SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – For more than six decades, people came into the Missouri Department of Conservation’s small building at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds to get information on wildlife, see live animal exhibits, and even meet Smokey Bear. But the long tradition ended when this year’s fair began.
“I’ve enjoyed it since I was a little kid to come by the conservation building and see things,” said Kent Hyde, President of the Ozark Empire Fairboard. “They notified us this year that they simply didn’t have the money in the budget to do the lease and staff it for 10 days.”
The Missouri Department of Conservation invests about 300 staff hours to run, staff, and maintain the exhibit for its 10 days at the Ozark Empire Fair; something they say is not currently sustainable…