Episode #26
#26 - Glenn Carlton
If You Denton Know Glenn Carlton , now you do. Glenn Carlton has been part of the North Texas Fair and Rodeo since 1985, first as a volunteer on the rodeo committee and, since 2005, as executive director. He grew up in Eugene, Oregon with deep family roots in southeastern Oklahoma, rode bulls, and landed in Denton through a beer sales territory that introduced him to the fairgrounds. Nearly four decades later, he leads one of the largest annual events in the county. In this conversation, Glenn walks through the history of the fair, the 800 volunteers and 40 committees who make it run, and the tough years that shaped it, including seven days of rain in 2016 and a pandemic-era move to October. He shares the story of a $500 bonus that kept a young Cody Johnson from quitting music, explains the fair's roughly $22 million impact on Denton County, and gives a preview of the 98th annual event running August 21 through 30, plus what is ahead for the new Expo Center north of town. Key Topics Covered Growing up in Oregon with family roots in the Kiamichi Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma Riding bulls, selling beer, and the path that led Glenn to Denton Learning the ropes under longtime rodeo chairman Weldon Burgoon How 800 volunteers and 40 committees put on a ten day event The Cody Johnson story and the $500 bonus he never forgot Surviving a rained out 2016 and pulling off the fair during COVID Scholarships, youth agriculture, and roughly $1 million a year back into the community The economic impact of the fair and the vision for the new Denton County Expo Center Timestamps 00:00 Meet Glenn Carlton, executive director of the North Texas Fair and Rodeo 01:42 Oregon roots, Oklahoma summers, and a fourth generation cattleman 03:04 Riding bulls, a beer sponsorship, and the sales route that led to Denton 04:56 Volunteering under Weldon Burgoon and what the early fair looked like 09:07 From volunteer to executive director in 2005 09:47 The Cody Johnson story and a $500 bonus 12:57 Eight hundred volunteers, forty committees, and a generational tradition 16:27 Hard lessons: seven days of rain in 2016 and running the fair during COVID 19:15 Giving back through scholarships, youth agriculture, and community programs 21:35 Economic impact on Denton and the county 25:46 What is new for the 98th annual fair, August 21 through 30 29:53 The land north of town and the future Expo Center Denton Highlights North Texas Fairgrounds Frilly's Seafood Bayou Kitchen Weldon Burgoon's saddle shop on East Hickory University of North Texas Business College Denton County Youth Fair Denton County Livestock Association Blue Ribbon Club Guest Links / Resources North Texas Fair and Rodeo: ntfair.com Volunteer sign up: ntfair.com , under the Get Involved tab 98th Annual North Texas Fair and Rodeo: August 21 through 30, gates at 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 1 p.m. weekends Advance tickets available online at ntfair.com
