Thousands of youth and adult exhibitors who show in the Missouri State Fair Swine Barn will notice major differences in the facility and show ring this year, as the first stage of improvements to the historic barn are complete.
Gone are the thick metal gates surrounding the north show ring and placing pens, and the wooden bleachers that were packed during championship drives. Private donations and two special projects have funded a new show ring system, placing pens, staging pens, renovated wash areas and ADA bleachers. Currently, the foundation is raising money and donations to complete renovations to the south show ring and office area.
“We wanted to showcase the effort, investment and achievement of our youth and the families who put in countless hours in their livestock and have devoted themselves to this,” said Wendy Faulconer, director of the Missouri State Fair Foundation, in the Sedalia Democrat. “We wanted the first time they step into the show ring to be special and to create that “wow” factor for them so they feel like they are showing at a national event or championship.”
In 2016, there were more than 1,700 4-H and FFA swine entries—three times any other Missouri State Fair livestock entry area. The investment also supports Missouri’s top 10 national ranking in various areas of the pork industry.
