FAIR BOARD SPOTLIGHTS FAMILY FUN; ENTRIES SOUGHT FOR COMPETITION

The Southeast Missouri District Fair will open Sunday, Sept. 8, in Arena Park in Cape Girardeau and continue through Saturday, Sept. 14. This annual event has been held in the city since 1855 and was one of the first Missouri fairs to take place prior to the Civil War.

Although September is several weeks distant, now is the time to prepare your entries for the fair and join with others in the district competing for money and ribbon prizes awarded for "Best of Show," "Excellent," "Good," and "Fair" recognition.

Receiving a prize at the district fair has been an honor participants have taken pride in for 136 years.

Pete Poe, president of the 1991 fair, has chosen the theme "Family Fair" for this year's event because it has been the interest and participation of families throughout the district that has made this fair the third largest in the state and one of the largest livestock shows in Missouri.

From the early years of statehood, Missouri excelled in agriculture and raising livestock. The fair began when Col. George Thilenius and Col. Robert Sturdivant decided to hold a fair to assist farmers and cattle producers with advanced information, so as to increase their production and at the same time involve the farmers' families and also appeal to the families in the cities and towns in the district.

Fairs of this nature were being held in the eastern states, so why not have one in Southeast Missouri, organizers reasoned.

From the beginning, the fair created interest throughout the region although it was not always a financial success. In spite of drawbacks and the Civil War, the fair continued, except for war years, and has been an annual event in Cape Girardeau. Citizens can even be a member of the fair association for a $10 annual membership. The fair is self-sustaining.

There are no restrictions on who can enter the fair and submit something to be judged in a classification that is listed in the catalog. Entry blanks may be obtained at the fair office in the A.C. Brase Arena Building at Arena Park.

People can obtain a fair catalog at the office, leaf through it and discover the interesting classifications, events and entertainment that the fair committee has planned for the week of Sept. 8-14.

After studying the classes in which entries may be submitted, join in the excitement of the fair and enter something that you have made, or a hobby that you have developed. Winning recognition in competition is fun. You will never know how good you are in your chosen field until you enter a competition, and the Southeast Missouri District Fair is an ideal place to start.

This year's district fair has been programmed for all the families who reside in the 22 districts that comprise this Southeast Missouri annual event. You are an important part of this undertaking that Cape Girardeau is proud to host.

Be a 1991 participant with something you have done in which you have taken pride, and perhaps you will win an award in this 136th annual Southeast Missouri District Fair.