The 85th annual fair opened this week on July 29 and will run through Aug. 7. In those days, however, the area was known as Zoo Park. Were going to roll on because people have based on ticket sales and stuff theyre wanting to get out and they know I think after what we did last year that we can keep it clean, we can keep it safe, said Owen. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. You carry a lot on your shoulders, said Owen, who said he even took a cut in pay to make sure that the organization could pay staff and ensure operations.But that personal responsibility he felt as a fair manager wasn't just about the commitment he had to the fair, but the crucial role the Ozark Empire Fair plays in its community and the positive impact fairs have on contemporary America. Many exhibitors reported strong interest or brisk sales." He estimated over 60,000 people attended this year's event at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. "That was your vacation. From keeping staff paid, developing a plan and working with the vendors, exhibitors and other fair participants to make sure the show would go on. You look at the crime rate, the suicide and overdose rates, and you just want to do something positive like the fair. There is so much fun at the Ozark Empire Fair this year, and one of the many hubs of entertainment is the KY3 Grandstand. "And they just did it for kicks," says Kepes. Longer days and sunny skies mark the advent of summer, but the true harbinger of the season is the Ozark Empire Fair, happening from July 26 to August 4. The Ozark Empire Fair Foundation, established in 2003, is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission it is to provide agricultural youth scholarships and grants and provide funding for major improvements to the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and its livestock facilities. There will be monster trucks, demolition derby, truck and tractor. #1 Best Value of 542 places to stay in Springfield. "We're not a big farming community anymore," says Owen. "One year, polio was real bad," says Kissee. Minnesota State Fair Names Renee Alexander as New CEO, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary & Fairs Commit to Growing the Future. Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. The Ozark Fall Farmfest is an agricultural trade show with all the latest agricultural products, services and technologies, live animals (including cattle, goats, rabbits, pigs, donkeys, sheep and horses), antique tractors, and rural living booths. In honor of the fairs 80th birthday, Kepes was commissioned to compile a comprehensive history of the fair, which has materialized into a 176-page book containing more than 300 photos. Some of those familiar faces, however, aren't simply individuals walking through the gate. We had some bad emails and phone calls about holding the fair, he said. last year and capped attendance to allow for easier . ", By interviewing people such as Kissee, Kepes takes readers through the fair a decade at a time. She mentions bubble and fan dancer Sally Rand's appearance in 1941 (although no one she interviewed admitted that they went to see the show, says Kepes), which even attracted folks from Rand's native Hickory County. The sq. 2023 Gibtown Trade Show Wraps Up: Amid Optimism, Can the Industry Work Together? Through her research, Kepes found that the fair evolved with the world. Snow pants fit like regular pants, while snow bibs are more like overalls, extending partway over the torso and securing over the shoulders with straps. With the masks, we were not able to see as many smiles, but I know they were there. Mask wearing by both fair workers and fairgoers was mandated by the city, one of several protocols in place at the Ozark Empire Fair. The show will take place at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E-Plex in Springfield, Missouri at the E-plex - 8am till 4pm. Cost: $10 ages 12 and older; $3 children ages 6 through 11; carnival wristbands are $25;. We worked very closely with the local authorities. Some of the protocols included daily temperature taking of all employees and volunteers, using social distancing at the grandstand concerts, which were only allowed 50 percent capacity seating only every other row of seats were utilized and changing the beer sales area into a social safe, spread out seating. "The Coliseum was kind of the crown jewel for a long time at the fairgrounds," says Kepes. The event was one for fun -- she mentions the romances made, the tree-covered picnic lunches, and the nights spent sleeping at the fairgrounds -- but it was also educational. Interested. (KY3) - The Ozark Empire Fair is quickly approaching for its 85th year. We have to be strong to get America going again. Indoor/outdoor pool with a nice outdoor sitting area. Admission was free, although it cost 25 cents per car to park -- andtickets forthe grandstand ranged from 35 cents to $1 for box seats. This is a good chance to buy things on sale. "It will be easy to get lost on the roads and among the tents and buildings at the fair grounds, there are so many of them," wrote the Springfield Leader & Press the day before the fair opened. Interested in being an inside commercial vendor in our West Hall? of the women who built GYNCA from its foundation, how they have since continued But its what organizers had to work with, especially considering the need to secure funding -- and the issue of time. If you need a place to hold your show, seminar, sale or workshop, let our friendly staff show you the cleanest and best facility in the area! And Owen is optimistic plenty of folks will turn out for this weekends fair finale, which includes bullfighting and the truck and tractor pull. Please see the below application and vendor handbook. Last.fm concert page for Ozark Empire Fair at Ozark Empire Fair (Springfield, MO) on Aug. 1, 2010. Sanitizing stations, signage, stepped-up cleaning schedules were all in place. "It reflected the culture and the heritage and the times," she says. It also contained space that could be used for an annual fair. She notes that some of those previous fairs were held where Missouri State University is today and in the 1890s, near the current fairgrounds. "So it's more about teaching and preserving that agricultural link rather than showcasing it because you're a part of it.". //-->, Copyright FestivalNet 2022. Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Produced Events > Ozarks Fall Farmfest; The Man Show Expo; MO Food Truck Fest; Uptown Holiday Hoedown; Beer Wine Cheese and Chocolate Festival; KY3 Women's Show; Lawn & Garden Show > Lawn & Garden Show Vendor Info; Ozark Spring Roundup > Ozark Spring Round Up Preview Cattle Show; Ozark Empire PRCA Pro Rodeo > Mutton Busting having early annual screenings for breast and cervical cancer. Attendance Shouts Went. If you have questions please contact: Do you have products that are made in Missouri? "He critiques the ads he sees on TV and comes to the fair and gives me feedback," says Owen of Miller. Grab limited time Ozark Empire Fair coupon codes and use 10% off to save money! "Were in a very competitive market, says Owen. You carry a lot on your shoulders, said Owen, who said he even took a cut in pay to make sure that the organization could pay staff and ensure operations.But that personal responsibility he felt as a fair manager wasn't just about the commitment he had to the fair, but the crucial role the Ozark Empire Fair plays in its community and the positive impact fairs have on contemporary America. You'll often find Alyssa working alongside local animal shelters as she's a strong advocate for our furry friends in the area. Springfield, What: Ozark Empire Fair When: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. through Saturday, Aug. 8 Where: 3001 N. Grant Ave. 641 guests Page transparency See all Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a Page. Some presidential portraits he copied from postage stamps. According to online calculators, that amount would equal more than $170,000 today. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. 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