PLEASANT HILL, Mo. — The Cass County Fair closed its 2025 season with strong attendance, record volunteer participation, and a positive financial balance, according to a recap presented to the Pleasant Hill City Council on Monday night.
City staff reported total revenues of $273,982 and expenses of $268,335, leaving a net gain of $5,650 after paying the first installment on the new bleachers at the fairgrounds. The presentation covered attendance, partnerships, advertising reach, and plans for next year’s event.
“This year’s fair was hot — but it was successful,” Interim City Administrator Nici Wilson told council members. “We had great turnout, tremendous volunteer support, and ended the year in the black.”
The week-long fair drew an estimated 15,351 people to the Pleasant Hill fairgrounds between July 13 and 20. The rodeo topped the attendance charts with 3,539 visitors, followed by the demolition derby at 3,210. The tractor pull, motocross, and ATV races combined for nearly 4,100 more, while the carnival midway brought in 4,525.
Despite extreme heat that pushed daytime temperatures into the 90s, attendance held steady compared with previous years. “The crowd was a little lighter during the afternoons, but our evening events were packed,” Wilson said.
The fair’s largest income sources were main event ticket sales, which totaled $121,575, and beverage sales at $50,172. Sponsorships generated $42,450, while carnival proceeds—reflecting the city’s 25% share—yielded an additional $31,670.
Livestock shows more than doubled their previous year’s performance, generating $15,435 compared to $6,914 in 2024. Vendor and concession fees added another $10,370, and special events such as the Queen Pageant and Bike Rodeo contributed smaller amounts.
Wilson noted that 2025 was the first year the city made a partial payment toward the new bleachers, with full annual payments of about $38,000 scheduled to begin in 2026. “Even with that payment, we came out ahead,” she said.
The Special Events Fund (Fund 65), which manages fair revenue, will carry forward an estimated $95,000 balance into the next fiscal year. City staff plan to maintain at least one full year of debt service in the fund as a reserve.
More than 200 volunteers contributed over 3,000 hours to this year’s fair, handling everything from set-up and cleanup to ticketing and parking.
A major highlight was the involvement of Ray-Pec LEAD Center students, who provided construction and maintenance assistance as part of their technical training program. Seventy-five students and four instructors participated, completing electrical, carpentry, and HVAC work.
Midwest Lumber donated more than $10,000 in materials, while additional equipment support was provided by HERC, Murphy Tractor, Ag Power, KC Bobcat, Waste N’ Away, and Griggs Bros. Construction. Staff estimated these in-kind contributions saved the fair more than $50,000 in costs.
“Every year, the fair gets a little better because of these partnerships,” Wilson said. “Our volunteers, students, and local businesses make it happen.”
The fair’s traditional competitions saw healthy participation across categories. Livestock shows included 849 entries, while art and photography attracted 195 submissions. The home economics division drew 71, the horticulture had 204, and the quilt show featured 61 entries. The car show displayed 115 vehicles, and the annual parade featured 50 floats and marching units.
The Queen Pageant returned after a one-year hiatus with 19 contestants across three age divisions. Tyne Wilson was crowned Cass County Fair Queen and later represented the county at the Missouri State Fair, earning third runner-up and winning the interview competition.
This year’s marketing campaign used both radio and digital platforms to extend the fair’s reach. Advertising through KBEQ 104.3 and KFKF 94.1 generated more than 313 radio spots, and new streaming audio ads produced an estimated 1.18 million impressions.
On social media, the fair’s Facebook page reached more than 111,000 users, with 506,000 post views and 30,900 page visits—all achieved without paid promotion.
“The numbers show people are engaging with the fair beyond just showing up,” Wilson said. “They’re following online, sharing photos, and staying connected to the community year-round.”
With one of its strongest volunteer showings and a balanced budget, city leaders called the 2025 Cass County Fair a success both financially and operationally. Staff said planning for 2026 is already underway, with early discussions focused on expanding shade structures and improving on-site drainage.
“The fair continues to be one of the best examples of community collaboration in Pleasant Hill,” Wilson said. “We’re proud of what we accomplished this year and excited for what’s ahead.”
The council received the report and took no further action.
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