< Previous40 COASTMONTHLY.COM / April 2016 COASTMONTHLY.COM / April 2016 41Story by Leslie Watts | Photos by Stuart VillanuevaWhen the wagons start rolling to open the 2016 Galveston County Fair & Rodeo on April 8, they’ll be headed toward the future — a fu-ture of improved agricultural practices fueled by nine days of roping, riding, showing of prize animals and the awarding of about $55,000 in scholarships to area students.“For some, it’s all about the fun and food, but for many of our young people, this event is providing a path to tomorrow,” Galveston County Fair & Rodeo President Paul Tibaldo said. “Amid the cotton candy and cook-offs, there is a serious side — ensuring the ongoing vitality of our region’s farming economy.”Galveston’s agricultural roots run deep. During the 1800s, Boli-var Peninsula was known for abundant produce and long-staple cotton; figs later became a major cash crop in the northern part of the county. During the Civil War, the town of La Marque was called “Buttermilk Station” for the tangy beverage enjoyed there by soldiers traveling between Houston and Galveston, and dairy-ing and raising cattle was a significant industry well into the 20th century on both the mainland and the island.In 1934, seeking to further stimulate improved herd man-agement, the Galveston Chamber of Commerce inaugurated a “dairy contest” for local farmers. The winner the first year was No kidding around hereFor some, the Galveston County Fair & Rodeo is serious businessCoastal CowboysIsaiah Flournoy stands during a moment of silence with his patriotically painted goat at the 2015 Galveston County Fair & Rodeo Youth Livestock Auction in Hitchcock.Trevor Eernisse, 12, of Santa Fe, calls for higher bids on his Grand Champion rabbit at last year’s youth livestock auction.42 COASTMONTHLY.COM / April 2016Mrs. H. Huntington, who was awarded a prize Jersey bull calf for her efforts.The popularity of the dairy contest grew such that in 1938, the Dairy Farmer’s Coop-erative Society of Galveston County expand-ed the program into a countywide Dairy Show, complete with barbecue and other festivities, according to fair historian Albert Ramirez. Held at the Arcadia rodeo grounds on Nov. 5, this event marked the genesis of today’s fair and rodeo and also established the Galveston County Calf Club as six young 4-H Club members were presented with a registered Jersey heifer to raise.Coastal Cowboys(Above) Clear Falls High School student David Weiss rests next to his show heifer Nilla while waiting to show at the Galveston County Fair & Rodeo. (Left) Brooke McCrumb, 11, of Dickinson, sits with her lamb Trooper before the youth livestock auction.Cowboy Church and Fiesta Sunday, and other days honor senior citizens, county employees, kids and families.Food — especially a wine bar dedicat-ed to Texas wines and the daily cook-off competitions — are a highlight for many attendees, High Island resident Herschel Johnson said.“I spent two years on the waiting list be-fore a slot opened up that would allow me to even enter,” he said.Johnson has signed up for his 11th year of participation.For Justine and Robert Boysen and their Over the years, events grew in variety and scope along with local interest and attendance. A carnival was added in 1946, and local high school bands performed. A barn dance was added in 1948, the corona-tion of the first “Dairy Queen” took place in 1952, and in 1954, a nine-piece string band from the Darrington State Prison performed.The next several decades saw the intro-duction of additional entertainment, trail rides, rodeo activities, horse shows and other competitions for both young and old, with an emphasis on attracting the participation of students active in 4-H and Future Farmers of America groups.In 1984, the event officially became known as the Galveston County Fair & Rodeo and moved to Jack Brooks Park in Hitchcock, a 631-acre site previously known as Camp Wallace and given to the county by the federal government in 1973.Today, about 50,000 people yearly enjoy the fair’s animal exhibitions, rodeo activities, live music concerts, midway rides, conces-sions and games. Special events include four children, the fair and rodeo provide additional opportunities to support their love of rural life. Originally from Galveston Island, the Boysens moved a few years back to a farm in Santa Fe, where they today raise cat-tle, pigs, goats, lambs and chickens. As a plus, Justine Boysen reports the positive influence of 4-H and fair participation on her children.“They are so much more responsible, and their confidence and leadership skills have really grown,” she said.Others who have benefited from the fair’s programs include Texas City veterinarian Amber Thurmond, who began showing animals when she was in the seventh grade. With the help of one of the fair’s scholar-ships, Thurmond completed her education at Texas A&M University at College Station and returned to Galveston County to establish her own practice.Texas City High School teacher Nikki Ashcroft also was a scholarship winner and today helps her own agriculture students with fair activities. As a Texas A&M graduate, Ashcroft still remembers how important the fair was to her own education.