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September 2007

Missouri Agriculture Continues to Thrive at the State Fair

The 2007 Missouri State Fair has come and gone and everyone engaged in Missouri agriculture deserves a big thank you for their participation in this year’s grand event. Although the 11-day’s of the State Fair were a little hot (even for a Missouri August), it was truly a great success.

Over the coming weeks, we will undoubtedly begin to hear that attendance was down and revenues in various areas were not what we were hoping for. While this may be true, the Missouri State Fair still remains the ultimate showcase of our state’s thriving agriculture industry. This year was no different; there were incredible livestock shows and wonderful exhibits. In fact, despite the over 100 degree temperatures, the number of livestock exhibits was higher this year than in past years.

If you attended the Sale of Champions, you will agree that this year’s fair was essentially one to remember. A new record sale price was set in every species. The Grand Champion Steer sold for $24,000. The total value of the 12 Grand and Reserve Champion animals was an outstanding $137,700. It was just amazing to see such support from the Missouri agriculture community coming together to encourage young people to stay engaged in agriculture. Those young people are the future of the industry.

The State Fair continues to be a family reunion of sorts. All it takes is one walk through the Sheep Pavilion, the Swine Barn or any of the livestock barns and buildings to get a sense of the family that makes up the Missouri State Fair. Around every corner, you will find parents and children of all ages working together to get animals ready for the show ring. Many of these young exhibitors have met each other during county fairs earlier in the summer and they are competitors, but they are also friends. Also encouraging, their families are friends. The Missouri State Fair is the arena encouraging family friendships and discussions of agriculture’s pleasures and challenges.

It isn’t the corn dogs, the carnival rides or the concerts that make the Missouri State Fair unique. (In fact, you might be surprised to know that I did not have a corn dog or a funnel cake.) The 2007 State Fair was a great event because of the people involved and their commitment to agriculture in Missouri. For over 100 years, farm families from all across the state travel to be a part of the showcase of this state’s agriculture and will continue to do so for year’s to come.

With this year’s Missouri State Fair behind us, we have new great ideas for 2008 with promises to be even better. Let’s just hope we get a break on the weather next year.

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