More than $100,000 in premiums is offered annually with seven livestock judging events accounting for $48,000 of the premiums awarded. Entrants in the Women's Division compete for more than $22,500 in premiums and each year almost 5,000 premium checks are presented to area winners.

In 1972 a scholarship program was instituted by the fair's Board of Directors providing funds for deserving agriculture students at Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University. South Plains College, Western Texas College and Wayland Baptist University were later included and more than $500,000 has been contributed to the program since its inception. Establishment of the scholarship program has strengthened the fair's niche in the community and binds it more closely than ever to agriculture and related fields. To further enhance the educational aspect of the fair, thousands of free passes are distributed annually to students and teachers from the South Plains area.

Mentally retarded and handicapped children have their "Special Day" made possible by local and area participants, by the fair, the Carnival midway, and sponsoring organizations. Senior citizens are also remembered on Senior Citizens Day as free admission and entertainment is provided to those over 60 years of age.

More than four dozen local non-profit organizations raise funds by operating concessions or conducting various activities at the fair. These funds benefit local charities which serve the community on a year-round basis. Participating non-profit organizations are listed to the right.

Top notch leadership has been a trademark of the fair from the beginning. A.B. Davis, who headed the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce for 38 years, was general manager of the fair for 43 years. The 50th anniversary edition of the fair was dedicated to Davis and more than 3,000 persons signed a register in his honor. Davis died in 1967 and was succeeded by Jerry Fletcher, then by Steve L. Lewis, who was named to the post in November 1968. Following Lewis' 32-year stint as General Manager, Herbert F. Higgs, Jr., CFE was named as Manager in April 2001.

Nurtured by civic leaders serving on the Board of Directors, the fair has continued to grow and prosper along with Lubbock and the rest of the region. Current Fair Directors include John Zwiacher, Marciano Morales, Renee Underwood, Ellwood Keeney, Steve Beasley, Gary Greenstreet, Alan Henry, Owen "Mac" McWhorter, Jr., and Nicky Standlee.

In addition to a permanent staff and the board, hundreds of volunteer workers play a key role in making the fair successful each year. Volunteers man exhibits and booths and work behind the scenes to insure the success of each fair. Beginning almost as soon as one fair is over, volunteers, fair staff and officials start planning another, always striving to make the fair better than ever.

The fair was incorporated in 1920 and the "Articles of Incorporation" were signed by M.M. Dupre, O.L. Slaton and George W. Briggs and provided that capital stock would be limited to $10,000 with 400 shares to be issued at $25 each. That marked the beginning of the non-profit corporation which has guided the fair through the years. None of the directors or officers have ever received any renumeration for their work on behalf of the fair. The first board of directors included Dupre, president; Slaton, treasurer; and Briggs, Clark M. Millican, E.A. Morgan, H.W. Stanton, A.W. Weaver, George M. Boles and D.N. Arnett.

Over 50 non-profit organizations are active at the fair and thousands of volunteer workers from the community and South Plains Area are involved in raising money for charitable purposes. So come on out to the fair and have lunch with your favorite nonprofit organization! Whatever your heart desires - anything from a turkey leg, funnel cake or a corndog-on-a-stick - you'll find it all at one of the local booths listed below.