On October 10 of the 2013 State Fair of Texas®, Anderson Bean® sponsored the 1st Annual Big Tex® 4×4 Chute-Out. The first of its kind at the State Fair, the chute-out featured the top 10 4-H competitors for each event from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
The chute-out featured barrel racing, pole bending, team roping and break away roping. Each state brought heavy competition that made it an exciting day of equestrian events.
This is the first year that Anderson Bean has sponsored an event for the State Fair of Texas, and with the success of the chute-out it hopefully will not be the last.
Steven Kahla, the marketing director for Anderson Bean came to town the day of the event. “I am more than impressed with the turnout for the competition. We wanted to get the public better access to this type of event,” said Kahla.
Kahla said that the driving factor for the competition was the Texas 4-H Foundation. Jim Reeves, the Executive Director of the Texas 4-H Foundation, and Kahla have been trying to put together this type of event at the State Fair for about three years.
Kahla also stated that after getting everything coordinated with the fair officials, they were all on the same page they needed to be on to make this event happen and run smoothly. This event needed to happen at the 2013 State Fair because Reeves would soon be retiring from the 4-H Foundation.
The general public wasn’t the only group of people interested in watching this new and upcoming event. Terry Jordan, host of the TV series Stockshow Confidential, visited the State Fair of Texas to cover the competition.
“I have a rodeo background from my childhood and my kids participated in 4-H equestrian events in their youth. I believe that the chute-out is a great addition to the competition lineup at the State Fair of Texas,” said Terry Jordan.
Stockshow Confidential filmed the event and are planning to air it in January 2014 on RFD TV.
As the official boot of Texas 4-H, Anderson Bean believes that the future of agriculture lies in today’s youth. Kahla noted that kids and parents respond very well to the Anderson Bean company and what they do for youth in the agriculture industry.
Keeping in mind the possibility of continuing the chute-out in 2014, Kahla said, “I would hope with the new facilities and increased public awareness of event, the State Fair will grow into something larger than it already is.”
Competitors competed for prize money, Anderson Bean boots, buckles, tack, customized spurs and a Grand Champion saddle.
Thanks to Anderson Bean, NRS and the 4-H Foundation for all of the support behind the Big Tex 4×4 Chute-Out, the turnout and vibe of the competition was spectacular. The contestants came out and showed the visitors to the State Fair an experience that they haven’t received in years past.
Thank you once again to our sponsors, and thank you to the 4-H competitors for coming across state lines to participate in the 2013 Big Tex 4×4 Chute Out here at the State Fair of Texas.