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NewsSeptember 7, 2014

Organizers of the SEMO District Fair could not have asked for a more perfect opening day. With hot or rainy weather a deterrent for crowds, a cool day in the 70s was exactly what they needed. The fair began Saturday with the antique tractor pull and the SEMO Fair Parade, the latter of which was a change from its usual Monday night slot. Crowds lined the streets from Capaha Park along Broadway to the fairgrounds at Arena Park. After that, the crowds only grew...

Bumper cars crash into each other as the 159th annual SEMO District Fair kicked off Saturday at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (GLENN LANDBERG)
Bumper cars crash into each other as the 159th annual SEMO District Fair kicked off Saturday at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (GLENN LANDBERG)

Organizers of the SEMO District Fair could not have asked for a more perfect opening day.

With hot or rainy weather a deterrent for crowds, a cool day in the 70s was exactly what they needed.

The fair began Saturday with the antique tractor pull and the SEMO Fair Parade, the latter of which was a change from its usual Monday night slot. Crowds lined the streets from Capaha Park along Broadway to the fairgrounds at Arena Park. After that, the crowds only grew.

People crowded concession stands and spinning rides. Without hot weather to drive people into the shade, they seemed content to stand near vendors with their fried desserts and food on sticks.

On the south side of the fairgrounds, colored livestock tents decorated the grounds amid the fair's newest attraction, AgriLand. Suddenly the smell of corn dogs no longer was the most prominent scent.

Gracie Scheffer holds Peppi, her guinea pig who was entered into the 4-H competition at the 159th annual SEMO District Fair, on Saturday at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (GLENN LANDBERG)
Gracie Scheffer holds Peppi, her guinea pig who was entered into the 4-H competition at the 159th annual SEMO District Fair, on Saturday at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (GLENN LANDBERG)

Luella Fisher, director of education with the Missouri Soybeans Merchandising Council, ran AgriLand on Saturday and was pleased with the results.

"We had a lot of people earlier today. Then this afternoon, it got a little slower, but now it's picking back up," Fisher said.

In the kiddie tent were a variety of interactive events, including an educational putt-putt golf game, posters on the walls, informational booths, dioramas, sandboxes filled with corn and soybeans and even a calf named Sprinkles that was available for petting.

"George Cox ... he's on the fair board ... he and I agreed that the SEMO Fair was a good opportunity to talk with kids about agriculture. Agriculture is all around in this area; it's very important," Fisher said. " ... We put our heads together and we should try to ... provide a fun and interactive area for kids with animals and hands-on activities."

Partners in the tent were Missouri Soybeans, the Missouri Corn Growers Assocation, the Missouri Department of Agriculture, University of Missouri Extension and Alliance Bank.

Fisher said they had activities planned throughout the week, from egg races, creating plastic out of corn and even making ice cream.

"We had egg races today and did an ag trivia activity earlier," she said.

Across the street from the children's area, a family of three stood gathered around their cows, washing them with a hose.

The Roedls of Edgewood, Illinois, traveled about 140 miles with their prizewinning brown Swiss and Guernsey cattle to compete in this year's shows.

Jacob Roedl said his family has attended the fair for 15 years. After taking home the grand championship in his division at the Illinois State Fair last year, he's hoping for similar success in Southeast Missouri.

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When asked about his prizewinning cow, Roedl said, "We treat them all the same." But he explained when transporting livestock this far, some measures have to be taken before show day Monday.

"Well, the cow will have to get adjusted and start eating and stuff. ... They need hours to digest and feed," he said.

The president of the fair's board of directors, Darrell Aufdenberg, said he was pleased with the turnout so far, saying organizers had to get larger tents to accommodate all the produce, crafts and livestock that are competing.

"The 4-H and FFA kids [bring in the largest crowd] when they show on Wednesday," Aufdenberg said. "It's a packed house; I mean the show barns are full with moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas. They all come to see their kids show. Wednesday is a big day."

Five-year Cape Girardeau County 4H member Taylor Seyer said she plans to show three cows this year.

Her steer named Squishy, heifer Pip and bucket calf Cheerio are entered into various contests this week, and she's excited to see how they fare.

Seyer said a first step for show preparations is getting a halter on the animal. Then she and her family spend weeks working with them so they can stand and walk correctly, and keeping them calm when they're being viewed by judges.

"The first few times you try to walk them, they try to run and stuff; it's usually an interesting day," Seyer said about the taming process.

Seyer is 13, and she's hopes this year she'll win a blue ribbon.

"I've never won at this fair, sadly, but there's a lot more experienced people out there showing, and older, definitely," she said.

"Everybody else is like, 'I'm going to go ride rides,'" Seyer said of her friends, "and I'm like, 'I'm going to go spend time with my steer and heifers,' and then of course I make them come see them, too."

Seyer's first competition begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday, where Cheerio will take the stage in front of the judges.

smaue@semissourian.com

388-3644

Pertinent address:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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