New leader of Missouri State Fair Foundation aims to renew preservation efforts

With a new leader at its helm and the fair fast approaching, the Missouri State Fair Foundation is renewing its efforts to help preserve the facilities on the fairgrounds at a time when state funding for such work is drying up.

Jeremy Parsons, who has 11 years of background as a teacher in the Newtown-Harris School District in northern Missouri and 15 years of experience as a summer employee at the Iowa and Missouri state fairs, took over as executive secretary of the foundation in June.

Parsons hopes to help stir excitement in his new role and raise awareness of the foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to raise money for capital improvements and infrastructure maintenance at the fairgrounds.

During the 2010 Missouri State Fair, the group will once again be responsible for the State Fair Museum and VIP parking lot, along with selling bottled water and souvenirs to support its efforts.

Parsons said while the foundation instituted off-season weekly flea markets on the fairgrounds this year to raise additional money, the vast majority of the group’s funding comes from sales made during the fair, as well as the Governor’s Ham Breakfast and an annual banquet held on the eve of the fair.

Since its establishment in 1998, the foundation’s donations to the fairgrounds have been instrumental for a variety of capital projects, including the construction of the FFA Building and State Fair Museum, the renovation of the Home Economics Building and sewer, water and electrical upgrades at the campgrounds.

“Our goal is to create modern, functional fairgrounds while maintaining its historical integrity,” Parsons said. “Times are tough for the Missouri State Fair with state cuts, and the foundation has stepped up and supported maintenance and other capital improvements.”

With state budget woes forcing cutbacks in facilities and maintenance funding for the fairgrounds, the foundation’s efforts take on added significance this year.

State Fair Director Mark Wolfe said the fair is not up for any capital improvement funding this year. In the previous two years, the state provided close to $150,000 for facility and maintenance upkeep at the fairgrounds.

“The foundation’s mission is all about the preservation of the State Fair facility, and that’s how they’ve really helped out this year,” Wolfe said. “With zero percent (state) funding for maintenance and repairs, it’s been a huge help. Their assistance is really vital.”

Parsons said the group’s work will not end with the fair. He plans to expand the foundation’s fundraising efforts across Missouri, reaching out to businesses and organizations throughout the state and stepping up its pursuit of grant funding to help in improving the facilities at the fairgrounds, which he  believes could attract more off-season programs and events.

“I don’t think the foundation has done a good enough job of reaching outside the area for support,” Parsons said. “We may have targeted Sedalia too much, and we really need to spread our efforts statewide.”