Kehoe Presides Over His First State Fair Ham Breakfast

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe was joined by over 500 people at the Nucor Pavilion on Thursday morning for the 72nd annual ham breakfast, a long-standing tradition at the Missouri State Fair.

Local and state politicians and their staff filed through four lines to receive their $50 styrofoam plate of food provided by Jackson’s Catering from Marshall. Each eater was given a piece of country-cured ham, a scoop of potato and egg casserole, pieces of cantaloupe and a doughnut.

The event was a fund-raiser for the Missouri State Fair Foundation. At $50 a plate and 500 people in attendance, that comes to roughly $25,000.

This is Kehoe’s first breakfast as governor of the great state of Missouri. His wife Claudia was by his side during the event.

“I’ve been to many of these breakfasts … saw several governors speak at these (events) and to be honest with you, I never ever thought that I would be standing before you as Missouri’s governor,” Kehoe said, and pointing out the fact he grew up as an inner-city kid, and never saw a horse or a cow until the age of 15.

“I barely saw grass in the neighborhood that we were raised in,” Kehoe added.

The governor also noted that “Missouri agriculture is not just an industry, it’s a way of life,” and adding a quote from Farm Bureau’s Charles Kruse “We don’t just know our neighbors, we help our neighbors” and “at the Missouri State Fair, that’s what you see here every day.”

Kruse, from Stoddard County, served as Missouri Farm Bureau president from 1992 to 2010.

There is speculation about whether the Missouri governor will call a special session to alter the state’s congressional map, but some Republican lawmakers say it’s very likely.

President Trump is reportedly pushing for Missouri to redraw its Congressional District, so that the Republicans can gain one House seat, and thereby reduce the Democrat’s seats to one.

But Kehoe would not confirm on Thursday if he will convene a special session to redistrict Missouri to favor Republicans.

After his speech, Gov. Kehoe was scheduled to take questions from eight pre-selected FFA and 4-H state office holders lined up behind a microphone in the audience. But only three were able to ask questions of the governor before the remainder were asked to sit down.

“The State Fair has a lot to be thankful for, especially these last few years, and a lot of that is due to the support that we receive from the General Assembly and from the great governor that we have in office now. Gov. Kehoe, we can’t thank you enough for all the support you give us,” Roberts said.

“On behalf of the entire State Fair Commission, I want to especially reach out and thank those in attendance here. This is what makes the state fair go, not just these 11 days, but throughout the year. These grounds get used a lot,” Roberts stated.

Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn described the ham breakfast as “Agriculture’s largest family reunion” and then went onto talk about the Missouri FFA’s Food Insecurity Service Day’s Drive to Feed Kids, which culminated on Tuesday, with a total of 177,792 meals packed for hungry kids in Missouri, surpassing their intended goal of 175,000.

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Trooper Cole Justice beautifully sang the national anthem to help kick off the event, while FFA State President Ivy Elwell of La Monte, provided the breakfast blessing.

Thursday was Governor’s, Legislator’s and Judges Day at the 2025 Missouri State Fair, with the theme this year of “Step On In.”

The Fair runs through Sunday, Aug. 17.