Hog Blog

Folks on best behavior at Stock Show

FORT WORTH - Aside from a couple of drunk patrons and a petty theft or two, visitors to the Stock Show have been on their best behavior this year.

“You have a better chance of being attacked by a grizzly bear and a black bear on the same day than having a problem out here,” said Sgt. Kevin Foster, who is assigned to Stock Show’s police substation during the event’s 24-day run. “Everyone out here is happy.”

In fact, Foster said, Fort Worth’s finest spend most of their day directing traffic, escorting the Moos Brothers (the Stock Show’s two mascots), and answering questions.

“Where’s the petting zoo, where’s the bathroom and where’s the exhibit hall?” Foster said, flashing a grin.

The substation, located in the west side of Will Rogers Tower, also serves as the lost and found.

Foster said people have been very honest this year, turning in wallets with money in them, expensive cameras, I-phones and pricey jewelry. Of course, there has also been a steady stream of stuffed animals, hats and gloves, he said.

But the oddest thing people lose, Foster said, are baby strollers.

He said rodeo patrons park their strollers in a secure spot near the police substation - similar to a coat check - and forget to pick them up when the rodeo is over.

“We have two or three strollers back there,” said Foster.

All in all, Foster said, it’s been a great year at the Stock Show for officers, who have arrested one person for being intoxicated, sent another drunk to the hospital and detained two juveniles for shoplifting.

“We’ve had a million people pass through here, so those are outstanding numbers,” he said.

- Melody McDonald

Brace yourself and say, 'aghhh'

Got a really bad sore throat but can't pull yourself away from the horses, hogs and all that hay?

Then just say "aghhh," and brace yourself.

One swab straight down the throat with a giant Q-tip and all that misery melts away.

To get the mystery medicine you have to visit the medical team at the First-Aid Station in Will Rogers Coliseum.

No one is telling what's in the mystery medicine, but it's become something of a legend at the Stock Show.

Dr. Charles Rush, a physician at the rodeo from 1954 to 2006, came up with the formula, which to this day has remained a secret.

"It's his little remedy," said Jim Forrester, a nurse on the medical team.  "It's only used at the Stock Show, and no where else that I am aware of."

Whatever is in it, the mystery medication apparently does the trick.

"Everybody says it works," Forrester said. "It's better than a gargle."

-- Jan Jarvis

Firefighters' daily blaze: cooking

Things were cooking at Fire Station 80 at the Stock Show earlier today.

Station 80, which is only open during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, is staffed with firefighters from all over the city who will work 24-hour shifts throughout the show, which ends Sunday. Four firefighters are there over night, while two fire marshals patrol the buildings and grounds, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily and on weekends.

Today, they expected a VIP lunch crowd that was to consist of members of the Fort Worth Police Department, the Fire Department, and Stock Show officials. Mayor Mike Moncrief was invited and was expected to attend, too, said Lt. K.B. “Britt” Eason.

“This is something we do on our own, for fun, on the slow days,” said Eason, regarding their meal by their chef of the day, Engineer R.F. Beardsley, whom they call “The King.”

Calls are few to the fire station, located near the main Stock Show offices in the John Justin Plaza near the Cattle Barns and arena.

“Most of the stuff we get are EMS calls — people falling down, either inebriated or just falling, and lots of people who lock themselves out of their vehicles,” said Eason, who recalled one bad spill — a young girl who was dragged down the street by her show calf. The firefighters patched up her knees and elbows.

But when they aren’t patrolling the grounds or buildings, doctoring scrapes and bruises, they are tending to a different kind of blaze — the kitchen, outdoor cookers and grills.

“We’re cooking beans, ribs, potatoes, bell peppers,” today, said Beardsley. The engineer, who has been with the department for 21 years, was busy early afternoon, controlling the fire that cooked his stuffed jalapeno peppers and barbecue grilled veggies, with bacon. Bacon? Oh, yeah, he added, everything tastes better with bacon.

— Elizabeth Zavala

Good 'ole fresh country air

FORT WORTH _ The cold, damp air this morning brought a “sense” of realism to the Fort Worth Stock Show grounds - mostly the aroma of pig droppings.

The scent of good ‘ole fresh country air got a reprieve at lunchtime, thanks in part to all the outside grills springing into action.

And 7-year-old Taylor McRae caught a whiff.

“It doesn’t stink out here anymore,” Taylor said, while skipping along the sidewalk near Cattle Barn 2. The second-grader from Richardson probably was overwhelmed by the sting of grilled onions.

Mike Gellner was among those venders changing the air’s ambiance. Stirring a 50-gallon cast iron pot full of onions, peppers and sausage, Gellner said he was in the process of mixing up 30-40 gallons of gumbo.

“It’s real warm here,” he said, standing next to the gas grill. Gellner says he doesn’t make much money selling his jambalaya and gumbo. Instead, the smells from his tent help him push his seasoning - Mike’s Mojo Seasonings - that he sells in area Tom Thumb and Kroger’s groceries.

Anthony Spangler

Thanks for that

Rochelle Hightower has mastered the art of the cheerful "Thank-you!"

From her folding chair on the east side of the Stock Show grounds, the ticket-taker says it to each and every show-goer that passes.

She says it after tearing in half the tickets and passes they present for admission. She says it to people wearing admission-granting souvenir pins on their shirts.

How many times she says it a day is hard to figure. She works from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. About 144,000 people visited the show over the weekend, though they have several entrances to choose from.

"I say it a lot," Hightower of Forest Hill said. "I want everyone to feel welcome."

Sometimes her job involves more than a greeting. Some people try to walk in without tickets or pins. Sometimes they say they left their tickets in their truck and don’t like the idea of walking back to their parking spot.

People attending the auctions can be particularly prickly about tickets.

"Sometimes they say ‘You mean, I have to pay to get in so I can buy a steer?’" she says. "But everyone usually cooperates."

Hightower smiled while a reporter snapped her photo. She was thanked for the brief interview.

"Thank you," she replied.

—Alex Branch

Stock Show discounts

FORT WORTH – The Fort Worth Stock Show is offering prices to beat the cold. On Wednesday, visitors with a Star-Telegram Press Pass can get up to 4 adult admission passes for half-price, regularly $8, and 50 percent off tickets for Midway rides. Or during the week visitors can buy discounted arm bands for $25 which are good for all Midway rides between noon to 6 p.m. the day of purchase.  Discount not available Saturday or Sunday. – Susan Schrock

Booth boasts baskets from Ghana

Brittany Piggins family's booth in the commercial exhibits is a little different from the standard Stock Show fare.

The brightly-colored baskets from the Women's Fair Trade Co-op are all woven by women in the west African nation of Ghana, Piggins said. She said the baskets, which will run you $37.50, are made with no child labor and selling them supports 21 families.

It's the first year at the show for Piggins, a recent graduate from Texas A&M Commerce with a master's degree in business administration and marketing.

"It's just a growing business and something to really be proud of to help out the people of Ghana," she said.

- Traci Shurley

Cold temperatures put a chill on Stock Show attendance

FORT WORTH – Lower than average temperatures may have kept away visitors to the Fort Worth Stock Show, which had the lowest third weekend crowds since 2003.

Temperatures were in the low 30s on Saturday and Sunday, when a combined 143,800 visited the annual Cowtown event. That’s about 9,000 less than the same weekend last year. The last time third weekend turnout was that low was when 143,700 visited in 2006, according to attendance records.

So far this year, 589,900 have attended the Stock Show, about 4,100 than the same point last year.

– Susan Schrock