Fowler marks 87th
Missouri Day celebration

2007

The chief event for the first Missouri Day, held on June 26, 1920, was a tug of war that was held at the Arkansas River.

Missouri Day 2007 marks the 87th birthday of the "big one-day event" as it was called long ago. The very first Missouri Day celebration was held on Saturday, June 26, 1920.

According to the article published in the "Fowler Tribune" on June 25, the main objective of this celebration was to gather all the former residents of the "Show Me" state, as well as visiting residents, for a social good time. Former Missourians were asked to participate in a basket dinner, however, this event was not limited to just Missourians.

Many sports events followed the picnic including the chief event of a big tug of war. The tug of war contest was held at the Arkansas River and had former Missourians from the north of the Missouri River on one side of the rope while those who resided on the south side pulled on the other end.

In 1933, Fowler crowned its first Missouri Day queen. Young ladies between the ages of 15 and 25 campaigned for the crown. Miss Maurine Woods received the most votes and was crowned the first-ever Missouri Day queen. Her court of honor consisted of Pauline Moffitt, Mary Boone, Lilly Dell Harriman, Helen Strange, Evadne Purinton, Alice Baylor and Velma Mae Allison.

The Missouri Day celebration was traditionally held on the second Wednesday in August. In 1974, the Missouri Day Committee decided to moved the celebration to Saturday, July 13. Missouri Day from then on was held on the third Saturday in July. Each year, the one day event became increasingly bigger and better than the year before, bringing several thousand visitors to the area. This year, the event was moved to the second Saturday in July to accommodate the carnival.

Today, Missouri Day is still the best event Fowler has attempted, with many traditions still remaining and others
being formed. 

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