Missouri State Fair

2 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 7 Missouri State Fair M A visit to the fair brings a certain type of nostalgia. It’s a step back to simpler times for some, and a chance to unwind and let loose for others. Whether you are there for the buzz of the midway, the abundance of delicious food, or a day spent soaking up the many exhibits and shows, it’s a time not soon forgotten. The Missouri State Fair is no exception, providing 120 years of excitement and memories to generations of fair goers. The first Missouri State Fair was held on the fairgrounds in Sedalia, Missouri in 1901, continuing every year with the exception of 1943 and 1944, during WW2. With more than a century of entertainment and events, there are some which stand out as part of Missouri State Fair’s rich history, including visits from four U.S. Presidents: William Howard Taft in 1911, Harry Truman in 1955, Ronald Reagan in 1984, and George W. Bush in 2004. The fairgrounds are also infamous for the 1974 Ozark Music Festival. As Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe recounts, “It kind of got out of hand, but somewhere around 130,000 people poured into this little town of 15,000 and overtook the fairgrounds and the whole community. There was a who’s who of entertainers that showed up – something similar to Woodstock that happened here on the fairgrounds.”