A really hot opening day at the state fair

Brad George, 20, of Hallsville, prepares his sheep for the class two FFA judging at the Missouri State Fair. Sheep are judged on muscle and body length.   ¦  JENNIFER WHITNEY/Missourian

Columbia - McKaley Taylor, 14, of Agency, and her class-seven sheep, Willie, braved the heat on the opening day of the Missouri State Fair on Thursday in Sedalia.

“This is my first year, so I’m still learning about everything,” Taylor said.

Taylor, a veteran of the Buchanan County Fair, ranked ninth in the sheep competition with Willie. She commented on how many more people there were at the State Fair.

“It makes it harder, but more interesting,” Taylor said.

Hot temperatures added another interesting element to the fair.

Beverages, like limeade, were in high demand. One limeade vendor said that either attendance is up from last year, or his increased sales are a result of the intense heat.

Regardless of which is true, hot temperatures didn’t stop people from enjoying the fair’s opening day.

Lisa Howell and her son, Jacob, both dressed in jeans, suggest that others planning to attend the fair do not repeat their mistake.

“Wear light clothing and shorts,” Howell said.