HISTORY OF THE SOUTH TEXAS STATE FAIR
The 2025 South Texas State Fair is the 81st such event produced by the Young Men's Business League, but the story of the Fair in Beaumont goes back many years before this. The Fair actually is over 100 years old.
One of the first Fairs in the city was held during the first week of October, 1907. There is evidence to indicate that an earlier Fair was held in 1904 and perhaps others before that, but the 1907 event was the start of numerous consecutive years of Fairs in Beaumont.
Organizers of that first fair in 1907 were George Smith, a New Yorker who came to Beaumont to write editorials for the Beaumont Enterprise newspaper. He also became a leader in many civic and cultural activities. Andrew Jackson Houston, son of the San Jacinto Battle hero and the State's first Governor, Sam Houston. Jim S. Edwards, prominent real estate developer, E.I Kelly of the Jasper Newsboy newspaper. Louis Mayer, Beaumont merchant and civic leader and father of Walter Mayer 1932 YMBL President. R.L. Brown of Beaumont and East Texas historian who in his later days became known as "the Old Timer" in the coffee shops around town.
The first event was simply named the Beaumont Fair. Families came with their picnic lunches and some even camped overnight on the grounds. Later the Fair became known as the Southeast Texas State Fair, but in 1921 the "east" was dropped and the present name adopted. A Fair Association was formed to promote the exposition and did quite well through 1941 and the start of World War II in December of that year. Fairs all across the nation ceased to function because of the war, but at an invitation from the city and the military (due to soldiers being stationed near Beaumont and in need of entertainment and diversion from army life), the YMBL assumed operation of the Fair in 1942.
During the war, the Fair was known as the "YMBL Victory Fair" and was primarily an agricultural exposition and livestock show featuring a carnival midway. The Fair was strictly a volunteer effort with YMBL members selling tickets, manning the gates, parking cars and providing expertise in the Ag and livestock shows. Visitors came from near and far depending on how they managed their war‑time gasoline rationing stamps. Thousands of soldiers came from Camp Polk in Louisiana and Fort Hood in Killeen to spend a weekend in Beaumont and to attend the Fair.
Ben Jackson was president of the first Fair Association in 1921. Other YMBL/Fair pioneers were L.R. "Speedy" Blakeman, Herman Iles, Reese Martin, F.S. Braden, Bryan Sumrall, Elmo Beard, Cliff LeBlanc, Sr., Paul Bullington, Moodye Williamson, W.D. Norwood, Gus Becker and R.O. Jackson. Between 1925 and 1941, L.B. Herring, Jr., was Fair Secretary for the Fair Association and when the YMBL took over the Fair in 1942, Karl Schwartz, Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Membership Secretary was appointed to head up the Fair's office operations. Joe Goetschius, Trade Development Manager of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce became General Manager of the Fair in 1958 and when the YMBL separated from the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce in 1965 he was named YMBL Executive Vice President and continued his Fair General Manager duties until his retirement at the end of 1995. In 1998 YMBL veteran and Beaumont native Chris Colletti was named YMBL Executive Vice President and assumed the duties of Fair General Manager.
The South Texas State Fair drew more than 250,000 in 1957, and since that time estimated attendance has grown and draws individuals from ten counties in Southeast Texas and three South West Louisiana parishes.
In 2005, for the first time ever, the Fair was cancelled due to the devastating effects Hurricane Rita had on all of Southeast Texas. Hurricane Rita had a profound impact upon the financial well-being of the citizens of Southeast Texas and the many volunteers that typically operate the Fair were working to get their lives and businesses back in order. In 2008, for a second time in four years, Hurricane Ike caused the cancellation of the Fair. These two events were the catalyst for the YMBL Board of Directors, in cooperation with the Jefferson County Commissioners Court, to move the Fair to March in 2009.
The Fair is a "non‑profit" committee of the YMBL and the funds it generates supports the numerous activities the YMBL undertakes. Throughout the community the YMBL is known for the direct financial support it provides to local and area charitable organizations, youth projects, civic programs and other efforts to aid the elderly and those in need.