Community

The Fort Bend County Fair is entering its 90th anniversary year with a blend of something new and something deeply familiar: a new fashion fundraiser that revives a longtime Fair tradition and a new manager whose journey began on a dairy farm.

The changes are unfolding as organizers prepare for one of the most meaningful seasons in the Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo’s history. For local families, former Fair queens, scholarship candidates, agricultural supporters and generations of attendees, the anniversary is about more than marking the passage of time. It is an opportunity to celebrate the people and traditions that have kept the Fair connected to Fort Bend County for nearly nine decades.

That celebration will begin before the official Fair season with Reign In Style, a new fashion show fundraiser benefiting the Fort Bend County Fair Queen Scholarship Program.

The event will take place Sunday, Aug. 30, in Building C at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg. Doors open at 2 p.m., with a runway show followed by boutique shopping, light bites, refreshments and opportunities to support the scholarship program.

Reign In Style Brings a Fort Bend County Fair Tradition Back to the Runway

Although Reign In Style is making its debut in 2026, the event draws inspiration from one of the Fort Bend County Fair’s best-remembered traditions.

For years, the Fair hosted the Style in the Bend fashion show, an elegant community event where Fort Bend County Fair Queen Scholarship contestants were introduced ahead of Fair season. Reign In Style brings that concept back with an updated format while keeping its original purpose at the center: giving local residents a chance to meet and encourage the young women pursuing the Fair Queen crown.

Twenty young women from across Fort Bend County are preparing for this year’s scholarship competition. The Aug. 30 event will offer an early introduction to the contestants as they begin a season that will include public appearances, community involvement and the opportunity to earn scholarship support.

Several Fort Bend County boutiques are also expected to participate, turning the runway into a showcase of seasonal fashion and local small businesses. Guests will be able to browse boutique merchandise after the show while visiting with friends, contestants and longtime Fair supporters.

For residents searching for things to do in Fort Bend County, fashion events near Rosenberg or ways to support local student scholarships, Reign In Style offers a Sunday afternoon event built around both entertainment and community investment.

Tickets and table reservations are available through the Fort Bend County Fair website.

Former Fair Queens and Community Volunteers Mentor the Next Generation

Behind Reign In Style is the Fort Bend County Fair Queen Scholarship Committee, a group that includes former Fair queens, mothers of past participants and community volunteers.

Their work reflects the multigenerational nature of the scholarship program. Women who once walked through the competition themselves are now helping new contestants develop confidence, build relationships and prepare for the responsibilities that come with representing the Fair.

That mentorship is one reason the Fair Queen program continues to hold meaning for many Fort Bend County families. The crown may be the most visible part of the competition, but the program’s larger purpose is to support education, leadership development and service among young women throughout the county.

Reign In Style gives the broader community a role in that effort. Attendees will not simply watch a fashion show; they will help support a scholarship program that has become part of the Fair’s identity.

Joel Rose Named Fort Bend County Fair Manager

The Fort Bend County Fair Association is also beginning its anniversary season under new professional leadership.

Joel Rose has been named the organization’s new Fair Manager and will assume his duties in August. He arrives in Fort Bend County with experience in county fair administration, military leadership and the hospitality industry.

For Rose, however, the position also represents a return to the agricultural setting where his life began.

“I was raised on a dairy farm, and that's where my life started,” Rose said. “I don't remember much because my family later sold the farm and opened a small business, but it's interesting that I started my life in agriculture and now I'm returning to it. Everything happens for a reason, and this truly feels like coming full circle.”

Rose grew up on his father’s dairy farm in upstate New York before beginning a career that would take him far beyond the agricultural community.

He served 20 years in the United States Air Force, including 15 years with the First Airlift Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base. During his military career, Rose flew aboard Air Force One and Air Force Two while supporting presidential travel.

