Missouri State Fair
Encyclopedia
The Missouri State Fair is the state fair
for Missouri
which has operated since 1901 in Sedalia, Missouri
. It lasts 11 days. It includes daily concerts, exhibits and competitions of animals, homemade crafts, shows, and many food/lemonade stands. Its most famous event, which has run since its inception, is the mule show. The fairgrounds are located at 2503 W 16th Street on the southwest side of the city at the intersection of West 16th Street (County Y) and South Limit Avenue (Hwy 65).
In 2009 the Missouri State Fair had record attendance of nearly 340,000 people. It won numerous first-place and other awards at the annual conference of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), especially for its promotion of agricultural exhibitors.
to establish a state fair. In 1899 a resolution for the fair was introduced by C.E. Clark.
The state considered locating the fair in Centralia
, Chillicothe
, Marshall
, Mexico
, Moberly
and Sedalia. Cities made offers of land which they would commit to the fair.
After ten ballots, Sedalia received the majority vote; it had bid 150 acre (0.607029 km²), the most amount of land of any city to be devoted to the fairgrounds. The Van Riper family, who had set land aside for the location of the Missouri State Capitol
in Jefferson City, Missouri
, also donated the site in Sedalia.
The first Missouri State Fair was held September 9–13 in 1901. One of the most distinctive aspect of the early fairs was the "white city": the 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) of tents, each for rent by exhibitors.
The Missouri State Fairgrounds are now used year round and generate revenue in every season, for more than 350 days out of the available 365. Off-season usage includes camper rallies, livestock shows, organized athletic leagues and tournaments, auto races, craft shows, and youth rallies.
At the end of the year, fair organizers were honored with first-place and other awards at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE). Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe was pleased with the fair's recognition. First place awards included one for "Overall Program for Competitive Agricultural Exhibitors", an overview of the Fair’s entire agricultural program including number of entries, promotional materials and the overall quality of the program.
“This category is among one of the highest honors a fair can receive,” said Wolfe. “I am extremely proud to have placed 1st for our continued dedication to showcase agriculture, which is the premise of the Missouri State Fair.”
Another first place win was received for the category of "Fair and Sponsor Joint Exhibit Program". The Fair partnered with Monsanto Corporation in the first annual 4-H
Show-Me Robots exhibit.
State fair
A state fair is a competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in their categories at the more-local county fairs....
for Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
which has operated since 1901 in Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia is a city located about south of the Missouri River in Pettis County, Missouri. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat of Pettis County. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of...
. It lasts 11 days. It includes daily concerts, exhibits and competitions of animals, homemade crafts, shows, and many food/lemonade stands. Its most famous event, which has run since its inception, is the mule show. The fairgrounds are located at 2503 W 16th Street on the southwest side of the city at the intersection of West 16th Street (County Y) and South Limit Avenue (Hwy 65).
In 2009 the Missouri State Fair had record attendance of nearly 340,000 people. It won numerous first-place and other awards at the annual conference of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), especially for its promotion of agricultural exhibitors.
History
In 1897, N. H. Gentry of Sedalia persuaded the Missouri Swine Breeders Association to request the Missouri General AssemblyLegislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
to establish a state fair. In 1899 a resolution for the fair was introduced by C.E. Clark.
The state considered locating the fair in Centralia
Centralia, Missouri
Centralia is a city in Audrain and Boone counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 3,774 at the 2000 census.The Boone County portion of Centralia is part of the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Audrain County portion is part of the Mexico Micropolitan Statistical...
, Chillicothe
Chillicothe, Missouri
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Livingston County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,515 at the 2010 census. The name "Chillicothe" is Shawnee for "big town", and was named after their Chillicothe, located since 1774 about a mile from the present-day city.Chillicothe is...
, Marshall
Marshall, Missouri
Marshall is a city in Saline County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,065 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Saline County,. The Marshall Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Saline County. It is also home to Missouri Valley College...
, Mexico
Mexico, Missouri
Mexico is a city in Audrain County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,543 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Audrain County. The Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Audrain County...
, Moberly
Moberly, Missouri
Moberly is a city in Randolph County, Missouri, United States. According to the 2008 census bureau estimate, the population was 14,227. The city was incorporated 1868. The Moberly Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Randolph County....
and Sedalia. Cities made offers of land which they would commit to the fair.
After ten ballots, Sedalia received the majority vote; it had bid 150 acre (0.607029 km²), the most amount of land of any city to be devoted to the fairgrounds. The Van Riper family, who had set land aside for the location of the Missouri State Capitol
Missouri State Capitol
The Missouri State Capitol is located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Housing the Missouri General Assembly, it is located in the state capital of Jefferson City at 201 West Capitol Avenue. The domed building was designed by the New York architectural firm of Tracy and Swartwout and completed in 1917...
in Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
, also donated the site in Sedalia.
The first Missouri State Fair was held September 9–13 in 1901. One of the most distinctive aspect of the early fairs was the "white city": the 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) of tents, each for rent by exhibitors.
