The 15th Annual Big Tex Golf Classic was a hole-in-one for Texas students. $210,000 was raised at the event, with all donations going directly to the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Programs to help fund education for students throughout the Lone Star State.
Through special fundraising events last year, including the Big Tex Golf Classic, the State Fair of Texas raised more than $2 million in 2024 to support students throughout the Lone Star State in auction awards and new college scholarships. The Big Tex Scholarship Program benefits students from across the state who have competed in youth livestock events at the State Fair, students attending one of six Dallas ISD high schools surrounding Fair Park, and longtime seasonal employees of the State Fair of Texas.
The annual Big Tex Golf Classic event, chaired by Caleb Robinson with Robinson Growth Partners, Joshua Furrh with Silver Fox Resources, and Zack Lamp with HKS led a competitive 58 teams that included 236 golfers and three area high school teams competing at the event held at both Tenison Golf Courses in Dallas, The Highlands, and The Glen. First and second-place teams, per course, took home the trophies and annual bragging rights. Leading The Glen in first place was the team from Roadmasters, a Division of Bennett Transportation, and second place honors went to Talley Riggins Construction. On The Highlands, first place went to Evan Pounds’ team, and Marsh & McLennan Agency took home second place.
Keeping the tradition alive, local high school teams played alongside our donors, who sponsored the student teams. The teams included golfers from Sunset High School, Mansfield High School, and Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, sponsored by HKS, 5555 N. Beach, Robert Walne, Davey Davis, and Andrew Prine.
Earth Basics Contracting Corporation and Ernst & Young LLP sponsored the Closest-to-the-Pin contests on each course. Longest Drive Contests were also held on each course and were sponsored by The Gwinn Foundation on The Glen Course and BakerTriangle on The Highlands Course. Additional on-course activations and prizes were offered throughout both courses, including “mulligan” games, Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs, and Porch Swing Iced Tea.
“The State Fair of Texas is thankful for the generosity of all its staff, volunteers, sponsors, and donors, as they consistently show up and work together to benefit students across the Lone Star State,” said Karissa Condoianis, SVP of Public Relations. “All donations made through the State Fair’s fundraising events go directly into the hands of Texas students through our Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Programs, and we look forward to continuing our efforts for years to come to support our nonprofit mission of promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement.”
The success of the Big Tex Golf Classic in raising critical funds for Texas students would not be possible without the generous support of the sponsors and donors who help bring this impactful event to life. A special thanks to the following organizations for sponsoring the tournament:
- Highlands Course Sponsor: Cigna Healthcare
- Glen Course Sponsor: Lockton
- Tournament Tumbler Sponsor: Atmos Energy
- Player Ball Sponsor: Grapevine Golf Cars
- Breakfast Sponsor: Kahn Mechanical Contractors
- Big Tex Scholars’ Sponsor: Kent Concrete
- Tournament Shirt Sponsor: Marsh McClennan Agency
- Tournament Glove sponsor: J.R. Artificial Turf and Landscaping
- Tournament Towel sponsor: Merrill Lynch Price and Associates
- Tournament Hat Sponsor: Snelling Homes
- State Fair of Texas Scholars Sponsor: Kent Concrete
- Putting Contest Sponsor: Younger Partners
- The Ticket Radio Sponsor: EY Ventures
- Tent Sponsor: Bush Rudnicki Shelton
- Team Photo Sponsor: Miller Services
- Beverage Stations Sponsors on The Highlands Course:
- Welborn Garage
- Benefits Texas
- Ashford Building Solutions
- B1 Bank
- Beverage Station Sponsors on The Glen Course:
- Robinson Growth Partners
- Ruibals
- Hello Deluxe Carwash
- Golf Tees and Divot Fixer Sponsor: National Write your Congressman
- Bag Tag Sponsor: Miramar Holdings
- Koozie Sponsor: TexStone Capital
- Ball Marker Sponsor: JustPark
- Closest to the Pin on The Highlands Course: Ernst & Young LLP
- Closest to the Pin on The Glen Course: Earth Basics Contracting Corporation
- Longest Drive Contest on The Highlands Course: BakerTriangle
- Longest Drive Contest on The Glen Course: The Gwinn Foundation
- Driving Range Sponsor: TXU Energy
- Golf Cart Sponsor: Raising Cane’s
- More than 60 valued volunteers participated from the State Fair’s Chairman’s Task Force & State Fair staff.
Special thanks to our Benefactor Donors:
The Live Auction included seven one-of-a-kind packages and raised $10,400. We are very grateful to our Live Auction Donors: The Drey Hotel, Hyatt Lost Pines Resort, Live! by Loews, Reece Bath and Kitchen, Southside Market & Barbeque, Inc., Southwest Airlines, the State Fair of Texas, Tenison Golf Course, and Terry Black’s BBQ.
Learn more about the 2025 Big Tex Golf Classic at BigTex.com/Golf.
Learn more about the Big Tex Scholarship Program at BigTex.com/Scholarship.