State troopers assist with fair security

The men and women in blue uniforms patrolling the Missouri State Fairgrounds are responsible for making sure everyone plays fair.

“We try to think of ourselves like umpires at a ball game. If the fair is over and no one remembers us, that’s a good fair,” Lt. Jim Ripley said.

Nine Missouri State Highway Patrol troops from across Missouri send officers to the fair. Eighty-one troopers are at the fair this year.

“We have 24-hour shifts, and no one has a day off during the fair,” Ripley said.

Nancy Groepper, of St. Louis, said troopers are absolutely necessary for an event like the fair.

“I think they need to be paid more,” Groepper said.

Trooper Andy Ward, 23, of Barry County, has been volunteering to work at the fair for two years. His duties include controlling traffic, checking tags at gates and keeping people in line.

“It’s a great way to interact with the community,” Ward said.

Troopers get around the fairgrounds on Segway Personal Transporters, bicycles and golf carts.

Trooper Daniel Johnson, 25, of Rolla, rode around the fair on his bicycle. He said the bicycles provide faster transportation, and riding is cooler than walking.

“I love getting off the road and seeing other troopers and people,” Johnson said.

Segways PTs are a great transportation tool, Ripley said. Troopers who use the Segway PTs are trained before the fair begins. Troopers must practice for at least 30 minutes before they can use them on the fairgrounds. The Segway PTs run about 12 mph.

“They bring troopers up above the crowd, and they work good. It gives people an opportunity to talk with the troopers,” Ripley said.

Mark Broniec, 40, of Montgomery City, has been a trooper for 14 years and volunteered to work at the fair for his third time.

“It’s a little change of pace, and it’s a lot of fun working here,” Broniec said.

Broniec said this year has been calm.

“When we have nice weather, we tend to have fewer problems. The hot weather brings more behavior problems because people tend to have short tempers,” Ripley said.

Another factor that tends to influence the crowd’s behavior are the concerts, Ripley said. Performers’ behavior on stage tends to influence that of the concert fans.

Stacy Craighead, 21, of Fulton, noticed many troopers around the fairgrounds. “I think they do a good job,” she said.

In their time off, many troopers go to concerts or events taking place on the fairgrounds.

“Families come down and we go and enjoy the fair just like everybody else does,” Ward said.

Some first-time fair troopers may not be excited about working in Sedalia for 11 days, but they always want to come back, Ripley said.

“I like the whole thing. I just like everything about the fair,” Johnson said.