., Morley-Moss, Quail Coalition, Reece-Hopper Sales, Renaissance Insurance, Scheels, State Fair of Texas Chairman’s Task Force, Sterling Resources, Taurus Commercial, Texas Air Systems, and United Mechanical.
Teams participating in the shoot included Barry Pickett Fence Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Bobcat Contracting, Chuck Fairbanks Chevrolet, Crest Cadillac, the Crotty Choppers, Davis Crane Companies, EGR Architectural Millwork, Frost Bank, G & G Insurance Logistics, Hargrove Electric, Heritage Land Bank, Hicks Lightning Protection, Housley Communications, Katten Munchin Rosenman LP, Lone Star Ag Credit, Lynx Mapping, Marsh & McLennan, Mechanical Partners, MIINC Mechanical Contractors, Miller & Brown, Miller Knauff Law Firm, Northwest Insurance Agency, NTD Mechanical, P&W Quality Machine, Raggio & Raggio, Sunstate Equipment, Taurus Commercial, Team de la Garza, Team Richardson, Texas Building Controls, Timberlake & Dickson, United Mechanical, Watkins Construction, and Winston Water Cooler.
Our generous in-kind event donors included Ben E. Keith, Emergency Ice, Fletcher’s Original State Fair Corny Dogs, Keurig Dr Pepper, Lady Walton’s Cookies, United Mechanical, Upland Bespoke, Westway Site Services, and Winston Water Coolers.
For more information on the Big Tex Clay Shoot Classic, please visit BigTex.com/clayshoot.