The 110th Missouri State Fair kicked off its “Then and WOW” celebration with the annual Opening Day Parade. The 73-entry procession was led by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, followed by color guards from the Sedalia VFW, Missouri Sons of the American Revolution and the Smith Cotton JROTC, also of Sedalia. Featured in the parade was the New Bloomfield Marching Band, representing the high school that participated in the first Missouri State Fair parade in 1901.Winners were selected by a panel of judges. The first-place winner of the Theme Float category was Sonic Drive-In. Second place went to Economic Development.
First place in the Equine category went to Trails to Rails, entered by the Trail’s End Committee, with second place awarded to University of Central Missouri’s live mule mascot and rider.
Paul Williams won first place in the Antique and Classic Car category with his 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS. Missouri Electric Cooperative’s entry, featuring restored 1938, 1946 and 1949 service trucks, took second place.
The first-place winner of the Farm Vehicle category was the Greater Kansas City Two-Cylinder Club with their antique John Deere Tractors, while Trenton and Trey Dove’s 1950 John Deere B took second. The Other category was won by Sedalia Fun-Kor Shriners motorcade.
The first-place Marching Band category went to Chamois High School Pirate Pride Marching Band, under the direction of Amy Backes. The Smith-Cotton Tiger Pride Marching Band, under the direction of Grant Maledy, took second place.
First place winners received a blue ribbon and $100 in prize money and second place winners received a red ribbon and $50. Winners in theme float and marching band categories received plaques.
The 2012 Missouri State Fair is currently underway in Sedalia and will run through Sunday, Aug. 19. For more information, visit www.mostatefair.com, or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247). The Fair is also on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube. Photos by Randy Kirby, Sedalia News Journal.
