Celebrate America with 11 days of fair food, family traditions and co-op fun
STORY by Sara Schafer
PHOTOS by Sara Schafer and Paul Newton
The Missouri State Fair returns to Sedalia Aug. 13-23 with 11 days of food, fun, livestock shows, grandstand concerts and family traditions. This year’s theme, “Celebrate the America 250 at the Missouri State Fair,” invites fairgoers to honor the nation’s milestone while making a few new memories of their own. Learn more at www.mostatefair.com.
Start With Co-op Fun
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the air-conditioned Missouri Electric Cooperatives building is located across from the grandstand. Co-op employees will be on hand to answer questions, and you can peruse an array of displays. While in the building be sure to:
- Race your friends and family on our all-electric Missouri Electric Cooperatives speedway.
- Turn in your coloring page to win a prize. See page 50 in this magazine for our contest for kids.
- Toss your hat in for a scholarship. Students can fill out an application for one of four $550 scholarships. Applicants must have a permanent Missouri address, be in good standing with their electric co-op and be accepted as a full-time student at a college, university and/or vocational school program for the upcoming semester.
- Snap a commemorative photo at a photo station.
- Meet the famous Buddy Bear. He’ll be there every day at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. for photos and hugs.
- Be on the lookout for the Touchstone Energy Balloon, which will fly in the evening, weather permitting.
- Snag a Cool Giveaway
Friday, Aug. 21, is Missouri Electric Cooperatives Day. The first 1,500 visitors to the Missouri Electric Cooperatives building will receive a free 3-in-1 charging cable. Also, plan to sit in on a live-line safety demonstration in front of the building. Sessions will happen at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Meet People From Our Pages
In the Rural Missouri area of the Missouri Electric Cooperatives building, you can find our popular “People From Our Pages” demonstrators. Meet the following people who we’ve featured:
Aug. 13: See Richmond residents Paul and Vicki Comeau demonstrate pinstriping and lettering — all done by hand.
Aug. 14: Taste Missouri-made, honey-sweetened soda from Heather Mincer and the Yes, Honey team of Norwood.
Aug. 15: Try your hand at the Hi Striker and meet Cathy Skelton, owner of the St. James-based carnival company.
Aug. 16: Discover handcrafted bath and body products created by the Bohannon and Riley families of Jamesport.
Aug. 17: Learn how food travels from farm to table through interactive activities with instructors from Agriculture Education on the Move.
Aug. 18: Enjoy samples of 1820 Sauce from Nathan and Michelle Asbury of 1820, The Family Restaurant in Keytesville.
Aug. 19: Explore fossils, minerals and gems with scientists from the Missouri Institute of Natural Science Museum in Springfield.
Aug. 20: Watch painter Jim Peters and wood burner James Bolte demonstrate their crafts. Both sell their artwork through Room for Art Gallery in Washington.
Aug. 21: See Amanda Keene of Flowers on Phoenix transform flowers from her Tipton garden into long-lasting works of art.
Aug. 22: Stomp your feet and clap your hands along with a bluegrass jam led by Sam and Faith Zimmer of Rogersville.
Catch a Free Show
Don’t miss the great lineup of free performers on the Touchstone Energy Stage:
Aug. 13: Marshall Municipal Band
Aug. 13-22: Jason D’Vaude the Circus Man
Aug. 13, 14, 15, 16: Tribute to the Troops
Aug. 15: Mule Kicker Cloggers
Aug. 18-22: The ABLeS
Aug. 23: Missouri Fiddling Championships