Governor Mike Parson and Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe have announced the attendance total for this year’s Missouri State Fair.
A news release says final numbers confirm that 337,112 individuals attended the 11-day fair this August.
Successful gate promotions, moderate weather and special celebrations helped to contribute to the fair’s success, including milestone anniversaries for the Gerken Dairy Center with 20 years and the 40th anniversary of the Pork Place. Smokey Bear turned 75 this year at the State Fair on Missouri Department of Conservation Day.
Special promotions on Farm Family Day, Law Enforcement and Firefighter Appreciation Day and Military Appreciation Day, among others, offered fairgoers a variety of activities in which to participate. Military was celebrated every day at the fair in a new special Military Flag Retreat Ceremony. Ten veterans and one active-duty military service member were recognized.
The annual State Fair food drive and “Drive to Feed Kids” campaign raised $175,000 and collected nearly 17,000 pounds of nonperishable food for childhood hunger. Missouri FFA hosted its third annual “Food Insecurity Service Day,” bringing 750 Missouri FFA members and agriculture industry leaders to the fair for a packing event that resulted in 128,460 meals packed to feed families of six people. In addition, 1,740 backpack meals were packed by government officials and agriculture leaders.
More than 4,000 Missouri FFA and 4-H youth participated in the fair with building demonstrations and exhibits and showing livestock. There were 27,245 livestock and competitive entries exhibited.
Events promoting youth in agriculture were well supported. The Governor’s Ham Breakfast was a sellout success, with more than 1,000 in attendance, and raised $22,700 from the auction of the grand- and reserve grand-champion hams and grand-champion bacon. The Sale of Champions auction raised $156,300. A portion of those funds are used to benefit Missouri youth involved in agriculture through scholarships.
The 2020 Fair will be held August 13-23 in Sedalia. For more information about the 2020 Fair, visit mostatefair.com.