Come early to special shows and get a ticket for a chance of winning a HEB Gift Card! We thank HEB for their continued support of the West Texas Fair & Rodeo and Spotlight Kitchen.
Hosting the Spotlight Kitchen for the 14th year, Chef Darlene has become an icon of the West Texas Fair & Rodeo.
Chef started her culinary career in the mid 1990’s when she baked wedding and birthday cakes for friends and neighbors.
In 2005, Chef Darlene decided to attend Culinary School at the Dallas Art Institute. She is a Banquet Chef and has prepared pastries for some of the finest country clubs in the Dallas area.
In 2006, Chef Darlene was invited to be a celebrity chef at the State Fair of Texas, a tradition she continued through 2023.
In 2012, Chef Darlene brought the idea of the Spotlight Kitchen to the West Texas Fair & Rodeo. We are proud to host and promote local restaurants and chefs.