On Thursday, November 4, as the drive-home traffic played cha-cha-cha along Lakeside Drive, Ann and Bob Dyer’s mansion was setting up a spread that would have brought a smile to Big Tex.
Just a week away from the annual Texas Discovery Garden’s 2021 Flora Award supper, the Dyers were hosting the fundraiser’s patron party with a mix of State Fair fare including corny dogs and funnel cakes and a block of Mesero’s shrimp ceviche.
Since the honoree Big Tex was on hiatus after a 24-day run at Fair Park, a huge photo of the dude was on the entry table surrounded by cookies boasting Texas flags and butterflies.
As Flora Award Co-Chairs Nancie Wagner and Rita Klein gathered in the family room, State Fair of Texas Board of Directors Chair Gina Norris reported that the 2021 run had been amazing, with only three days of weather challenges.
Gina heaped praise on State Fair of Texas Senior VP Rusty Fitzgerald who, in addition to being the State Fair’s operations person, is also the weather guru. On the day when the Fair was the first to announce closing early due to inclement weather, it was due to Rusty’s on-the-target prediction of the weather hitting was just a couple of minutes off. But thanks to Rusty’s warning, other media picked up the call like Paul Revere.
As for the future, Gina reported that now that the Fair Park plan was in place, State Fair leadership was preparing for a long-term plan including preparations for the bicentennial celebration in 2036.
Funds raised via the black-tie Flora Award Supper on Thursday, November 11, at Texas Discovery Garden will benefit the Garden located at Fair Park.