News Release

The Missouri State Fair has been built over the last 100 years on strong traditions. Traditions of eating Fair food on opening day, attending concerts, family fun and, for you, bringing agricultural exhibits that will be showcased throughout the Fair. Nearly 30,000 exhibits play an important role at the Fair every year, including everything from livestock to produce and quilts to tractors. Whether this is your first year or you are a seasoned exhibitor, I would like to personally welcome you home to the Missouri State Fair.

Coming home to the Fair is  a yearly tradition for my family. I remember picnicking in the parking lot as a small child and my fascination with the Fair continually grew from the first visit. Teresa and I bring our children and grandchildren to the Fair, and it is our hope they continue our family tradition as Missouri State Fair attendees for generations to come. While the Fair changes and grows every year, it is the exhibits and people, like you, that truly make it special. 

Many exhibitors and fairgoers come home to the Missouri State Fair every August. We are continually improving the building conditions at the Missouri State Fair to help preserve the traditions we all know and love. Our state’s budget this year will prioritize more than $8 million going toward repairing and expanding structures on the fairgrounds. The campgrounds, where many of you stay during your time at the Fair, will be improved. Renovations of the horse barns will take place, electrical wiring will be replaced in the swine barns and the sheep pavilion is in store for a complete renovation. The Governor’s Ham Breakfast and Farm Family Day will eventually be held in a permanent structure next to the Director’s House. These improvements will not only benefit the Fair, but the Sedalia community throughout the rest of the year.

Missouri agriculture has been heavily impacted throughout our state this year. Strong storms and floodwaters have affected the lives of many farmers and other Missourians throughout our state. However, just like exhibitors faced a drought during the first Fair in 1901, we are meeting these difficult circumstances with grit, determination, hard work, and goodwill. Despite what Mother Nature throws at us, we continue to recover from the storms and learn how to farm smarter and be better prepared to face any challenge – it’s the Missouri way. 

Our goal is to invest in you – the next generation of Missouri agriculture. We want to ensure that more Missourians, like you, have the opportunity to gather the necessary education and training they need to enter the workforce and fill high demand jobs in agriculture. 

Thank you for helping make the Missouri State Fair our state’s top agriculture showcase.

Welcome home, 

Governor Mike Parson & First Lady Teresa Parson