(SEDALIA, Mo.)- Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe announced today that a new food drive event at the 109th Missouri State Fair in August will serve a three-fold purpose: to help alleviate hunger; to provide further education about the important role of Missouri farmers; and, to offer a discount on gate admission at the Fair.
The event, titled, Missouri Farmers Care Food Drive Tuesday, in cooperation with Ford and Missouri Farmers, will provide an opportunity for the public to donate canned food items to benefit the Missouri Food Bank Association (MFBA). In exchange, donors can receive half-price gate admission on Aug. 16.
“The idea originated from a request received more than a year ago from the director of the Missouri Food Bank Association,” Wolfe said. “Coupled with an interest to further educate the public on agriculture, the State Fair Commission elected to combine the causes into a new event day at the Fair.
“Food collection will actually initiate in early June at Ford dealerships across Missouri,” Wolfe explained. “This partnership will help increase our collection efforts over the summer, and then culminate at the gate on Aug. 16 for a more significant contribution for the six food bank locations.”
According to MFBA State Director Scott Baker, many people do not realize that hunger is a very serious problem in Missouri. He believes that the first step to solving the problem is to raise awareness, which is what the new event day at the Fair can help achieve.
“Food banks and pantries are able to help those in need through the generosity of Missourians,” Baker said. “Thanks to Ford, Missouri Farmers Care and the State Fair, we can provide thousands of meals to hungry Missourians.”
Starting in June, local Ford dealerships will give a $1 off gate admission coupon for every can collected. The coupons can then be redeemed at any admission gate on Tuesday, Aug. 16, for discounts up to one-half of the regular price for adult, senior and child admission tickets.
Canned food items will also be accepted for coupons at Centennial Gate on Aug. 16.
Some special activities on this day will include Missouri Farmers Trivia Contests on the Kids and Touchstone Energy Stages to entertain guests while providing them with interesting agriculture facts.
In addition, more daily activities will be incorporated into the 11-day Fair which will focus on the important role of Missouri farmers. Children ages 2 to 10 can be entertained daily at the new Missouri Farmers Care Market inside the Family Fun Center. Playtime there will be rewarded with an offer to visit the Agriculture Building where the children will receive a free, wholesome snack from the AgriMissouri Farmers’ Market.
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To learn more about Missouri Farmers Care Food Drive Tuesday, and to see a complete list of daily activities including the new Monster Truck Show at 7 p.m., featuring Bigfoot at the Pepsi Grandstand, visit mostatefair.com. The Missouri State Fair is Aug. 11-21 in Sedalia, and is themed “It’s A Show-Me Thing!”