Waller County Fairgrounds

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Premier Sponsor SIM-TEX, LP

Welcome to the Waller County Fairgrounds where we invite you to "Kick Up Your Heels" and have some great family fun! The WC Fairgrounds are managed by the Waller County Fair Association, a non-profit group of local volunteers and community leaders. The WC Fairgrounds is home to the annual Waller County Fair and many other events. It's a great place to have fun for the whole family.

Be sure to check out the photos and videos

About the Waller County Fair

Each year we host the Waller County Fair starting in late September and usually running through the first part of October. Our fair features livestock projects from area youth organizations such as 4H and local FFA classes.

During the fair time you can also enjoy a good old fashion rodeo with both professional and amateur competitors. It's a great chance to see some of your friends and neighbors compete in various rodeo events. There is always a good show with plenty of rodeo action.

We also feature carnival rides and various concessions. You can enjoy exciting rides, good food, and see a selection of crafts from area vendors. Come out and pick up a new hat, saddle, or that perfect western-style decoration for the house. It's all here for your enjoyment.

Finally, what fair would be complete without a dance. Each evening we have live entertainment provided by local and area entertainers with some coming from the renown Austin music scene. In addition, each main weekend we have feature entertainers and a dance in the main pavilion. It's a great time to "Kick up your heels!"

2011 WC Fair Dedication
Mr. Johnie Schulte

Johnie Schulte didn’t imagine he would one day own one of the countries’ fastest growing manufacturers of metal buildings and components when he left Brenham in 1953 at the young age of 17. He was justifiably proud then to have his first job, on the shop floor at Metallic Building Company. Johnie Schulte was the Founder and CEO of Schulte Building Systems, INC. (SBS) located in Hockley, Texas. SBS is in fact one of the fastest growing metal building and components manufacturers in the country. The company is new; but Mr. Schulte used his 50 plus years of experience in the industry to put together a team of industry veterans as well as many highly skilled manufacturing employees. He used his honesty, generosity and talent for relationship-building to create a company that is known and recognized for its products, its customer service, and for the bonds Johnie created with his customers, vendors, and employees.

Honoring Mr. Schultie at the 2011 Fair, Saturday Sept. 24 with fair association president Gerald Powell

SBS also works hard to design programs that create opportunities for employees to share in the success of the company. Customer Service is our primary goal. When a buyer appears, no stone is left unturned in removing any obstacles to the transaction. Building relationships is just as important. There are many people who can build a metal building, but we separate SBS by creating strong bonds between our customers, our vendors, and our employees. When all of these groups work together, there are no limits on the goals that can be achieved.

The first official payroll of SBS in January of 2005 consisted of 7 employees. There are currently 375 people employed by the company, with 3 locations across the country. The majority of these employees are located at the Hockley plant. A 45,000 square foot building was added to this facility in December of 2005 and another 15,000 square feet was added in June 2006, giving SBS 215,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Hockley. In March of 2006, construction began on our second plant location in Hueytown, Alabama, outside of Birmingham. This facility consists of 57,600 square feet of manufacturing space and a 4,200 square foot office. This facility manufactures panels, cold-form secondary structural members, trim and warehouse items for our customers in the Southeast region of the country. In 2008, SBS acquired Inland Buildings in Cullman, AL.

The previous company Mr. Schulte was associated with earned rankings on Business Week’s “the Best Small Companies” and Forbe’s “Top 200 Small Companies” under his leadership as CEO. Mr. Schulte was one of the 10% of CEOs of the Business Week list that incurred all of his success without a college degree and one of the 7% who actually started in the production sector of the company for which they worked. This is one of his characteristics Mr. Schulte was most proud of, because he felt like “it makes a big difference when you’re the CEO and know your business from the bottom.”

He was honored as a businessman over the years with many distinguished awards and he turned his business success in to an opportunity to help others. He and his family are associated with various charities and organizations that usually involve helping children. Due to his influence, SBS and its employees are also involved with various charities and organizations who help children.
Boys & Girls Country was one of his favorite places to offer help and support. He has also always been a big supporter of various FFA and 4-H groups. He wanted to help all the kids that were making an effort to help themselves by raising animals in any of these programs, but he was not usually the one walking away with the Grand Champion animal. He was generally the last man standing at the auction and bidding on any kind of animal there was up until the very last participant came out.

The Schulte Charitable Foundation was started in 1994 as a strictly private foundation to be funded entirely by the Schulte Family. It was a way to keep track of the personal donations made by Johnie and his wife, Barbara. It also provided a possible avenue for personal donations to continue after they were gone. The charitable organizations that have benefitted from the foundation are special to Johnie and Barbara or the family in some way.

The foundation has given to many local causes in the Waller, Hempstead, and Tomball area. Less than 10% of the money donated to the Foundation has been used for administrative expenses so almost 90% of all the money that has been donated since its inception has gone directly to the charities. At the time of his death, the family suspended the payment of any administrative expenses that are not absolutely necessary to make sure that even more money is donated directly to the charities in light of the fact that outside individuals are involved now and it is no longer just the family making contributions. The organization has received over $20,000 since October 30,, 2009 in memory of Johnie.
Johnie Schulte was an outstanding Christian citizen and he honestly believed in helping others, especially the youth in the community. He would have been overwhelmed by the fact that so many people thought so much of him and donated to his personal causes with such generosity. He is greatly missed, but his efforts and achievements will live on through the many lives that he touched throughout his lifetime. His giving spirit will continue through his family, friends, and business associates and anyone else touched by his examples.

One of his most endearing qualities is that he was very uncomfortable with recognition and praise that was directed at him for his actions and accomplishments. It speaks volumes about his motives and intentions that he wanted no attention for himself. He always wanted to direct it to others and give thanks and praise to those around him.

Private Reservations

Did you know you can also reserve fairground facilities? That's right. If you need a location for your next private party, family reunion or company picnic, consider the fairgrounds as your next choice. We have several indoor and outdoor facilities you can rent. You can also rent the facilities for public gatherings as well. If you need a venue for that next concert promotion, then we can help out. Give us a call or fill out the online request form and we will be glad to help out. To see available dates, check out our facilities calendar.