Columbia Masonic fraternal members, families volunteer at Boone County Fair

Here are two shots from my story on the Aleppo Grotto and their volunteer work at the Boone County Fair. The group is very family oriented and includes multiple generations of volunteers.

Rex Taggart and Joan Barron prepare orders in the Aleppo Grotto food stand at the Boone County Fair on Sunday, July 24, 2011. The food stand became a part of the fair in 2010 and raises money for children's organizations.

Rex Taggart, center, works in the Aleppo Grotto food stand while Lily Tinker Fortel, left, and Tim Cullen, right, dine outside. The organization has been working at the Boone County Fair since 1993 but opened the food stand last summer to raise money for children's organizations.

All is Fair

I have been covering the Boone County Fair all weekend in Columbia. I have yet to indulge in a funnel cake but who knows what will happen before the fair ends on July 30. This is my first state fair outside of Minnesota so I am trying to get used to not having everything on a stick. Overall, the fair has been really interesting with several events including horse shows, the carnival, fireworks, and the parade.

Hunter Skouby leads his horse outside the arena at the Boone County Fun Youth Horse Show on Saturday at the Boone County Fairgrounds.

A competitor in the Boone County Fun Youth Horse Show rides around the arena at the Boone County Fair.

Garrett Anderson leads his horse outside the arena at the Boone County Fun Youth Horse Show on Saturday at the Boone County Fair in Columbia.

Katilynn Berbridge pets her horse before she competes in the Boone County Fun Youth Horse Show on Saturday at the Boone County Fair in Columbia.

Boone County Fair Queen Royalty ride in the Boone County Fair Parade on Saturday.

The Redbirds basketball team eat freeze pops handed out during the Boone County Fair Parade.

A carnival worker waits for customers at his game booth.

Emma Schudel sits on Nick Schudel's shoulders watching fireworks on Sunday at the 65th Boone County Fair.

View full Columbia Missourian galleries here:

Photo Gallery: Equine excellence

Boone County Fair Parade marches through downtown

Photo Gallery: Sunday at the fair