FAIR TIME: VOLUNTEERS GEARING UP

Tents and carnival rides arrive today. Fences and ticket booths went up over the weekend. The transformation of Arena Park to the SEMO District Fairgrounds has begun.

The 138th annual fair begins Sunday. Volunteers began preparing the grounds Saturday, said Bob Nitsch, president of the fair board.

"The tents are going up Tuesday," said Nitsch. "That's when it really starts to look like a fair. When you hear the hammering of the tent stakes, you know it's time for the fair."

Before those tents go up, a lot of work already has taken place.

Two large buildings in the park are filled with fair equipment like ticket booths and miles of orange fencing. The buildings were unloaded and cleaned over the weekend and much of the fencing went up.

"We had about 50 people out here Saturday putting up fences," Nitsch said. "It's all volunteer labor people pitching in and helping it's just super."

On Monday, dirt in the infield was being packed down in preparation of Monday's demolition derby and Tuesday's tractor pull, again volunteer labor.

"It takes a lot of work to get the infield in shape," Nitsch said. The surface is packed down so that it can withstand a rain of up to three inches.

It's important to keep the infield in good shape, he said, because shows are planned each night.

In addition to the demolition derby and tractor pull are Wednesday's Big Bull Chute-Out. On Thursday, the Gibson/Miller Band performs; Friday is the Charlie Daniels Band; and Saturday, Collin Raye performs.

Nitsch said sales for grandstand events are strong. "Our ticket sales for shows are probably running ahead of any other year," he said. Tickets are still available for all performances, though.

"Tomorrow we start setting up in the arena," he added. "The carnival will be here Tuesday evening."

"Each day, it will look a little more like the fair," he said. "It sure looks different around here in a week's time.

For information, call the fair office at 334-9250 or 1-800-455-FAIR.