Boone County Fair board decides to keep fair in Sturgeon

The Boone County Fair board has opted to keep the fair in Sturgeon for the time being.

The fair was held in Sturgeon for the first time this year after the board was unable to reach an agreement with the county over use of the fairgrounds just north of Columbia.

Board president Jeff Cook told ABC 17 News Sturgeon has invited the fair back, despite relatively low attendance numbers.

Cook also said the Boone County Commission wanted to charge $10,000 for one week’s use of the Columbia fairgrounds, which the fair board felt was too high a price. He added there would have been questions about maintenance and security costs at the fairgrounds, since Veterans United and UPS, who have agreements with the fairgrounds, would only be required to maintain certain parts of the Columbia events center.