History
In 1897, N. H. Gentry of Sedalia persuaded the Missouri Swine Breeders Association to request the Missouri General Assembly to establish a state fair. In 1899 a resolution for the fair was introduced by C.E. Clark.
The state considered locating the fair in Centralia, Chillicothe, Marshall, Mexico, Moberly and Sedalia. Cities made offers of land which they would commit to the fair.
After ten ballots, Sedalia received the majority vote; it had bid 150 acres (0.61 km2), the most amount of land of any city to be devoted to the fairgrounds. The Van Riper family, who had set land aside for the location of the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri, also donated the site in Sedalia.
The first Missouri State Fair was held September 9–13 in 1901. One of the most distinctive aspect of the early fairs was the "white city": the 24 acres (97,000 m2) of tents, each for rent by exhibitors.
The Missouri State Fairgrounds are now used year round and generate revenue in every season, for more than 350 days out of the available 365. Off-season usage includes camper rallies, livestock shows, organized athletic leagues and tournaments, auto races, craft shows, and youth rallies.
Read more about this topic: Missouri State Fair
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