Missouri State Fair unlike any other

The Missouri State Fair in Sedalia is the only fair in the nation to have its own fully- operating volunteer fire department, which is only open 11 days out of the year.

“The biggest draw is just the family atmosphere. You come down and you make 75-80 new friends just within the fair itself,” said Joe Jennings, public informant officer for the State Fair Fire Department.

The fire department is comprised of 75 volunteer firefighters, which has grown significantly from the small group in 1962that attended the fair to educate the public on fire safety.

In 1965 the group of firefighters began to changeits focus to fire protection. Three years later, its very own fire station was built. It wasn’t until 1981 that the fire department began providing advanced emergency medical services.

Today, the medical tent and fire department sit side by side.

Four donated fire trucks and five ambulances are on the fair grounds at all times.