Livestock exhibitors will see improvements to almost every barn during this year’s Youth Livestock Shows at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.

Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe and his staff pulled together a list of four things that 4-H and FFA members and families should notice while exhibiting this year:

1. Sheep Pavilion upgrade. As part of a $8 million financial package to the Missouri State Fair for improvements, the Sheep Pavilion received a face-lift and a new roof. The pavilion, built in 1965, houses 1,000 head of sheep annually. Its upgrade cost $2.8 million and comes complete with additional barn fans, new office space, restrooms and apartment living for directors.

2. New Director’s Pavilion. The new Director’s Pavilion was built with support from Nucor Steel Sedalia LLC and the Missouri Legislature.

3. Cattle barns improvements. “Our exhibitors have been asking for some time to have the sand removed,” Wolfe says. This year, the fair’s maintenance staff not only removed the old sand, but also replaced it with lime. “We expect this will make a much better experience for our cattle exhibitors,” he adds.

4. Swine Pavilion electrical system. Shiny metallic conduit was run through the ceiling of the swine barn. It is all part of the new electrical system purchased with funds from the Missouri Legislature state fair improvement package. The building also had additional fans installed and upgraded LED lighting.

Click through the slideshow to see some of the changes listed here, along with others from across the fairgrounds. While the Missouri State Fair is canceled, the Youth Livestock Shows will runs Aug. 13-23 in Sedalia during their originally scheduled dates and times.