Patriotic pride on display at the Missouri State Fair Aug. 13-23

In celebration of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, the Missouri State Fair’s “Show-Me Stars & Stripes” theme puts the state’s own spin on patriotic pride. Events begin Aug. 13 and run through Aug. 23 at the historic fairgrounds in Sedalia, offering a complete lineup of livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, concerts, vendors, carnival rides, plenty of food choices and much more.

As a “Purple Ribbon” sponsor, MFA Incorporated continues to support the state fair in many ways. Visitors can step out of the weather and inside the MFA building to talk with our experts and learn more about our whole-farm solutions. Accomplishments of FFA members will be highlighted by MFA displays featuring a sampling of Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects, which are supported in part by funding from the MFA Charitable Foundation.

Among opening day events on Thursday, Aug. 13, is a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Michael L. Parsons Arena, which MFA Incorporated helped to fund. The facility will be open to fair attendees for free tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, with ticketed events scheduled inside most evenings. In addition to fair activities, the 150,000-square-foot, climate-controlled arena will host a wide range of events year-round.

MFA will return as sponsor of the youth Pedal Pull, which takes place on Sunday, Aug. 23 with nine classes for contestants ages 4-12. Also, MFA will be providing special giveaways to exhibitors who show livestock and those who reside in the youth dorms during the fair.

As a member of Missouri Farmers Care, MFA will once again be involved in the Missouri FFA Day of Service on Tuesday, Aug. 18, when hundreds of FFA members will pack child-friendly meals that will be distributed to six food banks across the state. That day is also “$2 Tuesday,” which allows visitors to receive $2 admission to the fair with a $2 donation to MFC’s Drive to Feed Kids or a minimum of two nonperishable food items.

And throughout the fair, be sure to watch for the MFA-sponsored ice wagon, helping workers and visitors keep their cool.

Visit the fair’s website at mostatefair.com for the most up-to-date information and a full schedule of events.

TOP IMAGE CAPTION – For the past two years, MFA Incorporated’s “Purple Ribbon” level of support at the Missouri State Fair has included sponsorship of the show programs for livestock exhibitions among other youth-focused investments.

BODY IMAGE CAPTION - Greg Davis, left, MFA nutrition product specialist, hands out buckets filled with snacks and promotional items to youth livestock show participants at the 2025 Missouri State Fair. This popular giveaway will once again be among MFA’s activities at this year’s event, with several distribution days planned.