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State Fair of Texas®
Youth Photo Contest Entries Due Sept. 1
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 We want to know why Texas Agriculture Matters to you! Texas agriculture touches each of our lives every day. Send us your best photos and the spotlight could be on you. Contest entries will be featured in a photo slideshow in the Food and Fiber Pavilion sponsored by Southwest Dairy Farmers at the State Fair of Texas in September. The top photos in each category also will be printed and showcased at the Texas Department of Agriculture's headquarters in Austin.
All entries for the Youth Photo Contest should tell the story of why Texas Agriculture Matters. Below are the three contest categories.
Farm Fresh Food: We are looking for photos that depict how agriculture touches your life every day through food. Show us food that inspires you, moments that remind you where your food comes from, and photos of who grows, raises, processes and prepares your food!
Fascinating Fiber: Show us the importance of fiber in your life. From the clothes you wear to the sheets you sleep on at night, fiber can be found in unexpected places. Show us the story of agriculture and fiber. Remember to focus on Texas products!
Sensational Selfies: Get creative! You and your favorite meal, your favorite moment at the farm — anything that inspires you. Use your imagination and turn the camera on yourself to tell us how Texas Agriculture Matters to you.
Photos will be accepted electronically through Sept. 1. The contest is open to amateur youth photographers in two age categories: ages 12 and under, and ages 13-17. Photographers may submit up to three photos per category.
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Grow Texan: Buchanan's Native Plants
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 One of the many great benefits of living in the Lone Star State is enjoying favorable conditions that allow you to grow many fruit and vegetable plants. GO TEXAN members like Buchanan’s Native Plants have valuable tips and resources to offer Texans who want to grow their own fruits and vegetables. Some, like Buchanan’s, also pride themselves on sourcing locally.
“At Buchanan's, we get a majority of our plants from local growers,” said Zach Buchanan, operations manager at the Houston location of Buchanan’s Native Plants.. “Our plants are definitely from Texas, but they are often even from the local, Houston area. Customers know what we carry will work in our area, because it has already grown here.”
Buchanan’s also prides itself on providing their customers with an unmatched level of expertise.
“Our customers shop with us because we know what we are talking about,” said Buchanan. “We help people make the right decision on what to buy and where to plant it. We also help them with plants they already have that are diseased or infested with bugs. We want all of our customers to be successful with their gardens. We're here to help.”
Buchanan has suggestions for folks on how to decide on what to plant, like making sure to choose fruits and vegetables that you are actually going to eat. He also recommends improving the soil by adding compost, as well as adding organic fertilizer to help plants be more self-sustaining and less susceptible to insects and disease.
For more information on Buchanan’s Native Plants, visit their website.
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The State Native Pepper of Texas: Chiltepin
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 In 1997, Texas designated the chiltepin chile as the official state “native” pepper in Texas, with the non-native official pepper being the jalapeño. The casual observer may not immediately recognize this tiny, pea-shaped, red-orange pod as being a chile, but the taste alone is enough to remind anyone of the familiar spice that accompanies a hot pepper.
The chiltepin is a hot, yet unique pepper. In terms of its heat, the chiltepin registers at a mouth-numbing 8 out of 10! Some chile aficionados have claimed the pepper is superior in terms of heat to the renowned habanero.
Other than the heat, one thing that sets the chiltepin chile apart is its current range and origins. The name “chiltepin” is actually believed to be an Aztec word meaning “flea chile.” Many other names have accompanied the chiltepin’s long history in the Southwest, such as “bird’s eye” peppers, tepin peppers, and one that pays homage to the chiltepin’s supposed ancestry, “The mother of all peppers.” Many experts speculate that most, if not all, of the chiles and peppers we are familiar with descend from this original wild chile.
Even more fascinating is the fact that the chiltepin is the only native wild chile in the United States. Today, the chiltepin is protected in several of our national parks. Considering the pepper is typically harvested from wild plants as opposed to being cultivated, this helps to curb concerns about over-harvesting.
