The Texas State Fair, an annual celebration of Texas food and culture festivities, was open from Sept. 30 to Oct. 23. The State Fair is the largest in the country, and this year, some new and exciting attractions, as well as inventive fried foods, helped attract a whopping 3.5 million people, according to a State Fair staff report.

For 2016, the theme of the fair was “Celebrating Texas Agriculture,” so it is fitting that the Plano West Future Farmers of America (FFA) group went to explore many of the new Agricultural exhibits the fair had to offer. FFA officer Blake Foley spoke about their activities.

“We did a scavenger hunt at the beginning,” Foley said. “We had to go around the fair about two times just to find everything.”

Some of the new agricultural themed attractions included milking demonstrations, a Livestock 101 stage for younger kids and of course, the petting zoo. Junior Justin Bray believes that attractions such as these are a must-see.

“If I had one hour at the fair I would go to the petting zoo,” Bray said. “It’s a tradition.”

In addition to the agricultural attractions, Ways of the West, a showcase of western culture and its impact on Texas history, Canstruction, an arts exhibit made entirely out of cans, and the Taylor Swift Experience were several debut exhibits.

However, the main attraction at the fair was the food, such as classics like Fletcher’s Corny Dogs, funnel cake and the winners of the Big Tex Choice Awards. This year, the winners were Fried Jello, created by Ruth Hauntz and Cookie Fries, created by Isaac Rousso.

“My favorite food is definitely the fried ice cream,” Foley said. “One of my friends got the fried pickle.”

Junior Mia Quatrino credits her love of the fair to the food.

“I just go for the food,” Quatrino said. “My favorite are the corny dogs.”

Another main attraction of the fair, aside from the food, creative arts submissions and livestock shows are the rides and games that adorn the midway.

“Of course you have to ride all the rides,” Quatrino said. “I always go on the ferris wheel.”

While there were not any major additions or changes to the rides or games this year, the tradition that accompanies the attractions is what makes them special.

“I used to ride the skyline gondola with my family every year,” Bray said.

Year after year, despite changes to the attractions, food and shows, families across Texas enjoy visiting the State Fair, and they make it a tradition for generations.

“There is only one Texas State Fair,” Bray said. “It is known everywhere and everybody enjoys going. It’s a tradition.”