What MISSOURI STATE FAIR FOUNDATION does

The Missouri State Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1998 by the Missouri State Fair Commission and headquartered at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, Missouri. It supports the State Fair through three programmatic pillars: preservation and improvement of fairground facilities (including historic structures such as the 1922 Swine Barn and the Governor Michael L. Parson Arena), youth agricultural education (Youth in Agriculture scholarships, First-Time Youth Livestock Exhibitor Grants, No Limits P.I.G. Show, Read to Win literacy program, and a $2,500 Young Ambassador scholarship with State Fair Community College), and industry recognition (the 2023-launched Missouri Agricultural Hall of Fame). The foundation has awarded over $1.3 million in youth scholarships since 1992 and spent over $2.8 million on fairground improvements since inception, while operating 11 days per year at the annual Missouri State Fair.

The foundation operates a diversified, event-driven revenue model centered on the 11-day Missouri State Fair. Revenue streams include tiered memberships ($30 Junior to $5,000 Steward, with 250+ named members across tiers), the 1901 Society major-donor program requiring a minimum $10,000 commitment, 18+ business partnerships, on-site retail (souvenirs, water, mobility scooter/wheelchair/stroller rentals, and Trail's End commemorative bricks), planned-giving and legacy gift programs, volunteer-led fundraising, and the annual Cultivating the Future Dinner & Auction. Distribution is primarily on-site at the fairgrounds with supplemental online channels (website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and podcast appearances). Strategic partnerships with Missouri 4-H, Missouri FFA, State Fair Community College, and the International Association of Fairs & Exhibitions provide the ecosystem for its youth-development pipeline, while a 21-member Board of Directors governs the organization under the operational leadership of an Executive Director, Executive Assistant, CFO, and Development Contractor.

Customer segments are diversified across four primary personas: Youth in Agriculture (4-H/FFA exhibitors), agricultural community members and supporters, general fair visitors, and major donors/corporate partners. The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed revenue figures, making it a regionally focused charitable entity with stable but modestly scaling operations.

Name

MISSOURI STATE FAIR FOUNDATION

Legal name

Missouri State Fair Foundation

Website

https://mostatefairfoundation.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Missouri State Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1998 that supports the Missouri State Fair through fairground preservation, youth agricultural education, scholarships, and donor recognition programs. It serves Missouri's agricultural community, 4-H/FFA youth exhibitors, major donors, and fair attendees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Agricultural education programs
• Youth scholarship funding
• Historic fairground preservation
• Nonprofit fundraising programs
• Membership donor programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sedalia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees ranging from $30 (Junior) to $5,000 (Steward) with tiered benefits including fair admission tickets, VIP parking, event access, and promotional recognition.
2. Volunteer Operations Revenue: Volunteers sell water (nearly 70,000 bottles), rent mobility equipment (over 1,000 units), and sell souvenirs (over 5,000 items) during the fair to generate operational revenue for preservation and education initiatives.
3. Equipment Rentals: Mobility scooter, wheelchair, and stroller rentals during the fair. Scooters range from $35 (4 hours) to $60 (all day), wheelchairs $20/day, strollers $15-20/day.
4. Souvenir Sales: Sale of official Missouri State Fair souvenirs including shirts, hats, logo items, and memorabilia through Souvenir Trailer and Souvenir Barn locations.
5. 1901 Society Donations: Major donor recognition program requiring minimum $10,000 commitment, with Governor's Level, Platinum Level, Sterling Level, Founder's Level, Silver Level, Bronze Level, and Member tiers.
6. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Memorial or tribute gifts, charitable trusts, endowments, securities, property donations through legacy investment options.
7. Trail's End Bricks: Personalized brick purchases embedded around the Trail's End landmark. 4x8 bricks for $50, 8x8 bricks for $100.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Missouri State Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit that supports the Missouri State Fair through preservation of historic fairground buildings, youth agricultural education programs, and fundraising initiatives. It sells tiered memberships, accepts charitable donations and planned gifts, runs youth scholarships and exhibitor grants, rents mobility equipment and sells official souvenirs during the annual fair, and operates donor recognition programs including the 1901 Society and the Missouri Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Product overview

