Notable Fact
One of Missouri's oldest county fairs, tracing back to 1835, the Boone County Fair drew about 14,000 attendees in 2023, according to fair secretary Jessica Kempf. The five-day event blends a working livestock show and auction — where kids sell cattle raised over the school year — with a demolition derby that fair staff single out as the single biggest draw of the week.
Source: KRCG 13What You'll Find There
Highlights include livestock shows, 4-H and FFA competitions, carnival rides, live entertainment, local food vendors, and a fair drawing from Columbia's university community and the county's active farming families.
Local Tips
Columbia is home to the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and Columbia College. The Katy Trail State Park — the longest rail trail in the United States at 240 miles — passes through Boone County along the Missouri River, and the Rock Bridge Memorial State Park's natural bridge and cave are local natural treasures.
The Fair
In Columbia, the Boone County Fair celebrates the home of the University of Missouri — MU's College of Agriculture has deep roots in Missouri farming, and Boone County's diverse agricultural base of cattle, corn, soybeans, and horses comes together at a well-organized fair serving one of Missouri's most educated and diverse communities. It's been held since 1835, one of Missouri's most enduring county fair traditions.
Heading to Boone County Fair?
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