GOOD WEATHER AND BUSH VISIT PUSH SEMO FAIR ATTENDANCE OVER 81,200

The 137th edition of the SEMO District Fair wrapped up Saturday with a parade of champion livestock in the morning and a crowd of more than 2,400 fans that night to hear Billy Dean perform.

While other fairs across the country experienced attendance dips due to economic hard times, the SEMO District Fair grew this year, said Fair Board President Pete Poe.

"We ended up with 81,200, which is up about 2,100 people from last year. We feel real good about that," said Poe.

He credits several factors: "We had excellent weather for one thing, and there's just a growing acceptance for the SEMO Fair as an affordable family fair."

Poe added, "The real fun starts tomorrow, when we put it all away. By the end of next week, we have to make Arena Park look like it did prior to our arrival. It's a challenge, but we're ready to take it on."

By 10 a.m. today, the carnival will be gone and clean-up of the fairgrounds will be well under way.

"With the weather we've had, it will make clean up three or four

days shorter," Poe said.

Saturday morning, the champions of the fair's livestock judging were honored at the third Parade of Champions.

"It gives everybody the opportunity to see the grand champions and the reserved grand champions. We've got here the best that's at the fair," said LeRoy Ruch of Millersville who helped coordinate the Parade of Champions.

"So many people work during the week when we show cattle and the other livestock. This way they can come out and see the best."

This year, for the first time, the open class of competition was included in the parade.

"We think people should see what the open show has to offer also."

Also new this year, many grand champions received plaques, donated by area businesses.

"We have 30 to 35 awards that were given away," Ruch said. "The awards make this a little more exciting. Everyone likes to win and get."

Ruch said the SEMO District Fair is the only one in this area that has a Parade of Champions.

"We had a real nice crowd today, more than ever before. We've been doing this three years, and its getting bigger and bigger," he said. "Next year, it will be even bigger."

Even those showing animals at the fair may not have a chance to see the other competitions. "I always wonder what a grand champion mule looks like, or a grand champion chicken," said Huck, who raises Charlais cattle.

"I have one in the show this year," Ruch said. "I was proud to show it. A lot of years you come and don't get one. Better show off when you can."

Last year, 81,500 people attended the fair. Sunday through Friday, attendance at the fair was at 53,309.

Last year on Saturday, usually the biggest attendance day for the fair, about 17,000 people attended. Officials hoped attendance would meet or exceed that number this year.

On Sunday, when admission to the fairgrounds was free, no attendance count was made, but fair officials estimate about 6,500 people were on the grounds.

Monday's attendance was 6,070; Tuesday, 9920; Wednedsay, 8316; Thursday, 7,667; and Friday, 14,836.

Poe said the first lady Barbara Bush's visit doubled afternoon attendance on Wednesday.

"Barbara was as gracious a lady as I thought she would be. She insisted that we not make a fuss, that she was here to visit our fair," he said.

Grandstand events also proved a hit with fairgoers, Poe said. "Our two long-time crowd pleasers, the demolition derby on Monday and the tractor pull on Tuesday, again were very strong."

New the to fair on Wednesday was the Big Bull Chute Out, a bull riding rodeo competition. "We were definately pleased with the reception, and it will be back," Poe said.

Wednesday has long been a weak night in the grandstand. "I think we've found the answer for Wednesday night," Poe said.

"Thursday was real strong with Neal McCoy and our corporate sponsors night. Friday, the Pirates of the Mississippi put on a great show and stayed around two and a half hours signing autographs."

While other fairs have been struggling to keep their gates open the past few years, the SEMO District Fair has remained strong.

"Our seven corporate sponsors are vital to our success," Poe said. "We owe it not only to the public but also to the corporate sponsors to run this fair like a business.

"All year long the fair board meets and makes decisions about the fair. We take into consideration crowd acceptance and how it will affect the fair as a whole. We try to do things different, if that's what we need to do.

"We are the last big fair in the area and we plan to stay."

Contest winners for the Old Tyme Fiddlers contest are first place, Bob King of Jackson; second place, Gary Watson of Frederickstown; third place, John Simmons of Egypt Mills.

Winners in the smile contest for children up to age 7 were first place, Adam Landis of Anna, Ill.; second place, Taylor Myer of Jackson; third place, Cody Phillips of Cape Girardeau. Winners in the 7-12 age category were first place, Audrey Miesner of Fairview, Ill.; second place, Jolene Miesner of Fairview, Ill.; and third place, Josh Angle of Patton.

Winners in the 4-H and FFA speach contest were first place, Margaret Rausch of Perryville; second place, Timothy Nilsen of Advance; third place, Melissa Crow of Dexter.