Missouri State Fair Archives

Chinn: 2020 Missouri State Fair to continue with everything but concerts

June 19, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

Missouri Agriculture Director Chris Chinn says the Missouri State Fair will take place as scheduled from August 13-23 in Sedalia. The concert lineup will be the only regular feature not included. She says that many performers have been backing out of shows this year because of COVID-19 concerns, so that helped the decision.

The fair will still feature carnival, exhibits, contests, livestock showings, vendors, and food.

Chinn says fair organizers are working with vendors to make sure they have safety measures in place.

It also includes the Governer’s Ham Breakfast, says Gov. Parson. About a thousand people mingle at the breakfast gathering with state and national leaders of both parties.

“They have a new facility there, we’re thinking about ways that we can control the crowd size to that and alternative things,” Parson said. “We may change things as we move forward about what attendance looks like— are we going to let people be bunched up or are we going to let them be separated by bleacher rows or whatever that is.”

Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Chris Chinn is recognized during a groundbreaking ceremony for Ranken Technical College’s new Troy campus on June 17, 2020 (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s Flickr page)

The governor notes that the state fair, which started in 1901, has only been canceled one time. That was during World War II.

More than 337,000 people attended the 2019 state fair.

Parson: Missouri State Fair will happen in August, likely without concerts (AUDIO)

June 11, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

While the governor says the Missouri State Fair will take place in August in west-central Missouri’s Sedalia, he says it will look different than previous years because of COVID-19 concerns.

The Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia (2018 file photo courtesy of State Fair)

Governor Mike Parson (R) made the announcement during a statehouse press conference in Jefferson City on Thursday.

“The state fair has only been canceled one time in over 100 years and it was during World War II,” Parson says. “As an ag governor, I guess I want to say somebody that comes from the farm, I don’t want it to be the second time on my watch that it’s canceled.”

The state fair will take place August 13-23. In response to questions from Missourinet, Governor Parson says there could be shorter hours and that some popular events may not happen.

“I doubt there will be a ham breakfast because it’s the governor’s ham breakfast so I doubt that I’m going to be asking for that, that I know of for that,” says Parson.

The 2019 governor’s ham breakfast was a sellout, with 1,000 tickets sold. The event is popular because of its food, but also because it’s an opportunity for Missouri voters to meet the governor, their congressional delegation and state lawmakers from both parties.

Governor Parson says details for vendors and other partners are still being worked out.

“More than likely there’s not going to be concerts there, there may not be a lot of vendors there, but again we haven’t sat down with (Missouri State Fair Director) Mark Wolfe and the (State Fair) Commission, so I don’t want to jump in front of them, we’re all trying to plan that together,” Parson says.

Governor Parson emphasizes the state fair is about supporting agriculture and youth in agriculture.

The Missouri State Fair has issued a statement, which says the fair’s mission has always been to showcase Missouri agriculture, “so our livestock shows will continue to honor that tradition.”

The statement also says they know the “countless hours our exhibitors and Fair families have put in to taking care of the livestock and 4-H and FFA projects,” and that their priority continues to be the promotion of excellence in Missouri agriculture and our future agriculture leaders.

More than 337-thousand people attended the 2019 State Fair.

The first Missouri State Fair took place in 1901, when Missouri’s population was two-thirds rural.

The state fairgrounds, which covers 396 acres, is open year-round in Sedalia. It also provides facilities for horse and livestock shows, arts and craft festivals and camping.

Click here to listen to Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s comments about the 2020 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia to Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and other Capitol reporters. The governor spoke in Jefferson City on June 11, 2020:

Parson Thursday briefing: Missouri is fully open, State Fair will go on in some form (VIDEO)

June 11, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

Missouri’s governor announced today that he thinks the state is better prepared to handle the COVID-19 virus and will be fully open for business June 16. The phase 2 step should still include social distancing and other precautions, he says, especially for people with health conditions that make them vulnerable.

That includes nursing homes, said Parson, so his office will publish a plan for long-term care facilities “in the next few days.”

In the briefing, state Economic Development Director Rob Dixon said “signs are pointing toward recovery” in the state’s business activities.

WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE:

Missouri K-12 districts can request to start school year earlier this fall

May 12, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

A new state statute requires Missouri K-12 districts to start 14 days prior to Labor Day or later, unless the state Board of Education waives the regulation. Today, the board voted to give the State Education Commissioner temporary authority to decide whether districts can start the school year earlier this fall. Under today’s action, schools interested in starting earlier must first get input by holding a public hearing at the very least and explain how an exemption would benefit the students and reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

Missouri K-12 districts can request to start school year earlier this fall

Some models show an uptick in coronavirus cases is projected in the fall – possibly affecting learning for kids. During today’s board meeting, President Charlie Shields, who runs Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, says schools play a big role in the community rates of the coronavirus infection.

