SEDALIA – An anticipated 3,000 Missouri 4-H and FFA youth will participate in the 2010 Missouri State Fair. Beginning this week are the equine competitions July 29 through August 1, involving 300 of these youth and 430 horses.
“Due to the number of competitions held at the Fair each year, some events including the 4-H and FFA horse shows are held in advance of the Fair start date,” Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe said. “These shows are still part of the Fair competitions and are open to the public at no charge.”
Pole bending and barrels begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 29, at the State Fair Arena; the rain location will be the Coliseum. Showmanship classes start at 8 a.m. on Friday, July 30, at the Mathewson Exhibition Center, followed by Therapeutic Horsemanship and Western Pleasure. On Saturday, July 31, Trail Class will begin at the Coliseum at 7:00 a.m. and Horsemanship Classes will begin at 8:00 a.m. in the Mathewson Exhibition Center.
The costume class is a favorite among the entries, held this year in the Mathewson Exhibition Center on Friday at approximately 5 p.m. “It is a very entertaining part of the horse shows,” Wolfe said, “Costumes can vary from horses dressed as anything from dinosaurs to elephants. A past favorite was one dressed as a car with the Beverly Hillbillies crew riding in it.”
The Society Horse Show will also begin before the Fair start date, a change from former years, running August 9 to 13. All events in this show will be in the Mathewson Exhibition Center getting under way on the 9th at 6:30 p.m.
Other equine events at the Fair will be the Draft Horse Show beginning at 9 a.m. on August 20 in the Mathewson Exhibition Center with the Belgian Halter Class followed by Registered Percherons Halter Classes concluding with Registered Clydesdale-Shire Halter Classes.
Draft Horse Hitches will take place August 20 and 21 beginning at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 22 at 1:00 p.m. in the Mathewson Exhibition Center.
A complete judging schedule can be previewed online at www.mostatefair.com/Judging-Building-Schedules.php, and will also be in the free Daily Guide available at the Fair. Competitions are included with the price of admission to the Fair.
The Missouri State Fair will be held August 12 to 22 in Sedalia. In addition to quality equine events, livestock shows and competitive exhibits, the variety of free entertainment and activities help make the Fair an affordable and memorable experience for all Missourians. Visit mostatefair.com for more information.
