Governor Mike Parson and Fair Director Mark Wolfe have announced attendance for the 2018 Missouri State Fair.
According to a news release, 340,957 people attended this year’s fair.
There were many successes to be celebrated, including: Gov. Parson was the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the sellout Governor’s Ham Breakfast on Thursday, Aug. 16. Proceeds from the auction set records, as did proceeds from the Sale of Champions auction, with funds from both benefiting Missouri youth involved in agriculture.
Missouri Farm Families were celebrated on Farm Family Day– with 115 farm families representing Missouri’s 114 counties plus St. Louis City in attendance.
The Drive to Feed Kids campaign returned for its second year, raising more than $145,000 and 1.2 million meals for childhood hunger. Missouri FFA hosted its second Food Insecurity Service Day as part of the Drive to Feed Kids, bringing more than 650 FFA members and ag leaders for a packing event that resulted in 100,800 family-sized meals. A total of 18,932 pounds of nonperishable food was donated to local pantries thanks to the donations by fairgoers, as well as cans donated by Woods Supermarket for the Can Creation Contest. This year marked the eighth year for the food drive, and in those eight years, 103,242 pounds of food have been donated, according to Wolfe.
Hank Williams Jr. and Cole Swindell were the top-selling concerts in the Pepsi Grandstand, with near sellout crowds at each of their shows. This year was Swindell’s first appearance, while this year marked the 11th performance for Williams.
This year’s Military Appreciation Day was again well attended, with more than 36,000 people on the fairgrounds, including military service men and women and their families. A special afternoon ceremony honored those in attendance with keynote speaker Major General Stephen L. Danner of the Missouri National Guard and remarks from Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe.
The 2019 Fair will be held August 8-18 in Sedalia. For more information about the 2019 Fair, visit www.mostatefair.com.