STATE FAIR FOUNDATION

Gregory donates $10,000 grant money for fair improvements

The America’s Farmers Grow Communities Bayer Fund program seeks to give $5,000 grants across rural America. They partner with farmers who submit their entries and want to benefit the rural communities where they live and work. Winning farmers are notified, and they choose the organization that is a not-for-profit entity to give their winnings to.

In 2022 Barbara Gregory, on behalf of Gregory Family Farms & Gregory Polled Herefords, was chosen to be the recipient of the $5,000 grant. Gregory’s not for profit organization of choice was the Missouri State Fair Foundation. The projects she requested this grant money help included: remodeling of the women’s bathroom by the mule barn, painting and repair of beef tieouts, repair and paint to begin remodeling on the men’s bathroom and have both bathroom buildings painted on the outside.

In 2023 Gregory was notified she had won the $5,000 award for a second time! She chose to complete the men’s bathroom project, purchase a memorable bench in front of the Hereford Barn and to paint the fencing around the Donnelly Arena.

“I have had the most fun choosing and seeing the projects come to fruition around the fairgrounds,” said Gregory. “Jason Moore, facilities manager, was great to work with and kept me up to date with texts and pictures showing the progress that has been made.”

When J.D. Gregory passed the family spoke with Mark Wolfe who allowed the Gregorys to take J.D.’s memorials and paint the inside of the Hereford Barn. All the boards were repaired and tie rings replaced where needed. As