As visitors take in the sights, sounds and tastes from the State Fair, they should know they benefit from many families who worked to make the fair what it is today.

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Four generations of East Dallas’ Bert family work at the State Fair. They’ve seen success and innovation in everything from a roller coaster to fried foods.

Sammy Bert started selling ice cream sandwiches at the festival in 1919, and he also is credited with inventing the sno cone. He later went on to build roller coasters and skating rinks, and his family still owns Bert’s Burgers and Fries, which sits outside the Cotton Bowl to this day. In 2010, his family won a Big-Tex Choice Award for Texas Fried Frito Pie.

The family was raised around the fair, even living above the cafeteria they built there during the festivities. Before you hit the ferris wheel, consider purchasing a mattress or shove your face with a corn dog, read the whole story here.