The Missouri State Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a portfolio of membership programs, rental services, commemorative products, and youth education initiatives. The foundation's products include tiered membership programs (Junior through Steward levels with varying benefits), official souvenirs and merchandise, mobility equipment rentals (scooters, wheelchairs, strollers), Trail's End personalized bricks, and golf cart raffle entries. Educational offerings span youth livestock exhibitor grants, the No Limits P.I.G. Show for youth with challenges, Read to Win agricultural literacy program, Young Ambassador scholarship at State Fair Community College, and the Missouri Agricultural Hall of Fame recognition program. The 1901 Society recognizes major donors contributing $10,000 or more. These products and programs collectively support the foundation's mission to cultivate the future of agriculture through preservation, education, and improvements to the Missouri State Fairgrounds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Programs Tiered annual membership program with seven levels ranging from Junior ($30/year, ages 18-24) to Steward ($5,000/year). Benefits include fair admission tickets (1 to 32 depending on tier), VIP parking passes, Governor's Ham Breakfast tickets, Cultivating the Future Dinner and Auction tickets, pre-sale concert access, and website logo recognition. Designed for individuals and families supporting Missouri agricultural preservation and education.
• 1901 Society Donor Recognition Program Donor recognition society for individuals and businesses making a minimum $10,000 commitment to support Missouri agriculture. Features seven recognition tiers (Governor's, Platinum, Sterling, Founder's, Silver, Bronze, and Member) with annual recognition events. Designed for major donors, high-net-worth individuals, and corporate partners seeking visible impact and legacy.
• Mobility Equipment Rentals

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.3 million in scholarships awarded to youth since 1992
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Missouri State Fair CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated the Missouri State Fair Foundation in 1998. The commission oversees the State Fair while the foundation handles preservation and fundraising.
• Missouri 4-HcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development partner for livestock exhibition programs including No Limits P.I.G. Show and Youth in Agriculture Scholarship Program.
• Missouri FFAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural education partner supporting youth livestock exhibitors and agricultural programs at the fair.
• State Fair Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Young Ambassador scholarship program offering $2,500 to agricultural students at the college.
• International Association of Fairs & Exhibitions (IAFE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide Read to Win agricultural education program for youth Pre-K through 12th grade.
• Central Bank Of SedaliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner among 18 current business partners supporting foundation initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Eastern States Exposition (The Big E): Nonprofit operating a major multi-state fair (West Springfield, MA) with historic preservation, youth livestock, and agricultural education programs; comparable mission but serves a different geography than Missouri.

Others

• National FFA Organization: National nonprofit providing agricultural education and supporting student exhibitors at fairs across the U.S.; a strategic ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, but its scholarship and youth programs serve the same Missouri 4-H/FFA exhibitor base.
• Missouri 4-H Foundation: State-level nonprofit supporting Missouri 4-H youth development through scholarships, grants, and program funding — a direct ecosystem partner and partial overlap in donor pools targeting Missouri's agricultural youth community.

Direct peers

• National Western Stock Show: Denver-based 501(c)(3) hosting a multi-day livestock/agricultural exhibition with parallel youth scholarship, exhibitor grant, and historic-fairground preservation programs targeting the same agricultural patron demographic.
• Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation: Companion 501(c)(3) foundation supporting the Iowa State Fair through preservation, education, and youth programs; same product structure (membership tiers, scholarships, capital improvements to historic fairgrounds) and same single-state, agriculture-anchored donor base.
• Indiana State Fair Foundation: State-affiliated charitable foundation supporting the Indiana State Fair through preservation, education, and youth livestock programs; directly comparable single-state fair foundation with similar scholarship and capital-improvement mandates.
• American Royal Association: Kansas City-based nonprofit running livestock exhibitions, rodeos, and youth ag-education programs with a comparable scholarship and youth-show portfolio (e.g., junior livestock shows) overlapping the Missouri State Fair Foundation's 4-H/FFA focus.
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Foundation: Nonprofit that operates a major livestock/agricultural event and channels proceeds into youth scholarships, educational programs, and capital grants — a scaled analog of the Missouri State Fair Foundation's model of converting fair revenue into ag education and scholarships.
• Minnesota State Fair Foundation: 501(c)(3) supporting the Minnesota State Fair with preservation of historic structures, youth education grants, and donor recognition programs — a near-mirror of Missouri State Fair Foundation's structure and donor pitch.

Emerging players

• Western Folklife Center: Nonprofit that operates events celebrating western and agricultural heritage, with educational programming and preservation of cultural assets — overlapping in mission but more focused on folklife than a state fair.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/missouristatefairfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/mostatefairfoundation
• Pinterestpinterest.com/mofairfound
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/missouri-state-fair-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about MISSOURI STATE FAIR FOUNDATION