SEMO FAIR EARNS PROFIT OF ABOUT $70,000

The 137th edition of the SEMO District Fair generated a profit of $70,000, probably a record for the fair board. That was the report of Fair Board President Pete Poe at the board's annual meeting Thursday night at Drury Lodge. About 180 attended the meeting.

Poe said the increased profits were due to a lot of hard work, excellent weather, and the appearance of Barbara Bush at the fair.

"As much as anything, the profits were due to good cost control by all members of the fair association," he said.

Total receipts were just over $400,000 with about $329,000 in expenses.

The big ticket expense items included: entertainment, prizes and premiums for livestock, rental of tents, and parking and security. The main sources of fair income were gate and entertainment attendance, and carnival profits, he said.

"The annual meeting was very upbeat," reported Poe. "This is the third year in a row the board has done very well financially."

Poe said the rosy financial picture didn't just happen. "We paid attention to what we were spending. We established a budget how much we expected to take in on entertainment and how much we could afford to spend. We shopped for good entertainment, and we shopped hard."

The fair board also reported that total attendance was about 82,000 this year up about 2,000 from last year. While it's not a record, Poe said the board's pleased that attendance has increased each of the past three years.

"I think the fact attendance is up speaks for the acceptance of the SEMO District Fair, and the fact it's a family fair and a clean operation," said Poe.

Fair board members also elected three new board members to three-year terms: Sam Below, Bob James and Marilyn Schott. New officers won't be elected until a regular board meeting later this month.

Plans to spend the profits have not been finalized, said Poe, but the majority of the funds are spent on fairground improvements. He said there are a couple of projects "waiting in the wings."

Plaques of appreciation were awarded to all corporate sponsors and the 1140th and 135th engineer units of the National Guard for their work on a temporary foot bridge and other projects.