It’s not just State Fair Week—which is 11 days long anyway….but almost FAIR MONTH. The state fair starts a month from today—-except a month from today will be a Thursday. But some fair activities will start before the fair opens. Director Mel Willard says the fair starts with the 4-H horse show on the last weekend in July…with the Appaloosa and Paint horse show the weekend of August 5, a society horse show on Wednesday, August 9—and then the official fair opening on the 10th. Willard says the fair keeps evolving…..and he thinks it has reached a new educational stage that goes beyond the traditional agricultural role. He says an effort is being made to bring urban residents to Sedalia so they can learn more about where their food really comes from. He says it’s important people in urban areas be involved in agriculture. Willard says some new technology exhibits should also help attract the electronic younger generation.