LIVESTOCK STRUT STUFF IN `PARADE OF CHAMPIONS'; FAIR ATTRACTS ANIMAL ENTRIES FROM 5 STATES

This year the SEMO District Fair will reprise two popular events that were initiated last year in the agriculture and livestock division.

The "Parade of Champions" featuring approximately 100 of the top winners in the various livestock classes shown at the fair, will be held Friday, Sept. 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the livestock show tent situated north of the livestock tents and northeast of the 4-H and FFA buildings.

In the beef cattle division, the feeder calf show will be repeated on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 9:30 a.m. in the livestock area.

Glenn Birk, chairman of the fair's livestock support committee, said both events were very popular with exhibiters and fair visitors last year. "We did the Parade of Champions last year, and it went over so well that we are expanding it this year," he said. "Many exhibiters and fair visitors cannot be present at all of the livestock judging events to see the grand champion of each breed. The Parade of Champions enables everyone to see all of the champions at one time in one place."

Birk said the feeder calf sale also proved to be a popular event with a good number of entries. This year there are 48 head of feeder calves entered in 16 pens of three-head each.

Birk said that each year the fair attracts livestock entries from a five-state area. This year there are 305 beef cattle entries, 164 dairy cattle entries, 167 sheep entries, 325 swine entries, and 185 horse and mule entries.

In addition to livestock there also will be entries in the poultry division and field crops.

Birk said the fair provides agriculture and livestock producers the opportunity to show their products.

"For the breeder of livestock such as cattle, dairy cows, swine, and sheep, the fair lets him show his livestock to promote the breed of livestock in his herd such as black angus or polled Hereford," Birk explained. "It lets the producer promote and merchandise his breed."

Birk said the fair also gives young people in 4-H and the Future Farmers of America an opportunity to show their animals and compete in the judging events. "The fair gives the kids a good learning experience by raising and training their animal at home, then washing and grooming the animal for the show ring at the fair," he said. "Plus, the kids get to come to the fair and meet others their own age who are exhibiting their animals at the fair."

This year's 4-H and FFA livestock sale of steers, barrows and lambs will be held Thursday, Sept. 12, at 4 p.m. in the 4-H barn next to the livestock tents.

For manufacturers of farm equipment such as tractors, combines and implements and other farm-related products such as seed, chemical, fertilizer, beef and dairy cattle supplies and farm buildings, the district fair is a once-a-year opportunity to exhibit their products.

There also is another benefit in the livestock and farm-related exhibits at the fair, said Birk. "During fair week a lot of school groups and day care centers come to the fair during the day to tour the animal tents and see the livestock, and to see all of the tractors and farm equipment," he said. "For many of these children it may be the first time they have ever seen a real, live horse, dairy cow, pig, or chicken. The fair gives these children, and many adults who grew up in the city away from the farm, an opportunity to see the production side of our food chain."

Birk said the district fair provides the time and place for agriculture and livestock producers, agri-business manufacturers, farmers and consumers to come together.