Next week, the Missouri State Fair begins in Sedalia, celebrating our state’s strong communities and connections to agriculture.

As Missouri’s flagship, land-grant university, we’re proud to continue our tradition of kicking off the fair with our annual Mizzou Day on August 13. Celebrations include an opening ceremony featuring state leaders, including Governor Mike Kehoe and former Governor Mike Parson, along with special appearances from Truman and Mizzou students, faculty and staff. We’ll also celebrate a historic ribbon cutting for the newly renovated 4-H Building, revitalizing the more than 120-year-old facility to serve our 4-H members for decades to come.

Missouri 4-H is a program of MU Extension, and we’re planning a special announcement at the fair that will create even more opportunities for 4-H members while building a new pathway for students from rural Missouri to become Tigers. We’re thrilled to share more details soon.

The Missouri State Fair connects communities across the state and creates opportunities for young people to share their hard work and dedication to Missouri agriculture. A great example of the connections between the Missouri State Fair and Mizzou is Macy Reed, a senior agribusiness management major who has maintained deep ties to the fair throughout her life.

Macy is from Green Ridge in Pettis County, just outside Sedalia. Growing up, she showed Hereford cattle at the fair through both 4-H and FFA. She received a scholarship from the Missouri State Fair Foundation’s Youth in Agriculture Committee and went on to intern with the fair’s Competitive Entry Department and the Sale of Champions. She transferred to Mizzou from State Fair Community College and currently serves as a junior member of the Missouri State Fair Foundation.

At this year’s fair, she’s volunteering at the MooZOU Gallery for Kids and at the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association’s Missouri Beef House as part of her participation with Mizzou Collegiate Cattlewomen. Macy said it is important for her to stay involved in the fair because she wants to show her support for the agricultural community, maintain close relationships across Missouri and keep learning new things about our great state.

Mizzou is proud to share our impact at the fair and to support the next generation of Missouri’s ag leaders, including talented students like Macy and 4-H members across the state. If you’re at the fair, stop by Mizzou Central and let us demonstrate the many ways we serve Missouri communities and help prepare agricultural leaders for the future.

— Mun