Harvesting of the chiltepin is most plentiful during wet years, which means this year's harvest should be great. In Texas, the chiltepin is most commonly used as a staple in many varieties of Tex-Mex cooking, where it is added as a supplementary condiment, sun-dried, added to cheeses and fermented into sauces.
If you are not particularly fond of the spicy bite of peppers, have no fear when it comes to the chiltepin. The intensity of the heat fades quickly, and it has proven its ability to fine compliment to any Texas dish.
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 One of the ways to cool down on a hot summer day is with a nice ice cream cone. If you’re coming to the State Fair of Texas, be sure to stop by the Food and Fiber Pavilion and pick up a free ice cream cone courtesy of our sponsor, Southwest Dairy Farmers.
Now let’s brush up on some fun facts on ice cream, also brought to you by our friends at Southwest Dairy Farmers.
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Founded for the Love of Beer:
Karbach Brewing Company
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 When the clock strikes five, some people feel it is officially time for a drink. The question is: Where to have that drink? If you’re in Houston, Karbach Brewing eliminates the need for a decision. Nestled on Karbach Street, the brewery also has its Restaurant and Patio, which is home to a relaxing patio and an open, rustic and comfortable environment.
Founded by a group of beer lovers, Ken Goodman, Chuck Robertson, Eric Warner, Brad Batson, David Greenwood, Blake Robertson, Bennett Goodman and Drew Goodman, Karbach Brewing prides itself on providing customers with the ultimate beer experience with tours, tastings and fun events.
They brew a wide range of interesting beers, from their popular Hopadillo IPA with its dry and bitter taste to their Weekend Warrior pale ale. With all the available choices, you’ll be sure to find something you love.
Karbach Brewing Company was started with a desire to make fine quality craft beer, and the owners want to have fun, too.
“This is just plain fun for us,” said David Graham, marketing and promotions director. “The day it starts to feel like a job is the day when lightning shall strike us dead. Cause, hey, at the end of the day we’re making beer. And beer is fun.”
So if you’re looking for some fun at the end of a long day in Houston, head down to Karbach Street and join the crew for some great beer.
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 Here is a tasty and attractive appetizer to serve your friends and family, featuring in-season squash blossoms and goat cheese. This recipe is courtesy of Chef Salvatore Gisellu from GO TEXAN restaurant member Urban Crust Wood Fired Pizza.
Ingredients:
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1 ½ cup
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Fresh Texas goat cheese
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2 tbsp.
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Chopped chives
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1 tsp.
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Chopped oregano
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2
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Local eggs
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1 tbsp.
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Truffle oil or olive oil, if you prefer
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12
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Fresh Texas squash blossoms
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1 cup
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Panko bread crumbs
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To taste
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Salt and fresh ground pepper
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Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine goat cheese, chives, oregano, one egg, truffle oil, salt and pepper. Transfer mixture into a pastry bag.
3. In a separate bowl, beat remaining egg.
4. Gently fill the blossoms with goat cheese filling and loosely twist the open end. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Brush squash blossoms with beaten egg, sprinkle with bread crumbs, and bake for 10 minutes or until crisp.
6. Serve warm.
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Kuby’s: Bringing the Old World to
Texas Sausage Making
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 Searching for an authentic European-style dining experience? Look no further than Kuby's Sausage House. Family owned and operated, this GO TEXAN restaurant is located on Snider Plaza in Dallas. Kuby’s Sausage House was created by Friedrich Kuby in 1728, who was originally from Kaiserslautern, Germany. Decades later, Karl Kuby immigrated to the United States and opened Kuby’s Sausage House in 1961. Although he left Germany, Karl made sure to bring the European style and spirit of sausage making with him to Dallas.
Kuby’s Sausage House is dedicated to providing only the highest quality food products to their customers. Much of what makes Kuby’s unique is their adherence to tradition and values, as all of their recipes, spice formulas and meat preparation techniques have been passed down through generations. It is the particular combination of these elements that has earned Kuby’s the designation of Best Meat Market in Dallas.