The Missouri State Fairgrounds are now used year round and generate revenue in every season, for more than 350 days out of the available 365. Off-season usage includes camper rallies, livestock shows, organized athletic leagues and tournaments, auto races, craft shows, and youth rallies.
2009
In 2009, the Missouri State Fair celebrated its 107th year. Attendance increased nearly 8 percent, for a total of 337,851 during the fair's run. The mild summer encouraged high attendance, and families also liked the fair's affordability as a joint event they could enjoy.At the end of the year, fair organizers were honored with first-place and other awards at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE). Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe was pleased with the fair's recognition. First place awards included one for "Overall Program for Competitive Agricultural Exhibitors", an overview of the Fair’s entire agricultural program including number of entries, promotional materials and the overall quality of the program.
“This category is among one of the highest honors a fair can receive,” said Wolfe. “I am extremely proud to have placed 1st for our continued dedication to showcase agriculture, which is the premise of the Missouri State Fair.”
Another first place win was received for the category of "Fair and Sponsor Joint Exhibit Program". The Fair partnered with Monsanto Corporation in the first annual 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
Show-Me Robots exhibit.
Pepsi Grandstand Concerts and Events
- August 12 – Eli Young BandEli Young BandEli Young Band is an American country music band based in Denton, Texas. The band is composed of Mike Eli , James Young , Jon Jones , and Chris Thompson . They released their self-titled debut album in 2002, followed by the Carnival records release Level in 2005...
and Candy CoburnCandy CoburnCandy Coburn is an American national performing country music artist who has shared the stage with many notable artists, including Brooks and Dunn, Kellie Pickler, Montgomery Gentry, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Gary Allan, Josh Turner, Lady Antebellum and others... - August 13 – ShinedownShinedownShinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 2001 and founded by members Brent Smith , Brad Stewart , Jasin Todd , and Barry Kerch . A few line-up changes followed, and the band's current line-up consists of Smith and Kerch, the band's only two remaining original...
(rain-out) and ChevelleChevelleChevelle is an American alternative metal trio that formed in 1995 in Grayslake, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The band was originally composed of two brothers and a local friend: Pete Loeffler , Sam Loeffler , and Matt Scott . Matt was later replaced by brother Joe Loeffler... - August 14 – Montgomery GentryMontgomery GentryMontgomery Gentry is an American country music duo composed of vocalists Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry. The two began performing in the 1990s as part of a band which also included Eddie Montgomery's brother John Michael Montgomery, and founded the existing duo in 1999.Signed to Columbia Records,...
and Lost Trailers - August 15 – Katherine McPhee with BomshelBomshelBomshel is an American country music duo founded in 2004 by lead singer Buffy "Buf" Lawson and fiddle player Kristy Osmunson. Signed to Curb Records in 2004, Bomshel's original lineup charted four single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and recorded an unreleased album called Bomshel Stomp...
- August 16 – Truck &Tractor Pull
- August 17 – Lucas Oil Non-Winged Sprint Bandits / MAMS / ULMA
- August 18 – Country Gold Tour with Leroy Van DykeLeroy Van DykeLeroy Frank Van Dyke is an American country music singer best known for his hits, "The Auctioneer" and "Walk On By" .-Biography:...
, Helen CorneliusHelen CorneliusHelen Cornelius is an American country singer-songwriter and actress, best remembered for a series of hit duets with Jim Ed Brown, many of which reached the U.S...
, Moe BandyMoe BandyMarion Franklin Bandy, Jr.–better known professionally as Moe Bandy– is a country music singer...
, Jimmy FortuneJimmy FortuneJimmy Fortune is an American country music singer. He hails from Lovingston, Virginia.-Biography:...
, Gene WatsonGene WatsonGary Gene Watson is an American country singer. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "Love in the Hot Afternoon," his 1982 hit "Fourteen Carat Mind," and his signature song "Farewell Party." Watson's long career has notched six number ones, 23 top tens and over 75 charted singles.-Biography:Watson...
, The Gatlin Brothers, David FrizzellDavid FrizzellDavid Frizzell is an American country music singer. He is the younger brother of country music legend Lefty Frizzell. His career first started in the late 1950s, but his biggest success came in the '80s, 30 years into his career....
and Narvel FeltsNarvel FeltsNarvel Felts is an American country music singer. Known for his soaring tenor and high falsetto, Felts enjoyed his greatest success during the 1970s, most famously 1975's "Reconsider Me."-Career:... - August 19 – Three Dog NightThree Dog NightThree Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
and The Grass RootsThe Grass RootsThe Grass Roots is an American rock band that charted between 1966 and 1975 as the brainchild of songwriting duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri.In their career, The Grass Roots achieved two gold albums, one gold single and charted singles a total of 21 times. Among their charting singles, they... - August 20 – Darius RuckerDarius RuckerDarius Rucker is an American musician. He first gained fame as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Carolina along with Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld and Dean Felber...