He was also selected to oversee the First Lady flight program for 10 years, coordinating travel for First Ladies Laura Bush and Michelle Obama while serving presidents, vice presidents, cabinet members and other senior government officials.

Rose said those assignments taught him that effective leadership depends on people with different experiences learning how to work toward a shared purpose.

“The military teaches you to bring people together from every background imaginable,” Rose said. “You learn that great organizations are built by great teams. You have different personalities, different viewpoints and different experiences, but everyone has to work together toward the same goal. That's the leadership philosophy I've carried throughout my career.”

(Source: Fort Bend County Fair)

Hospitality and County Fair Experience Shape Rose’s Approach

After retiring from the military, Rose held executive leadership positions with Marriott International, American Cruise Lines and other hospitality organizations.

He later served as chief executive officer of the Osceola County Fair in Kissimmee, Florida, where his responsibilities included budgeting, sponsorship development, strategic planning, livestock events, marketing, operations, community partnerships and board relations.

That combination of operational experience and public service stood out to Fort Bend County Fair Association leaders.

“Joel brings a tremendous amount of executive leadership experience, but what impressed us most is his heart for community,” Fort Bend County Fair Acting President Brian Graeber said. “He understands that a county fair is about much more than events. It's about serving families, supporting agriculture, investing in youth, and bringing people together. Those values fit perfectly with the mission of the Fort Bend County Fair.”

Rose said his previous work with county fairs changed the way he views their role in the lives of local families.

“They're family reunions,” he said. “Whether it's grandparents bringing grandchildren, parents making memories with their kids, or neighbors seeing each other for the first time in a year, the county fair is where communities come together. That's what makes county fairs special. It's not just about the rides or the food. It's about creating memories that last for generations.”

That perspective closely aligns with the role the Fort Bend County Fair has long played in Rosenberg and surrounding communities. Livestock competitions, youth scholarships, rodeo events, carnival attractions and family traditions have made the Fair an annual gathering place for residents from across Fort Bend County.

Family, Integrity and Listening Will Guide New Fair Manager

Rose describes himself as a family man. He and his wife, Joanna, are raising three children at home and are also the parents of his three adult sons.

Asked to describe himself in three words, Rose chose family, integrity and direct — qualities he said will shape the way he works with the Fair’s board, staff, volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors and community partners.

“I want people to know who I am,” Rose said. “I'm transparent. I'm a listener. I'm direct, and I care deeply about people. If we're going to accomplish something, we're going to do it together.”

Rose is joining an organization with nearly 90 years of history, and he said his immediate goal is not to replace established traditions but to understand them.

“My goal is to support the vision of the Board of Directors and continue growing the success that's already here,” he said. “I'm not coming to change who the Fort Bend County Fair is. I'm coming to listen, learn, bring fresh ideas and help make an already great organization even better.”

What the 90th Anniversary Means for Fort Bend County

The appointment of a new fair manager and the introduction of Reign In Style arrive at a fitting time.

Together, they reflect the balance the Fort Bend County Fair Association will navigate during its 90th anniversary: protecting traditions that matter to residents while finding new ways to engage families, scholarship supporters, agricultural participants and local businesses.

Reign In Style restores a familiar community gathering while giving today’s Fair Queen candidates their own moment on the runway. Rose’s arrival brings a new perspective to the organization while reconnecting him with the agricultural roots of his childhood.

For Rose, the move to Fort Bend County is not simply another stop in a long career.

After traveling around the world, serving aboard some of the nation’s most recognizable aircraft and leading organizations in hospitality and county fair management, he is returning to the values that first shaped him: agriculture, family and community.

Fort Bend County residents will have their first opportunity to take part in the Fair’s anniversary season at Reign In Style on Sunday, Aug. 30. Doors open at 2 p.m. in Building C at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds. Tickets and table reservations can be purchased at fortbendcountyfair.com.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for additional updates on the 90th Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo, its Fair Queen Scholarship contestants, anniversary events and activities for local families.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.