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Missouri State Fair sees strong ag participation, plans more upgrades

The director of the Missouri State Fair says this year’s 11-day event had strong participation in agriculture and livestock events.

Jason Moore tells Brownfield there were more than 29,000 entries in livestock and competitive exhibits, in line with last year, and more than 3,000 youth exhibitors.

“As we all know, they’re the heart and soul of why we do what we do,” he says. “It’s great to see them continue to show up and show out here.”

Total attendance for the 2026 Missouri State Fair was more than 333,000, slightly higher than the 2025 turnout. Moore says the good weather on the second week helped, and new venues, like the new Parson Arena, were well received.

“It’s an awesome, awesome venue. We heard nothing but really positive feedback. Then, with the Hayden Plaza and the ribbon cutting out front, that was great.”

Moore says more infrastructure updates are coming in 2027, including an ancillary barn that will connect the Parson Arena and the sheep barn.

“That will turn that whole venue over on the southwest corner of the fairgrounds into one huge multi-use complex,” he says. “The idea will be that you’ll kind of be under roof from the sheep barn into this multi-use and then, the multi-use will attach to the warm-up space that is at Parson Arena.”

He says there are improvements coming to Clarendon Road, which divides the fairground, and nearly 500 campsites are being added. The 2027 Missouri State Fair is August 12 – 22.