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PrintCOLUMBIA — The 108th Missouri State Fair opened Thursday in Sedalia, where it has been held since 1901. Every summer, thousands gather in mid-Missouri for an 11-day display of craftsmanship, showmanship and family friendly events.
More than 300,000 people attended the fair last year; a release from the fair's website attributed this 8 percent increase over 2008 attendance to cooler-than-usual weather and an emphasis on affordability.
- Boone County Fair queen Amy Wilsdorf poses for a portrait in her Columbia apartment. Wilsdorf won runner-up in the Missouri State Fair pageant in Sedalia.
Missouri's fair is internationally recognized; in 2009, the fair won several first-place awards from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions acknowledging its overall accomplishments in promoting agriculture in the state.
"This category is among one of the highest honors a fair can receive," said Missouri State Fair director Mark Wolfe in a release last December. "I am extremely proud to have placed 1st for our continued dedication to showcase agriculture, which is the premise of the Missouri State Fair."
In addition to promoting agriculture, the fair offers a variety of food, games, live entertainment and competitions to appeal to urban Missourians. Upcoming events at this year's "Growing Great Memories"-themed fair include auto races, bull riding, an aerospace exhibit and a fiddling championship. For a complete list of daily activities, click here.
The fair continues through Sunday night.
Do you plan to visit the 2010 Missouri State Fair?
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