Boone County News Release


Press Archives Press Room

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Boone County Commission Administrative Coordinator
Phone: (573) 886-4312


Boone County Commission Receives $2,000 MFA Oil Foundation Grant for Sapp Building Equestrian Arena

September 9, 2009

Today, the Boone County Commission was awarded $2,000 by the Columbia-based MFA Oil Foundation. The grant will be used for construction of the Sapp Building Equestrian Arena at the Boone County Fairgrounds.

“Our foundation was established to help fund projects that build knowledge and leadership skills for rural youth and agricultural education programs,” said MFA Oil Foundation Board Chairman Ken Caspall. “The facility at the Fairgrounds fits these guidelines. The Foundation is eager to support these types of facilities.”

“Boone County is extremely grateful for the generosity that MFA Oil Foundation has provided over the years in our community,” said Northern Boone County Commissioner Skip Elkin. “Their donation towards the completion of the Sapp Equestrian Arena at the Boone County Fairgrounds is just another example of their commitment to the youth of Boone County and their vision of maintaining our strong agricultural heritage.”

In 2007, a consulting firm identified a covered equestrian arena as the number one way to attract more events to the Boone County Fairgrounds and keep it competitive with other facilities in the area. In 2008, Billy and Glenda Sapp donated a 22,000-square foot building to the county to be used for the arena. The building was moved from its original location at the Community at Old Hawthorne to the Fairgrounds March 2009. The facility will be used as a covered warm-up arena for equestrian shows at the Fairgrounds and a resource for youth development organizations such as 4-H and FFA.

“We have already booked several new events at the Fairgrounds in anticipation of the arena,” said Fairgrounds manager George Harris. “It has been a long time coming to fill the need for this space. I expect to see improvement at the Fairgrounds as soon as the arena is completed.”

About MFA Oil Company

MFA Oil Company is a farmer-owned cooperative with more than 40,000 members. The company supplies fuels, lubricants, propane and tires to customers in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa. Through a subsidiary, MFA Oil operates Break Time convenience stores in Missouri and Arkansas and Jiffy Lube and Big O Tire franchises in central Missouri.

The Boone County Commission accepted a $2,000 MFA Oil Foundation grant September 9, 2009 in the Commission Chambers. The grant will be used for construction of the Sapp Building Equestrian Arena at the Boone County Fairgrounds.

From left: Presiding Commissioner Ken Pearson; Northern Commissioner Skip Elkin; MFA Oil Foundation Board Chairman Ken Caspall; Southern Commissioner Karen M. Miller.



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