Kuby’s restaurant is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch, and dinner is served on Fridays and Saturdays. The most popular dish on their lunch menu is the Wurst Teller sausage plate with housemade sauerkraut, German potatoes and red cabbage. Chef Will Christopher likes to spice up the dinner menu by changing it up each month. The most popular items on the dinner menu are consistently the traditional entrees, such as Rouladen, Schweinebraten and Barische Spaetzle. Live traditional German music is entertainment for restaurant diners and makes the Kuby’s dining experience even more authentic.
In addition to the restaurant, Kuby’s Sausage House is home to an award-winning meat market and delicatessen, grocery store, bakery wild game processing center and catering services. Their market is full of a variety of different cuts of meat, housemade sausages, luncheon meats, gourmet cheeses and European-style salads.
So if you’re ever looking to escape reality for a few hours in Dallas, drive down to Kuby’s Sausage House and get lost in an “Old World” dining experience.
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Visit a Day, Spend a Night,
Stay a Lifetime in Mineola
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 Have you ever felt the warmth and charm of a historic downtown area? One such place is GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community,
Mineola, Texas, where the town’s history is well preserved, and visitors have plenty of places to visit, shop and dine. In 1989, Mineola became a designated Texas Main Street City, and in 2000, the town was chosen as a National Main Street City by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Since its designation, this preservation program has produced the development of a strong, focused historic downtown district, with more than $11 million of investment made by private and public funds in the central business district.
In addition to preserving its heritage, Mineola is establishing itself as a tourist destination. Mineola is home to unique antique, gift, craft, clothing, kitchen, nature and coffee shops, as well as an art studio, fine restaurants, a tea room, museums like the Mineola Historical Museum and the restored train depot at the Mineola Transportation Plaza.
Conveniently located between Dallas/Fort Worth and Shreveport, Mineola is a perfect retirement haven. Residents, visitors and retirees alike can visit the Mineola Nature Preserve on the Sabine River to see 139 species of birds and two resident alligators. The Preserve also is home to four miles of walking trails, equestrian and mountain bike trails, wildlife observation platforms, a working beehive, a picnic pavilion, playground and fishing pond. The Preserve is open from 7 a.m. until sunset seven days a week.
A jewel in the downtown district is the Select Theater and Lake Country Playhouse. It is the oldest, continuously operating movie theater in Texas. The theater shows movies on weekends, as well as producing four live productions and three annual orchestra concerts each year. The Mineola Civic Center also offers plenty of amenities, with 224 RV pads, tennis courts, playground and meeting facilities.
To learn more about Mineola, click here.
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Spot the GO TEXAN Mark Challenge
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Want a fun way to share the best things in Texas with the world? It’s easy!
GO TEXAN uses social media tools like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to post GO TEXAN events, share member news and increase awareness of the wide-variety of products grown and made right here in the Lone Star State.
Challenge: If you spot the GO TEXAN mark, let us know. Send us a picture of the mark on a product, sign or printed materials, and tell us where you saw it. Send us your photos using the GO TEXAN Twitter hashtag (#GOTEXAN), so we can easily retweet your message, or send us an email.
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Launched in 1999 by the Texas Department of Agriculture, GO TEXAN, with its signature mark in the shape of Texas, celebrates, promotes and supports the business savvy and plainspoken grit Texas agriculture is known for throughout the world. Whether it’s grown, sewn or served up on a plate, nearly 27 million Texans shop, travel and dine out in support of Texas businesses, agriculture and communities looking for the GO TEXAN mark to light the way. To learn more about the GO TEXAN program, call (877) 99-GOTEX or visit the GO TEXAN website.
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Volume 4 Issue 12:
In This Issue
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Visit the GO TEXAN online store for great gift ideas to show off your Lone Star pride.
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