Big Tex Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by State Fair of Texas

The Big Tex Scholarship Program has helped more than 3,700 students pursue higher education, distributing over $20.1 million in awards to date. Eligible applicants include graduating high school seniors across Texas who took part in competitive youth livestock events at the State Fair, graduating seniors from six Dallas ISD high schools in the Fair Park neighborhood, and seasonal State Fair of Texas employees or their eligible dependents. Additional details about each scholarship and common questions are provided below.

Celebrating Texas by Investing in Education
Supporting students is a core part of the State Fair of Texas’ mission. To advance this goal, the Fair offers three distinct scholarship tracks:

- Juanita Craft Scholarship
- Youth Livestock Scholarship
- Seasonal Employee Scholarship

Juanita Craft Scholarship
Named in honor of South Dallas civil rights leader Juanita Craft, this award funds multiple scholarships of $6,000 each. Recipients are selected from students attending one of the following Fair Park-area high schools:
- Franklin D. Roosevelt High School
- Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School
- James Madison High School
- Lincoln High School
- North Dallas High School
- Woodrow Wilson High School

Youth Livestock Scholarship
The State Fair awards $6,000 scholarships to students who have competed in specific youth livestock or related agricultural contests at the State Fair. Eligible applicants must be graduating from a Texas high school and planning to enroll at a Texas college, university, or trade school. While applicants pursuing agriculture-focused or agriculturally related natural science majors are given preference, this is not a requirement.

Eligible applicants must have competed in one or more of the following State Fair 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
Introduced in 2018, the Seasonal Employee Scholarship supports seasonal staff of the State Fair of Texas or eligible children/dependents of such employees (including stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, foster children, or adopted children). Awards are available to students planning to attend an accredited two- or four-year Texas college, university, or trade school.

Eligibility requirements for the seasonal staff applicant (or qualifying employee related to the dependent applicant) include:
- Completion of at least three years of seasonal employment by January 1 of the award year
- An average of 20 work hours per week during the prior Fair
- Employment in good standing with the State Fair of Texas

Award details:
- Recipients receive a $6,000 scholarship.
- Awards are renewable in pre-determined increments (disbursed by semester or term) provided the student maintains a 3.0 GPA while pursuing an eligible degree.

For more information on application procedures, deadlines, and frequently asked questions, please see the sections below.