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Missouri State Fair history
Missouri State Fair company history timeline
Since the inception of the Missouri State Fair in 1901, Missouri families have made the trip to Sedalia for the animal exhibitions and competitions, concerts, and delicious fair food.
Mike Parson said. “By going back to the basics of the original 1901 Missouri State Fair, we’ve been reminded of the importance of giving our young people the chance to have a hands-on experience and be successful.”
When that first State Fair was staged in 1901, Missouri’s population was two-thirds rural.
The original frame administration building was later used for the Police Headquarters and Emergency Hospital. It was built in 1901 at the cost of $1,500.
Missouri State Fair Commercial Building, built 1903.
Missouri State Fair Historic Administration Building, built 1904.
Missouri State Fairgrounds - Coliseum, built 1906
Missouri State Fair Poultry-Rabbit Building, built 1909.
Tinted postcard of airship over Missouri State Fair with crowd watching below, October 2, 1910, Sedalia. [SHS of MO-Columbia Photo Collection #024104]
Missouri State Fair Womans Building, built 1910
4-H members began entering their exhibits in 1918, competing for a total of $355 in premiums.
Coverage: United States – Missouri – Pettis County – Sedalia Date: 1918 Rights: public domain Credit…
Missouri State Fair Swine Pavilion, built 1922
Missouri FFA chapters began forming soon after the national group was organized in 1928.
Missouri State Fair Main Gate, built 1939
Three little girls with goats at the Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, on August 13, 1949. [SHS of MO-Columbia Photo Collection P30_844]
Ferris Wheels at the Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, on August 9, 1952. [SHS of MO-Columbia Photo Collection P30_1769]
Chapter members exhibited in the junior division of the State Fair until their own division was formed in 1952.
Another FFA project, the farm mechanics display, was added to the Fair in 1955.
Crowd in Missouri State Fair grandstand watching a car race, Sedalia, on August 10, 1957. [SHS of MO-Columbia Photo Collection P30_3025]
In 1959 the first FFA Children’s Barnyard opened and continues today as one of the most popular Fair attractions.
In 1962 a former state representative proposed turning the Fair administration over to the University of Missouri, but the Governor and the University president vetoed the plan.
In 1969 Fair officials added a fine arts competition, offering $5,140 in premiums to Missouri artists and craftsmen, and the flower show grows in entries each year.
Missouri State Fair Grounds, Sedalia; drawn by architect George Kessler of Kansas City. [SHS of MO-Columbia Photo Collection #1995.0070]
To help the Missouri State Fair address these opportunities and challenges, the Missouri State Legislators earmarked funds in 1996 for the development of a Master Plan.
In 1998 the number had grown to over 200 chapters and over 7,000 entries.
The building had its grand opening at the 2000 Missouri State Fair.
The Daum Museum has been at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri, about an hour from Kansas City, since 2001.
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Missouri State Fair competitors
| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Fair of West Virginia | - | $2.5M | 50 | 5 |
| Colorado State Fair | 1872 | $1.5M | 17 | - |
| Minnesota State Fair | 1859 | $8.5M | 147 | 520 |
| Orange County Fair - New York | - | $1.4M | 5 | 16 |
| Farmers Market | 1917 | $2.8M | 31 | 31 |
| ARCO, A Community Resource | 1962 | $2.0M | 6 | - |
| County Line Incorporated | 1975 | $47.0M | 937 | 22 |
| City of Canal Winchester | 1828 | $2.3M | 11 | 15 |
| Ham Lake | - | $270,000 | 5 | - |
| Mccs | - | $650,000 | 10 | - |
Missouri State Fair history FAQs
Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Missouri State Fair, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Missouri State Fair. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Missouri State Fair. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Missouri State Fair. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Missouri State Fair and its employees or that of Zippia.
Missouri State Fair may also be known as or be related to Missouri State Fair, Missouri State Fair Foundation and State Fair.