“Our infectious disease people – they would tell you that while children are not particularly susceptible to COVID-19, although the science is changing on that rapidly, they are very good at transmission,” says Shields.

Member Mary Schrag of southern Missouri’s West Plains says she’s been asked whether schools are liable if they start earlier and an outbreak happens.

“I really like the idea of the public hearing because I think it allows people the option to be involved in the conversation,” she says. “And then it also, I hope, prevents people from immediately going ‘Well they started too soon. Are they liable?’”

Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven says one comment received about letting schools start earlier is the impact it could have on tourism revenue. The new state statute emerged from tourism and the Missouri State Fair being affected by kids going back to school earlier. But, Vandeven says options would be good for schools.

“But all the research and everything on the national circuit of what they’re talking about how to minimize this what they’re calling COVID loss, instead of learning loss, is to really grant schools flexibility to find the right time to re-enter. Summer school would allow for optional summer schools to be taking place in August already,” says Vandeven. “So, I think some are considering looking at summer school, but there are many who are saying ‘We need to get our teachers and our students and everybody back in place in early August.’”

Speaking of summer school, the board also voted today to give the commissioner the ability to lift a state regulation this year requiring summer school to last a minimum of 120 hours. If a school makes a request to waive the requirement, it would have to demonstrate why doing so is in the best interest of the students.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is reviewing ways to narrow the digital divide among students. The COVID-19 outbreak led to Missouri’s K-12 schools shuttering their doors in mid-March and coming up with a way to reach students in a matter of days. The pandemic has shined a light on the internet connectivity gap felt by Missouri students and shows that the problem stretches through rural and urban Missouri.

Some Missouri kids are learning the old school way through packets of educational materials because they don’t have access to broadband internet. That takes a Zoom class session out of the picture for some students and so is downloading school work or having coursework emailed.

Perry County School District in southeast Missouri took the bull by the horns during the coronavirus closure. It teamed up with area organizations to deploy school buses equipped with internet hotspots to designated locations in the county. Parents and students can drive up and access the internet to get learning materials needed.

A survey the department has conducted is helping to shape the way the state tries to narrow the gap. It shows the problem runs deeper than lack of service available.

The survey provided to the board shows one in five Missouri students – about 200,000 – do not have broadband internet access and cannot learn online. The survey, with responses from the state’s 555 school districts and charter schools, says affordability of internet service and devices is the main problem.

“That’s too many. One in five. We have to work together because who’s going to tolerate one in five kids,” asks Vandeven.

To view the survey, click here.

Is the Missouri State Fair up in the air this year?

May 6, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri State Fair Board of Directors meets tomorrow to discuss plans for this year’s event. During today’s press conference, Gov. Mike Parson says he’s reviewing coronavirus data this month before giving his recommendations on how to handle the State Fair this year.

Is the Missouri State Fair up in the air this year?

“Right now, we will plan like a Plan A and a Plan B to have the fair or maybe a shortened version of it,” says Parson. “But again, I don’t think there’s anything concrete until we get a little closer to the first of June to see where we’re headed in the state.”

The State Fair is currently scheduled for August 13 – 23 in west-central Missouri’s Sedalia. The event usually draws about 350,000 spectators annually.

The current calendar of events does not list any live concerts – one of the major attractions of the fair.

Missouri Congressman Long and House Agriculture Committee chair to tour Ozarks (AUDIO)

August 19, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A southwest Missouri GOP congressman is bringing in a key Democrat on Capitol Hill for this week’s farm tour across the Ozarks.

U.S. Rep. Billy Long (second from right) visits Edgewood Farms in Purdy in August 2018 (file photo courtesy of Congressman Long’s office)

U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, conducts the farm tour every August. Long’s guest this year is House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minnesota.

Long says Peterson, a founding member of the Democrats’ “Blue Dog” Coalition, understands agriculture.

“He’s a buddy of mine and he’s what I call a DINO, because he’s a Democrat in name-only, he votes pretty much like Republicans,” Long says. “But Collin is going to come down and be on our ag tour with us, which is really exciting for people.”

Long says they’ll be visiting several farms, and rural broadband is expected to be a main topic during the tour.

“Springfield and then we go out to Rogersville and then down to College of the Ozarks (in Point Lookout), so we do a east side, west side rotate every year and this is our east side of my district year,” says Long.

Long tells Missourinet farmers in his district are excited that Peterson is visiting. Long’s district includes Springfield, Joplin, Bolivar and Branson.

He and Peterson just returned from Brazil, where they toured a massive soybean and cotton farm. Long says Brazil is “ramping up production” of soybeans.

Peterson’s committee has jurisdiction over numerous issues, including the farm bill, disaster assistance and international trade.

