TEXAS – In 2019, the Texas State Fair generated over $64 million in operating revenue, but despite the effort to recoup costs with a drive-thru food event following the cancellation of the fair this year, the financial losses are expected to be significant.

Normally the fair hosts 80 vendors, but only eight worked the grounds this year to ensure proper social distancing and safety measures because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Juan Reaves is one of the co-owners of Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que, a fair vendor for more than 40 years.

Reaves says on a normal year the fair would generate roughly 31% of their annual revenue, but this year he suspects the number to be closer to 2%.

While the losses are substantial, Reaves says his main concern lays with his staff – normally they employ about 125 people during the fair, but this year they only brought 25 with them.

Reaves says, though, it could have been worse and he was ultimately thankful to have been one of the eight vendors selected to participate.

"In the end for us it's brand recognition,” Reaves says. “It’s us being recognized as part of the state fair family, as well as we have provided some jobs. Some is better than none."

Reaves is staying appreciative and has high hopes for the fair in 2021.

Over the 15 days the Big Tex Photo & Fair Food Drive-Thru event took place, Fair Park saw 23,000 cars.