I Survived My 1st Missouri State Fair 2022! Check Out My Pics!

Well my first Missouri State Fair has come and gone. It was quite an experience for me. I tried to experience as much of it as I could, from observing the people who attended, to the food options, to the response to the bands that were booked on the Grandstand stage. Here were a few takeaways:

Food Options

Well there certainly wasn't a lack of options when it came to what you may have wanted to eat at the Fair. The Beef House and Pork Place seemed to be busy, you can click HERE for Rob's article on them. There were options for turkey legs, fried EVERYTHING, nachos, pizza, cotton candy, kettle corn, funnel cakes and corn dogs. Some of the prices were much higher than I was willing to spend, so going forward, you may need to pick and choose what grub you really want.

Musical Options

I thought, for the most part the artists booked for the Grandstand stage were decent choices. I know there has been grumbling in the past from patrons who complain that the Fair isn't willing to go all-in to book a A-list act. Trace Adkins, and Justin Moore were well received, and I thought the KC & the Sunshine Band/Four Tops show was better than expected. ZZ Top appeared to under perform, and I don't think the Stoney LaRue/Charley Crocket show did too well. But the Budweiser stage seem to gather a decent crowd for artists such as Dirt Road Addiction, Clay Clear Band, and Twisted Fate were well received. I appreciated the variety that the Touchstone Energy Stage and Ditzfield Stage provided.

Animals/Livestock Shows

Everything from the rodeo, to the livestock shows, to the animals and creatures that could be seen in the Missouri Conservation Area were a treat. As a big animal lover, it was cool to see so many up close, including actually seeing some little chickens hatching. Seeing the Budweiser Clydesdales up close was breathtaking.

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The Special Theme Days

I believe every day of the Fair had a theme of some sort. There was Family Value Day, Missouri Department Of Conservation Day, Law Enforcement/Firefighter Appreciation Day, Military Appreciation Day, Farm Bureau/Farm Friendly Family Day, Farmers Care Food Drive, Senior Appreciation Day, etc. If you took a little time to plan your visits, you could help minimize your costs, and maximize your fun.

Carnival Rides

Because I have to get up earlier in the morning and my duties of broadcasting live on various days, I was unable to enjoy any rides this year. However, I took some photos and spoke to my colleagues and by all accounts, most of the rides were well received and enjoyed by most. I will certainly carve out a little time to ride a few of them next year.

There was a lot to take in during the fair, and with my job, it was hard to check everything out. Prices certainly were a concern for many, I saw some people's attire that I would describe as 'unique', and many people making their rounds with their free canvas bags and trying to grab any free item that they could. But overall, this was a time to celebrate many things that make Missouri such a nice place to live. Please check out my personal gallery from the fair and we will see what they will have in store for Missouri State Fair 2023.