TICKET OFFICE OPENS TO BOOMING SALES FOR SEMO FAIR ACTS

Fans are calling from as far away as California, wanting tickets to see Ricky Van Shelton, Aaron Tippin or Holly Dunn.

SEMO District Fair employees fielded calls from across the United States Wednesday, the first day of ticket sales for entertainers performing Sept. 14-16.

Pete Poe, vice president of the fair board, said he expected the number of seats sold would hit 1,000 by the time tallying was finished Wednesday night.

"We opened at 8:30 a.m. and people had been lined up outside since 3 a.m.," he said. "There were definitely some Ricky Van Shelton and Aaron Tippin fans out there."

Dunn will perform Thursday, Sept. 14, Tippin on Friday, Sept. 15, and Van Shelton Saturday, Sept. 16. Prices range from $10.50 to $15.

Beverly Niswonger of Millersville was one who visited the fair office Wednesday. She wanted Aaron Tippin tickets, preferably the seats she had last year. Those seats had some drawbacks, though.

"I was in the second or third row back, and a lot of people got up and stood in front of me," Niswonger, who isn't very tall, said. "I can understand -- he's really good looking. I still had a great time last year."

Fair office secretary Marilyn Schott said she heard similar comments from women who called in from Alabama, Mississippi, California and all over Missouri. Apparently, Ricky Van Shelton and Aaron Tippin fan clubs let members know where the performers would be even before the fair board released the information.

"One woman said she wanted to be as close to Aaron Tippin as she could," Schott said.

That's good news for board vice-president Poe. All of the performers were fair board members' top choices, although there were months of haggling over dates and prices before the board settled on them.

There wasn't any question over what sort of entertainers to book -- country is the key to a good fair in Southeast Missouri.

"We have tried some other things over the years, but rock 'n' roll and contemporary Christian haven't worked as well," Poe said.

Poe said the negotiation process was relatively easy, and he hopes the rest of the fair will go that well.

Ticket sales will continue until the acts are sold out or right up until the night of the performance. The fair will run from Sept. 10-16.