1966 — Voters approve the creation of the Junior College District of Sedalia on April 5,
establishing the foundation for higher education in the region.
1968 — The college officially becomes State Fair Community College on April 10 after a
“Name the College” contest won by Brenda Weathers. In September, SFCC opens to 436
students on land west of the Missouri State Fairgrounds with one 35,000-square-foot
modular building.
1968–1984 — Founding president Fred E. Davis leads the college through its early years. Under
his leadership, SFCC constructs the Automotive Technology Building, Charles E. Yeater
Learning Center and Marvin R. Fielding Technical Center, while also purchasing 113
additional acres for future expansion.
1984–1997 — President Dr. Marvin Fielding oversees construction of the William C. Hopkins Student
Services Center, Stauffacher Center for the Fine Arts and Potter-Ewing Agriculture
Building.
1997–2003 — President Dr. Steve Poort expands SFCC’s service area to 14 counties and dedicates
the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center and the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art.
2003 — Dr. Marsha Drennon becomes president in July and launches a capital campaign that
leads to construction of the Heckart Science and Allied Health Center and enrollment
growth to more than 5,000 students each semester.
2013 — Dr. Joanna Anderson becomes SFCC’s fifth president and advances the college through
the 2020 Vision Strategic Plan and Campus Master Plan to better serve students and
communities.
2017 — More than 13,758 students enroll in SFCC credit and continuing education classes
online and at locations in Sedalia, Boonville, Clinton, Eldon, Lake of the Ozarks,
Warsaw and Whiteman Air Force Base.
2018 — SFCC celebrates 50 years of serving students and communities through relevant and
innovative learning experiences.
2020 — The Board of Trustees adopts a new mission statement: “State Fair Community College
provides relevant and responsive learning experiences that empower our students and
communities to prosper.” The college also launches a capital campaign for the Olen
Howard Workforce Innovation Center, with Missouri Governor Mike Parson speaking at
the groundbreaking ceremony.
2022 — Dr. Joanna Anderson retires, and the Board of Trustees appoints Dr. Brent Bates
as SFCC’s sixth president after serving as Vice President for Academic and Student
Support Services. SFCC opens the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center, and announces plans to open an new 66,000
sq. ft. residence hall in 2025.
2023 — SFCC purchases 200 acres of farmland west of the Sedalia campus to create a working
farm with livestock and row crops. The college also plans a new Agriculture and Transportation
Technology Center to expand agriculture, commercial driving, automotive and diesel
technology programs. In addition, the Fielding Technology Center undergoes renovations
to add an HVAC program and expand the Robotics and Industrial Electrical Maintenance
programs.
2025 — The Steve and Karen Ellebracht Agriculture and Mechanics Building is uneviled on
the Sedalia campus, as well as the new 196-bed Campus Housing Complex. SFCC joins
the MMTH 360 program and announces plans for a state-of-the-art athletics complex including
baseball, softball and soccer fields and track.
2026 — SFCC Athletics opens the new athletic complex. The college receives $6 million in federal funding to build a Workforce Training Center for Agriculture
Advancement on the college’s farm. President Bates announces his decision to retire
Dec. 31, 2026, marking the end of a transformative four-year tenure as SFCC’s sixth
president.