“The scholarship I received from the fair made a big difference in my life, and specif-ically in my being able to attend my dream college,” she said. (Above) Breanna Gates, of Santa Fe, walks her Grand Champion Steer “Beavis” to the bidding area at the Galveston County Fair & Rodeo Youth Livestock Auction. (Right) Elizabeth Craft brushes a heifer named Sassafras. The 78th annual Galveston County Fair & Rodeo will be April 8-16 at Jack Brooks Park, 5012 Jack Brooks Road, in Hitchcock. Visit www.galvestoncountyfair.com. COASTMONTHLY.COM / APRil 2016 43Let us help you find yourperfect island vacation!We have something for everyone.Contact us today!409.944.322013450 FM 3005 | Galveston, Texas 77554www.GaryGreeneVacationRentals.com46 COASTMONTHLY.COM / April 2016Story and photos by Irene AmietDennis Jenkins’ biggest work-place frustration is the human inability to tell animals what’s ailing them. Jenkins has been a veterinarian for large animals since 1986.A strawberry-colored stud, with an intra-venous line attached to his neck, grazes on the pasture of Jenkins’ Santa Fe practice. The horse looks morose. Its head is drooping. The animal was suffering from choke, which is caused by blockage of the esophagus, usually by food.Choke occurs when a horse doesn’t chew its food properly, usually because of dental issues or because the animal isn’t producing enough saliva. When a horse suffers from choke, it can’t swallow, causing digesting food to resurface through the nostrils. Un-treated, the condition is deadly.“A horse eats, no matter what,” Jenkins From the horse’s mouthSanta Fe veterinarian finds the hardest part of his job is not being able to converse with his patientsDennis Jenkins inserts a tube into a horse’s nostril to check for blockage in the esophagus while his technician, Kaitie Barczak, twitches the upper lip, which releases endorphins to relax the animal. COASTMONTHLY.COM / April 2016 47Dennis Jenkins talks to his patient, Grace. The horse was treated for a possible case of choke, a condition in which food or a foreign object blocks a horse’s esophagus. A choking horse can breathe but is unable to swallow, and it can become dehydrated.48 COASTMONTHLY.COM / April 2016said. “You can’t tell them to stop. You can’t look them in the eye and explain why they are in pain either.”Jenkins treated the horse’s condition with a drug that induces muscle contractions.Jenkins is a Texas A&M University at College Station graduate. He wears the university’s maroon scrubs proudly. He’s had his practice on 3417 Ave. J in Santa Fe since 1990. Jenkins only recently took on an associate, a decision encouraged by his wife, who hoped for the occasional undisturbed vacation.As Jenkins and I talk, the phone rings and another potential choke case is on its way. Jenkins shakes his head. Ten years ago, he never saw more than a couple of choke cases a year, but now they’re quite frequent, he said. The increase in such cases might be attributed to added growth hormones in the grain that makes up part of a horse’s feed, or too much molasses, Jenkins said.The new case rolls into the yard in a trail-er and a brown mare is subsequently tied to the stand where horses are examined.Grace is a former rescue animal from Habitat for Horses in Hitchcock; her owner has had her for a couple of years. It’s hard to tell who’s more nervous, the horse or the owner.Jenkins’ veterinarian technician, Kaitie Barczak, administers a sedative before gently twitching the horse’s upper lip in a wired loop. Twitching releases endorphins, relaxing the animal. Jenkins inserts a tube through Grace’s nostril. If it finds its way into the stomach without obstruction, the esoph-agus is clear and the horse doesn’t have choke. Turns out, the horse is fine except for an upper respiratory infection. Grace blows her nostrils like a steam engine and shakes her head, eliciting relieved laughter from all present, including Jenkins.Because it’s important to keep a horse’s teeth healthy, the animals have their own dentists. Stacy Chaffin has her hand deep in a Paint horse’s mouth that morning. Chaffin is holding on to what looks like a gigantic electric toothbrush. Her patient isn’t very calm because the veterinarian practice is surround-ed by other horses, some of them mares belonging to Jenkins’ wife, Kay, who runs accessories store Doc’s Boutique in Santa Fe. Eventually, the horse gives in to tranquilizers and the calm words of the people surround-ing him. Soon, he’ll step out with a perfect smile to win over the lassies.Jenkins used to treat cattle, but because most big herds have left the area, he now only distributes the occasional round of vaccines. His practice, however, is fitted with state-of-the art X-ray machines and can accommodate just about any large animal.Eying an old mare suffering from colic, Jenkins presses his lips into a thin line. He has tried everything in the book to help her, but now thinks she has suffered enough and that it might be time for her to go, he said.“Sometimes, one needs to know when you can’t help them any longer,” Jenkins said. “The hardest part of my job is leaving emotions aside.” Coastal CowboysGalveston native equine dentist Stacy Chaffin files down a patient’s teeth.Allied Siding & Windows offersTexas Windstorm Certified products and installation!We understand the importance of having the right products and installation on your home - especially in coastal or windstorm areas. Allied offers James Hardie products that are rated to coastal specifications. Allied offers the award-winning StormBreaker+ windows by Simonton. That’s the window that withstood a Nolan Ryan fastball!713-WINDOWS(713-946-3697)Expires May 15, 2016Expires May 15, 2016Next >