Farm families from across the state will gather at the Missouri State Fair on Monday, Aug. 12 to celebrate Farm Bureau/Farm Family Day. Each year, a farm family is selected from each Missouri county, and the City of St. Louis, to participate in special events at the Fair in their honor. Farm Family Day is a partnership of Missouri Farm Bureau, University of Missouri Extension, the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, the Missouri Department of Agriculture, and the Missouri State Fair.

Here’s a quick glance at the day’s schedule:

• Free tram rides for all ages will be available on the fairgrounds all day, sponsored by the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council & Soy Checkoff.
• Pro Pulling League in the State Fair Grandstand, presented by CFM Insurance – 6 p.m. Tickets on sale now.
• Livestock shows and building competitions all day including the 4-H/FFA Dog Show, breed shows for swine and sheep, Rooster Crowing Contest Finals, 4-H/FFA Beef Showmanship Contest, On-Foot Open Steer Carcass Show and Live Evaluation Contest and Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese and Appetizer Dip Cooking Contests in the Home Economics Building.
• Free grounds entertainment all day for all ages including The Amazing Bubble Factory in the Kids Zone, sponsored by Your Local McDonald’s, John Cassidy Comedy Magic and Lindley Creek on the Superior Sleep Stage, Radatz Magic and The Kay Brothers on the Touchstone Energy Stage, Supermatics on the Budweiser Stage, Cirque Zuma Zuma, sponsored by AOK RV's, and Space Adventures Educational Thrill Show
• Special events just for kids including Barnyard Story Time, sponsored by MFA, Inc., at the Children’s Barnyard at 3 p.m. Let’s Talk Livestock, sponsored by Tractor Supply Co., will take place at 1 p.m. outside the Coliseum, and 4:30 p.m. outside the FFA Building.
• Military Flag Retreat Ceremony honoring Russell Miller of Columbia – 5:30 p.m. at the flagpole in front of the Historic Administration Building.

Join us in thanking Missouri’s farmers and ranchers on Farm Bureau/Farm Family Day, Monday, Aug. 12 at the Missouri State Fair! We hope to see you now through Aug. 18 in Sedalia for Summer’s Best Story!

Looking to save money when coming to the Missouri State Fair? Love giving back to those in need? Missouri Farmers Care Food Drive $2 Tuesday offers you a chance to do both! Bring in two non-perishable food items or give a $2 donation to Feeding Missouri on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and pay just $2 gate admission. To add to the $2 fun, most carnival rides will be $2 this day and select concession and vendors will offer $2 specials.

In the spirit of service and giving back, Missouri FFA will host their annual Food Insecurity Day held in the Assembly Hall, with over 800 FFA members and agriculture leaders serving those in need. Their goal is to reduce childhood food insecurity in Missouri and package 175,000 child-friendly meals that will be distributed among food banks across our state.

The Agriculture Building is a great place to learn more about food insecurity. There will be a canned food educational display constructed of approximately 3,000 cans of food donated by Woods Supermarket. All cans used in the display will be added to the food drive collection and head to local food banks after the Fair concludes.

While in the Agriculture Building, stop by the Missouri Farmers Care booth to learn how you can support the Drive to Feed Kids and make a difference in the fight against hunger in our state. All proceeds from the Drive support Feeding Missouri’s network of food banks. You can learn more about the Drive, including additional partners like Missouri 4-H and the Hogs for Hunger program, by visiting mofarmerscare.com/drive/.

Here's a quick glance at the day’s schedule:

• Lunch Bunch Admission Deal- Take a break from the workplace and grab your friends/coworkers for lunch at the Fair! Stop by the Lunch Bunch Booth, located at the Centennial entrance ticket booth. Purchase a lunch bunch gate admission ticket for the day’s price starting at 11 a.m., grab lunch and enjoy the Fair for a few hours, and then return to that booth by 2 p.m. to receive a full refund of your admission price.
• $5 after 5 p.m. Admission Deal - Come to the Fair after 5 p.m. and get in for only $5.
• Free grounds entertainment all day for all ages including The Kay Brothers and Radatz Magic on the Touchstone Energy Stage and keep your eyes and ears open for the The Strolling Piano and Professor Farquar and Polecat Annie.
• Livestock shows and building competitions all day including 4-H/FFA Market Heifer and Steer Show, swine and sheep breed shows and the “Old & Wow” Tractor & Equipment Show, sponsored by Crown Power and Equipment.
• Watch the Show Me Stock Dog Trials all day in the Mathewson Exhibition Center.
• Tracy Lawrence with Ruby Leigh – 7:30 p.m. in the State Fair Grandstand, presented by CFM Insurance; tickets on sale now.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Aug. 13, and help support a worthy cause while saving big bucks on $2 Tuesday. Come be a part of “Summer’s Best Story,” Aug. 8-18 at the 2024 Missouri State Fair, in Sedalia.