MO State Fair Dreams Big With This Years Food Drive Industry Challenge

SEDALIA, Mo - The Missouri State Fair will be increasing its efforts to collect canned food this year as it joins in a challenge presented by its industry trade association. Fair Director Mark Wolfe said that members of the International Association of Fairs and Festivals have been invited to participate in its campaign, Dream Big, which has set an industry-wide goal of collecting 20 million pounds of food at fairs and festivals held in 2013.

“During the past two fairs, our food drive has brought in 20,000 pounds of food,” Wolfe said.

The special gate promotion will be offered again August 13, “Missouri Farmers Care Food Drive Tuesday, in cooperation with Ford and Missouri Farmers Care.” Adults and children bringing cans to the Missouri State Fair on August 13 will receive $1 off gate admission for every can donated, for up to half-off gate admission. Regular adult gate admission is $8, regular child admission is $2 for ages 6-13, and child admission is free every day for ages 5 and younger.

To help facilitate an upswing in the quantity of food collected this year, Missouri FFA and Missouri Ford dealerships will be involved, and collection days during the State Fair will be extended to include all 11 days.

Midwest Ford Dealers and St. Louis Ford Dealers will be collecting food at their locations now through August 12. Dealers will be giving a $1 off discount coupon for each can brought into their facility. The coupons can be redeemed at the Fair’s admission gates Tuesday, August 13.

A Canstruction® project will support the food drive again this year, serving as a visual reminder of food products that farmers bring to tables every day. A massive mural of the FFA emblem will be painted with nearly 6,000 yellow and blue cans of food and on display in the Agriculture Building August 8 through 18. Fairgoers will have an opportunity to purchase a can of food at the exhibit during the Fair and place the can in an unfinished element of the emblem; these monetary donations will go to the MFBA.

The 111th Missouri State Fair, themed “Chicks Dig It!” will be held August 8 through 18 in Sedalia. For more information about the food drive or the State Fair, visit www.mostatefair.com, follow the Fair on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247).