Long spoke to Missourinet at Thursday’s governor’s ham breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. He describes the state fair as one of the best in the nation.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, which was recorded on August 15, 2019 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia:

From the State Fair: Teen take her responsibilities with great pride as this year’s Missouri Angus Beef Princess (VIDEO)

August 15, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Andrea Larson, the 2014 Missouri Angus Princess.

On the Missouri Angus Beef website, it says the Missouri Angus Queen and Princess program is designed in an effort to create a program that supports the growth and education of young women in Missouri who are involved in the production and/or promotion of Angus cattle.

Andrea Larson, the 2014 Missouri Angus Princess, puts in a lot of hours fulfilling her duties and takes great pride in her position.

The process young girls must go through to apply for their position, shows their dedication. Andrea was selected in June after a lengthy process that includes answering a questionnaire. Some of the requirements for the applicants are listed below:

–Listing community activity/service organizations followed by the year(s) they were
involved.

–Listing the MJAA and NJAA activities followed by the year(s) you were involved, including leadership positions, honors and awards.

–Explaining how one of their MJAA or NJAA experiences positively impacted them and/or another person.

–Explaining why they would like to be selected as the Missouri Angus Auxiliary Princess and how you would help promote the Angus breed through this honor.

In addition to the State Fair, Andrea will be present at the Missouri Angus Futurity in February, as well as taking part in option shows around the state such as Ozark Empire Fair, Springfield, MO (August), American Royal Livestock Show, Kansas City, MO (October),
and the National Junior Angus Show (July).

Check Missourinet.com for all of our videos from this year’s State Fair.

From the State Fair: 4-H kids show off their skills proving there is something for everyone (VIDEO)

August 14, 2014 By Bill Pollock

The 4-H building at the State Fair

4-H exhibits and competitions are part of the fun of the Missouri State Fair. Make sure to visit the 4-H building to see the projects of 4-H youth or catch the judging competitions. Whatever your niche, there is something for everyone.

As the fair winds down you can check out a couple of events that are still on the schedule.

Thursday, August 14
· Missouri Afterschool Network activities for kids. Staff available to answer any questions about finding or funding quality afterschool programs.

Saturday, August 16
· Agri-Missouri Foods Demonstration Contest

Missourinet has been exploring the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia to meet participants and competitors, learn about longtime traditions and to try out some new things. Follow us each day to see what Bill Pollock has discovered next.

From the State Fair: Where’s the Beef House? Easy to find…just look for the long line (VIDEO)

August 12, 2014 By Bill Pollock

The lunch hour is a mad rush for these workers inside the Beef House at the Missouri State Fair

The line, of hungry state fair patrons, was out the door the day we visited the Missouri State Fair. One of our favorite stops at the fair was the Missouri Cattlemen’s Beef House.

Thanks to Andy Atzenweiler, Managing Editor for Missouri Beef Cattleman, the official magazine of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, we got a behind the scenes (or behind the counter) look at what takes place at the Beef House.

The menu includes ribeye dinners cooked as you order, ribeye sandwiches, beef hotdogs, steak salads, and beef hamburgers. Andy told us beef fans will consume 22,000 pounds of beef.

Patty, the manager of the beef house, has a simple request for you if you’re heading to the Fair.

“Come and see us…the food is ready. The 10 ounce steaks are great, 1/3 pound burgers and air conditioning. We’d love to see you!”

From the State Fair: Trail’s End monument celebrates Sedalia’s mark on American history (VIDEO)

August 11, 2014 By Bill Pollock

A rendition of what the Trail’s End monument will look like upon completion.

Following the Civil War, large Texas cattle drives herded longhorns north, up the eastern edge of the Indian Territories to reach the Pacific railheads in Missouri for shipment east to the packinghouses. Maverick cattle worth only two dollars in local Texas markets could be sold for twenty, even forty-dollars a head up north at the railheads. Enterprising Texans decided it was worth the risk to round ’em up and head ’em out across 700-to-1,000 miles of wild, often lawless country to the rail heads up north. These cattle drives were the confirmation of America’s entrepreneurship.

“A lot of people, when they think of the original trail towns at the end of the cattle drive, they may think of Dodge or Wichita, Kansas, but Sedalia was the very first. We are the original cow town,” said Trail’s End committee member, Linda Oehrke Myer.

It may have been short lived for only a year or two, but it’s pretty much why Sedalia exists. That’s why a monument is being created at the fairgrounds. The monument will features full size replicas of a 1870s cattle car, water tower, windmill and locomotive set in a landscape of native prairie grasses and flowers. These elements highlight the role of the railroad in the founding of Sedalia, in the commercial development of the prairies and in the drive to connect our nation as one. It was the building of transcontinental railroads that linked the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans – from sea to shinning sea.

Dale Yelton, Co-Chairman of the Trail’s End board talks with us about the project.

The dates: April 24, 25 & 26, 2015, including the dedication of the Trail’s End Starline Brass Plaza!!