August 7-17, 2008

Missouri State Fairgrounds
2503 West 16th Street
Sedalia, Missouri

EAT at the Pork Chop Place!
Stop by the Pork Chop Place on the Missouri State Fairgrounds for the best food around. Try the delicious Smoked Barbeque Ribs or the Top Chop Dinner. Maybe you prefer a flame-grilled pork burger, shredded barbeque pork sandwich, or a baked potato loaded with barbeque pork and cheese sauce. And bring the kids for a pork hot dog meal with chops and a drink. You'll find the Pork Chop Place in the same place it has been for over 25 years, one block west of the Grandstand.

We still have shifts open at the Ozark Empire Fair and the Missouri State Fair. Volunteers will receive admission into the Fair and one meal at no cost. If you are interested in working a six-hour shift, please contact Connie Stockton of MPA at (573) 445-8375, or connie@mopork.com.

The Missouri Pork Association will be actively involved in many events at the Fair, including:

Youth Swine Skillathon
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Swine Pavilion
8:00 am

Divisions
  Age 12 & Under
  Age 13-15
  Age 16 & Over

The first part of the three-stage contest is a hands-on swine management test including breed identification, equipment identification, ear notching, feed medication withdrawal, calculation growth performance, pork carcass cuts, meat quality evaluation, environmental issues and feed ingredient identification. The second section is a short quiz that covers current events and general information about the swine industry in Missouri, the United States and internationally. The final stage is a 5-minute personal interview with a State Extension Specialist about their swine project and the Show Me Quality Assurance/Youth Pork Quality Assurance Plus Program. Visit http://www.mostatefair.com/2008premium/4hffaswine.pdf for more information (see page 1). This link takes you to the Missouri State Fair 2008 Premium Guide in pdf format. 

4-H & FFA Youth Swine Judging Contest
Friday, August 8, 2008
Swine Pavilion

Junior Division - 8th grade & under
Senior Division - 9th grade & over

The contest is open to current 4-H and FFA members who have not yet graduated from high school. Entry fee is $5 per person. Registration is from 3 pm - 4 pm. The contest begins at 5 pm.

Each team must be entered by a sponsor (agricultural education instructor, county extension specialist, 4-H leader). A team may have three or four members; only the top three individual scores will determine the team total.

The contest will consist of four (4) swine judging classes and two (2) sets of questions. No oral reasons will be taken.

The Missouri State Fair will provide a plaque to the winning team and high individual in each division. The top individuals in each division win cash awards. The remaining entry fee money will be divided among the top three teams in each division. Visit http://www.mostatefair.com/2008premium/swine.pdf for more information (see page 3). Tis link takes you to the Missouri State Fair 2008 Premium Guide in pdf format.

4-H Specialty Pork Demonstrations
Monday, August 11, 2008
Sponsored by the Missouri Pork Association

Divisions
  8-10 Year Old Category
  11-13 Year Old Category
  14 and Over Category

Visit http://www.mostatefair.com/2008premium/4hclub.pdf for contest rules (see page 4 under Specialty Contests).
  This link takes you to the Missouri State Fair 2008 Premium Guide in pdf format. 

4-H Specialty Ham Curing Contest
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Sponsored by the Missouri Pork Association

Divisions
  Junior Category
  Senior Category

Visit http://www.mostatefair.com/2008premium/4hclub.pdf for contest rules (see page 5).
  This link takes you to the Missouri State Fair 2008 Premium Guide in pdf format.

Lick Your Chops, Missouri!  Cooking Contest
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Sponsored by the Missouri Pork Association
Visit http://www.mostatefair.com/2008premium/foods.pdf for contest rules (see page 3).
    This link takes you to the Missouri State Fair 2008 Premium Guide in pdf format.

For more information about the 2008 Missouri State Fair, visit www.mostatefair.com.

For more information about the Missouri Pork Association's involvement in the fair, e-mail our office, or call (573) 445-8375.