and Band Perry - August 21 – Sheryl CrowSheryl CrowSheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
and Colbie CaillatColbie CaillatColbie Marie Caillat is an American pop singer-songwriter and guitarist from Malibu, California. She debuted in 2007 with Coco, which included hit singles "Bubbly", "Realize", and "The Little Things". In 2008, she recorded a duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky", which won a Grammy. Caillat released her... - August 22 – MLRA / NCRA Late Model Challenge
2011 Events
The 2011 Missouri State Fair was held August 11-21. Themed "It's a Show-Me Thing!"Pepsi Grandstand Concerts and Events
- August 11 – Jerrod NiemannJerrod NiemannJerrod Lee Niemann is an American country music artist. Active since 2001, he has recorded two independent albums. In 2006, he signed to Category 5 Records and charted with the single "I Love Women "...
and Candy CoburnCandy CoburnCandy Coburn is an American national performing country music artist who has shared the stage with many notable artists, including Brooks and Dunn, Kellie Pickler, Montgomery Gentry, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Gary Allan, Josh Turner, Lady Antebellum and others... - August 12 – Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
(cancellation due to illness) and Doobie Brothers (performed a longer set) - August 13 – Jason AldeanJason AldeanJason Aldine Williams is an American country music singer, known professionally as Jason Aldean. Since 2005, Aldean has recorded for Broken Bow Records, an independent record label for which he has released four albums and twelve singles...
with Thompson SquareThompson SquareThompson Square is an American country music duo composed of husband and wife Keifer Thompson and Shawna Thompson. They signed to Stoney Creek Records, a sister label of Broken Bow Records, in January 2010 and have released three singles: "Let's Fight", "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" and "I Got...
and Chris Young (singer) - August 14 – Military Appreciation Day with Country Gold Tour featuring Leroy Van DykeLeroy Van DykeLeroy Frank Van Dyke is an American country music singer best known for his hits, "The Auctioneer" and "Walk On By" .-Biography:...
with his band The Auctioneers, Jim Ed BrownJim Ed BrownJim Ed Brown is an American country music singer who achieved fame in the 1950s with his two sisters as a member of The Browns. He later had a successful solo career from 1965 to 1974, followed by a string of major duet hits with Helen Cornelius through 1981...
, Helen CorneliusHelen CorneliusHelen Cornelius is an American country singer-songwriter and actress, best remembered for a series of hit duets with Jim Ed Brown, many of which reached the U.S...
, T. Graham BrownT. Graham BrownAnthony "T." Graham Brown is an American country music artist. Active since 1986, Brown has recorded a total of thirteen studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
, Jeannie Kendall, Eddy RavenEddy RavenEdward Garvin Futch is an American country music artist known professionally as Eddy Raven. Known for his Cajun-influenced country music, Raven has been a recording artist since 1962...
, Joe StampleyJoe StampleyJoe Stampley is an American country music singer.-Biography:He was born to R.C. Stampley, Jr. , and Mary E. Stampley...
and Moe BandyMoe BandyMarion Franklin Bandy, Jr.–better known professionally as Moe Bandy– is a country music singer... - August 15 – Championship Truck &Tractor Pull
- August 16 – Monster Truck Show
- August 17 – Bluegrass Festival throughout the day featuring Missouri's own Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
- August 18 – Kenny Wayne ShepherdKenny Wayne ShepherdKenny Wayne Shepherd is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He has released several studio albums and experienced a rare level of commercial success both as a blues artist and a young musician.-Biography:Shepherd graduated Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport, Louisiana...
with Trampled Under Foot - August 19 – Luke BryanLuke BryanThomas Luther "Luke" Bryan is an American country singer who debuted in 2007 with the single "All My Friends Say", a Top 5 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His debut album, I'll Stay Me, was released on Capitol Records in 2007. This album also produced chart singles in "We Rode in...
and Josh Thompson (singer)Josh Thompson (singer)Josh Thompson is an American country music artist signed to Columbia Records Nashville. On July 27, 2009, he released his debut album Way Out Here in January 2010... - August 20 – Carnival of Madness Tour featuring Canadian rock band Theory of a DeadmanTheory of a DeadmanTheory of a Deadman is a Canadian rock band from Delta, British Columbia, formed in 2001. The band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as Island Records. The band also includes traits of other music styles, such as country and acoustic, as well as their post-grunge and alternative...
, along with rockers Alter BridgeAlter BridgeAlter Bridge is an American rock band that was formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida by lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips, who are all also members of Creed. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four and the frontman...
, Adelitas WayAdelitas WayAdelitas Way is a hard rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada that broke into mainstream in 2009 for their song "Invincible", which is the official theme song for WWE Superstars on WGN America. They also perform the song "A New Day" as the theme song for the defunct WWE Tag Team The Legacy and later used...
and Emphatic - August 21 – Auto Racing