OFFICIALS PREPARE FOF 139TH SEMO DISTRICT FAIR IN CAPE

The Southeast Missouri District Fair will have another "eight-day" week this year when activities get an early start Saturday at Arena Park.

The 4-H and Youth Horse Show, an annual event of the fair, will be held as a grandstand event at noon Saturday for a third straight year said Bob Nitsch, president of the SEMO District Fair Board.

The carnival midway also will open Saturday, from 5 to 11 p.m.

"More in '94" is the theme for the 139th edition of the SEMO District Fair, which officially opens Sunday with a seven-day run through Sept. 17.

Nitsch and other members of the fair board worked between the showers Monday to prepare the fairgrounds.

"We've cleaned out all the buildings and put up the fences," said Nitsch. "Between the rains Monday, we also did some concrete work in the box seat area of the grandstand."

Tents will go up today.

"The tents arrived late Monday," said Glen Birk, a member of the fair's advisory board. "They were placed at their respective sites and will go up today."

The Fair Board will be busy the remainder of the week preparing for the fair opening.

"The Southeast Missouri State University Ag Club will set up the livestock pens and gates, starting today or Wednesday," added Birk.

Gates open at 11 a.m. Sunday and admission is free all day. However, a $2 parking fee will be charged.

The Sunday grandstand event is the open horse show, which will start at 1:30 p.m. Prior to the horse show, a pet parade will be held at 1 p.m. Astro Amusements will holds its "Family Day" special of unlimited rides for $10 per person from noon to 5 p.m.

The beauty pageant, which was held Sunday last year, has moved to Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the R&R tent. Queen will be selected in five categories including Little Miss, Preteen Miss, Teen Miss and Miss SEMO Fair and Mrs. SEMO Fair.

Monday is another big day at the fair, featuring free admission until 4 p.m. 4-H entries in the exhibit hall will be judged as they are brought in, and will be on display starting Tuesday.

The annual fair parade gets under way at 5:30 p.m. Monday, starting at Capaha Park en route to the Arena Park Fairgrounds.

The grandstand event Monday will be the annual demolition derby at 8 p.m., sponsored by Auto Race Promotions Inc. of St. Louis.

Fair officials say grandstand event tickets are selling well.

"Tickets sales for the Aaron Tippin show are going great," said Gladys Nitsch, a sales representative. "Dirt track tickets are sold out, and orchestra seating is almost sold out."

Some grandstand and bleacher seats are left for Tippin's Saturday night performance. Tippin, whose latest album is "Call of the Wild," is a country music singer and songwriter.

Visitors to the fair will have three nights of country entertainment, starting Wednesday with Restless Heart, a contemporary country group that has received a number of awards, including the 1990 Academy of Country Music's vocal group of the year.

Among their albums are "Wheels," "Big Dreams in a Small Town," and "Fast Movin' Train."

On Thursday, two-time CMA female vocalist of the year Janie Fricke will perform. Fricke also was named female vocalist of the year by the Academy of Country Music. Fricke's hits include, "Don't Worry 'Bout Me Baby," "She's Single Again," and "He's a Heartache (Looking for a Place to Happen)." Her latest album is "Crossroads."

Additional country music during the week will include the Rural Route Country Band at the R&R tent Thursday, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday and the Country Sounds from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the R&R tent.

The always popular tractor pull, sponsored by Tractor Pullers of Mo. Inc. and the Illinois Tractor Pullers, will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Other tractor events during the week include the antique tractor pull at 9 a.m. Saturday, and a 4H/FFA tractor rodeo at noon Thursday.

The Big Bull Chute-Out, which was added to the schedule of events last year, will be back. Presented by Wild Horse Rodeo Productions, the bull riding events are open to IPRA and PRCA riders.

Other events during the week include a baby girls contest Tuesday at 4:30 and baby boys contest Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., for infants up to 17 months old; 4H/FFA speaking contests Saturday; and parade of livestock champions at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Grandstand event tickets are available at the fair office at the south entrance to the Arena Building or by calling 1-800-455-Fair, or 334-9250.