Thousands of folks are marching to opening weekend of the State Fair of Texas. Some for the first time, others for decades. That's the case for one family, serving fairgoers for 75 years and counting.
“Funnel cake. Turkey Leg. Hot dog and corn dog," said Juan and Yanira Salas, first-time fairgoers listing off their eats so far for the day.
The Salas, who regret not visiting the fair sooner, already plan to return. “I want to get some Twinkies," Juan said. The food keeps even Tim Orten coming back for roughly his 40th year.
“We’ve had fried Frito pie, now two things of potatoes—fried potatoes, and I’m fixing to go get me a fried peanut butter and jelly," Orten said. That appetite is what the Nevins family lives for. A spokesperson for the State Fair of Texas told NBC 5 that the Nevins Family is the longest-running food vendor family.
“Nevins concessions was born in 1949, my great grandfather came out here and he started with two concession stands," said Josey Nevins Mayes. Mayes' grandfather built up the business to 30 stands. When the State Fair set a cap of 10 stands per business, her grandfather and his brother split the cost.
Now, her uncle owns nine cotton candy stands, and Nevins Concessions owns nine food stands. Mayes' mom took the reigns in the 1980s, bringing Mayes to the fairgrounds even when she was in the womb. “Growing up as a little girl, to watch her mom be a really baller boss-woman, but also be such a beautiful woman, that means a lot to a lit.
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