For many North Texans, the State Fair of Texas is an annual tradition filled with photos alongside Big Tex, favorite fair foods and family memories. But for Ted and Carol Burk, the fairgrounds are where a love story began nearly four decades ago.

Their story dates back to the 1980s, when Ted was an exhibitor at the State Fair of Texas and Carol worked at the fair.

“There were these young ladies on the floor making posters in this room, and I had to step over this one right here to get to the 2nd floor,” Ted said.

Ted soon found himself making frequent stops at the fair’s hospitality center to see Carol.

One day, he worked up the courage to ask where she lived.

“I asked her one day, ‘May I ask you where you live?’ She said, ‘Well, I live in Lancaster.’ She said, ‘You probably don’t know where that is,'” Ted said.

As it turned out, Ted lived in Lancaster, too.

“That was a marked plus for him because I was not moving from Lancaster because my family has been there since 1846,” Carol said.

Their relationship blossomed, and the couple eventually painted Carol’s family home before getting married on its front porch.

“It took a little convincing to convince her to marry me, quite frankly,” Ted said. “December 6th this year it will be 40 years.”

Decades later, the State Fair of Texas remains an important part of their lives.

Carol has collected 52 opening day pins from her years working at the fair.

“These are really collector’s items,” Carol said.

Ted has worked at the fair for 41 years.

“Long time, you put the two of us together; we ought to know something about this place,” Ted said.

While the State Fair of Texas visitor’s guide can point guests toward food, rides, entertainment and exhibits, there’s one attraction it can’t promise: finding the love of your life.

For the Burks, that’s exactly what happened.

And after nearly 40 years of marriage, their fairground romance has become a lifelong adventure.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.