CONTENTS Volume 73 | AUGUST 2020 | Number 8 14 8 8 Lamar's free fair 77 years of fun in Barton County 14 Right tree, right place Tree safety comes first at Ralls County Electric 24 Every Kid Outdoors Fourth graders get free pass to federal public lands 31 Painting history Thousands of Missourians contribute to bicentennial mural 44 Poplar Heights Farms 1884 Family homestead offers educational fun for all ages 48 The mural of Missouri Thomas Hart Benton's Capitol art memorializes state history 44 IN EVERY ISSUE 4 Cooperation 5 Perspectives 14 Community 18 Eats 24 Outdoors 37 Recipes 40 Neighbors 51 Just4Kids ON THE COVER For the past 77 years, Lamar has held a free fair on the town's square every August. On our cover, 7-year-old Cole Runnels spends time with a show calf during the fair. See story on page 8. MISSOURI RURAL AUGUST 2020 | ruralmissouri.coop Lamar Free Fair | River Bottoms Brewing Co. | Poplar Heights Farm Aug20_MagazineSize.indd 1 AUGUST 2020 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 7/9/20 8:44 AM 3http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP