CONCESSIONS SURROUND AND FILL ARENA

At some point, virtually every fair visitor feels the need to heed his stomach's persistent rumblings and head for the concessions area.

This year's SEMO District Fair is sure to please the hungry wanderers, as it again will feature pizza vendors and traditional favorites like barbecue and funnel cakes.

Bob Nitsch, chairman of the outdoor concessions at the fair, said the fair has expanded its outdoor displays while actually cutting back slightly on the number of food vendors at the fair.

"We're working on adding some displays to the area north of the A.C. Brase Arena Building, trying to promote that area from the main entrance gates to the Arena," he said.

"But we've deliberately gone down a little bit in food because we've been a little overstocked in the past. The food vendors need to survive, and, in order to do that, we need to keep down on the numbers.

"We had a few drop out this year, so we decided not to replace them with others."

Nitsch said pizza was introduced on the grounds for the first time last year and apparently was quite successful.

"Last year, pizza really became a favorite, so we'll have it back again this year," he said. "Barbecue's another big favorite that's really popular.

"But last year was the first time we had a lot of pizza on the grounds and they sold real well. Funnel cakes have gotten pretty popular to."

Among the food vendors also will be displays by area businesses and organizations, and novelties will be for sale.

"We're also going to have a tent for a small, animal act in the area near the entrance," Nitsch said. "I don't know what it will involve exactly, but it will be something both the kids and adults will like."

Nitsch said many people visit the various business and organization booths while they purchase concessions. He said browsers will see some new business booths this year.

"We're going to have some changes this year, but I don't think anything's going to be really different," he said. "We've got some new businesses that will have displays. I think more businesses are concerned about the fair and getting involved."

Nitsch's wife, Gladys, is in charge of displays inside the A.C. Brase Arena Building. She said 64 booths will be set up inside the building this year on the main floor alone.

On display will be "everything from Tupperware to Cape Chimney Sweep," she said. "There are three different water-softener companies, the humane society always has a booth set up, and Union Electric has a couple of booth spaces. There's really a wide variety. This year we have probably 10 new displays."

The only food available inside the building is from the "Chocolate Spoon" booth, which features homemade candy always a favorite at the fair, she said.

"There's enough variety that there's something for everybody," she said. "We'll be set up only on the outside of the first floor of the Arena. On the inside of the Arena is where you have the home economics displays.

"Then, up on the balcony, they have all the 4-H exhibits. It's a popular part of the show for a lot of people."

Opal Klaproth said the Arena features a wide variety of crafts, sewing, horticulture and baked-goods exhibits that compete for awards.

"We also have fine arts, oil painting and different kinds of paintings, crafts, ceramics, model cars, all kinds of things," Klaproth said.

She said an activity that has waned over the years in terms of participation canned goods is still popular with fair visitors.

"There's not as many people who can anymore," she said. "A lot of people freeze now. But we have some pretty large exhibitors who've been doing it for years and years.

"We have a couple of families from Illinois who make it a hobby and go to different fairs around the area."

She said the horticulture section features garden displays with a variety of vegetables.

"Last year we also started having wall quilt hangings in large and small sizes," Klaproth said. "Those are judged and we'll have them again this year."

Klaproth said the Arena is a popular stop for a large group of fair visitors.

"We always have the same type of people who want to come through the Arena," she said. "Some people just go for the night entertainment and some for the animals, but we have a group that likes to see the different displays in the Arena, too."