How to be a millionaire in Texas: Fry it

The start of autumn usually signals the end of carnivals, as well as state and county fairs across the country. But contrary to those small-town traditions, the Texas State Fair is big business.

The 24-day event, which got underway this past weekend, contributes more than $350 million annually to the regional Dallas economy. Around 3 million people attend the event each year. And the fair's food and ride revenues combined bring in close to $36 million.

Some of the most popular items on sale at the Texas State Fair are its unique fried food items -- concoctions like fried grilled cheese, fried S'mores and even fried lemonade. But for many of the 178 vendors at the fair, there's a lot of money to be made if you've got the drive and endurance.

"It's hard work, bottom line," concession stand owner Tammy Stiffler told CBS station KTVT, "and this is probably some of the hardest work we do."

Stiffler is a former mortgage loan officer who now concentrates full time on the fair. Part of her passion is family tradition, The Stiffler Brothers stand is a family booth that dates back to the 1970s.

"Were kind of carnies at heart," she laughed. "We're obsessed with it, actually."

And then there's the money to be made. Stiffler Brothers, with its award-winning fried foods, will bring in nearly $500,000 during the fairs three-and-a-half weeks. A fair spokesperson says several of the event's vendors annually gross over $1 million.