Saturday morning the Stoddard County Fair Grounds were busy with activity as FFA and 4H students cleaned and prepared stalls in the livestock barn. They prepared Exhibit Barn B for smaller livestock, small caged animals and food entries to be exhibited. The 95th Stoddard County Fair is now just days away.
Stoddard County Fair Board President Kevin Holman looked on as the final preparations are underway.
“We have two Eagle Scout projects this year,” said Holman. “One of the Eagle Scout projects was to work over the picnic tables that sit in front of the food booths. The B Barn where they have the field crop show area, that was another Eagle Scout project.”
Holman said new racks to display the field crop entries were built as part of the Eagle Scout project. Other improvements are a door that has been repaired on the open exhibit barn and new speakers and wiring in the main arena. Holman said the speakers and wiring were damaged by a storm. The speaker repair is ongoing but expected to be ready to go by start of the fair.
The event will begin Sunday with the fair pageants on the main stage at 2 p.m. Entry information can be found on the Stoddard County Fair Facebook page. Exhibit entries, except livestock, will also be accepted on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Livestock entries will be accepted Monday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Stoddard County Fair Parade will take place Tuesday, September 20 at 5:30 p.m. on Stoddard Street in Downtown Dexter. Holman said anyone wishing to enter the parade should contact the Dexter Chamber of Commerce office.
The karaoke contest will be on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on the main stage. Holman said the karaoke contest will be a one night event this year rather than over multiple nights as in years past.
On Wednesday evening Holman said the traditional youth group activity will not be held. Instead the Joyful Noise Gospel Quartet will perform on the main stage.
The annual FFA Tractor Rodeo will be Thursday evening. The tractor rodeo is open to FFA members in any school in Stoddard County. Maggie Thorn will perform on the main stage Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Thursday will also be bracelet night. Bracelets can be purchased for $30 and are good from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
The Todd Woods Rodeo will be held Friday evening and will require a $5 entry fee with children 6 and under entering for free. The Back Road Band will perform on the main stage starting at 7 p.m.
The Public Speech Contest will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday on the main stage. Bracelet afternoon will be held Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Bracelets will cost $25 on Saturday.
The annual Demolition Derby will be held in the main arena Saturday evening by Thunder Valley. The demolition derby has a $5 entry fee for grandstand seating. Holman said the fair board used to put on the derby themselves but there were not enough people to work the derby and attend to the rest of the fair. On the main stage Saturday evening will be the Other Brothers Band starting at 7 p.m.
Robinson Chainsaw Woodcarvers will appear on the grounds nightly. The pieces carved will be auctioned Saturday evening at 8 p.m. Tinsley Amusements on the Midway will be held nightly at the fair. Holman said currently while supplies last or until the fair starts advanced ride tickets can be purchased at Gary’s Quick Stop. The advanced tickets are $20 for 25 tickets.
Holman said the contests held throughout the week have cash prizes.
Holman said in addition to the scheduled events a local resident will be on hand at the fair. This resident forges his own knives and a raffle will be held. Many vendors will also be on hand. Holman said the mechanical bull will be on the grounds again this year.
Holman said the sponsors of the fair will be handled differently this year. Rather than paying one price and getting their name on a sign the sponsors will be able to choose from multiple packages so as to best fit their budget.
“Unfortunately with the rising cost of just about every single thing in this country we did have to rise the price of gate admission to $5 per person,” said Holman. “We hate to do that but we are a non profit organization, every thing we make goes right back into the fair itself. The bank account is usually pretty low when the fair rolls around because we want to improve something somewhere.”
Holman went on to say the money made from the fair goes toward improving the facilities and grounds for fair goers each year. Holman said no board members make any money and they pay dues each year to be on the board. Holman also said there is no fee for parking. He said at times there has been a misunderstanding that they charge for parking but that is not the case.
“There is a difference between a fair and a carnival,” said Holman. “A carnival you have got your rides and a fair you have your animals, rides and exhibits.”
“The reason I do this and a lot of us do this is for the kids,” Holman continued. “We have got members on the board whose kids have shown (livestock), graduated and moved on in life and they are still participating because it is all about the kids.”
Holman said the youth that were cleaning the grounds as he spoke would be out at the grounds every day during fair week. He said the youth will arrive at 5 a.m. to feed their animals before heading to school.
“This helps teach them life lessons in what hard work and what rewards you can get for hard work,” said Holman. “Something that is few and far between these days is a little hard work and to try and get that reward.”
The sheep and goats will be judged Wednesday evening and the cattle and swine Thursday evening.
On Saturday morning Holman said the most important event for the youth will be held, the annual 4H and FFA Livestock Auction at 9 a.m. The Buyers Breakfast will precede the auction at 8 a.m.
Holman encouraged everyone to come out and support the youth. He said anyone wishing to be a buyer can go to the Stoddard County Fair Facebook page or contact him at 573-620-3582 for information and requirements. Holman said he can also be contacted by anyone interested 10x10 vendor booth.
Holman said planning for next years fair will begin during this years fair. The fair board members will note everything they see that needs to be improved for the following year. This attention to detail by the board has earned the Stoddard County Fair the Show Me Award from the Missouri Association of Fairs and Festivals for the last three years. Holman said the fair board attends the convention held by the association every January.
Holman also said representatives from other fairs visit the Stoddard County Fair. He said they will pitch in and start working. Holman said fair board members will return the favor when visiting fairs in other parts of Missouri.
“We look forward to another year. A lot of work goes into it, a lot of free time,” said Holman. “We have got really good board members that want to provide a good fair for our county and make it last for years to come.