When it comes to value for your food money, this year, Pork Place beats the Beef House hands down.

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I was shocked, but not really surprised when I went over to the Missouri Cattlemen's Association Beef House for dinner on Thursday night and saw the prices. All of us in the radio station crew was excited to get the Ribeye Sandwich because it's our favorite. Yet, after seeing the prices, Craig and I were the only guys who popped the cash to enjoy their really tasty steak sandwich.

This year the Beef House is charging $15.00 for their Ribeye Sandwich, which is $5.00 more than last year. The prices of the cheeseburger, beefburger, and BBQ beef sandwich have gone up two bucks as well. My Thursday night meal, after I decided to skip my bag of chips cost $17.50 for the sandwich and a Diet Pepsi.

It's an excellent tasty sandwich, and the soda was cold. Yet, I almost had to laugh at the cost. As Kix 105.7's Tim Thomas commented while eating his two beef hot-dog special, spend two or three more bucks and you could get a better meal at a steak house. With inflation, and the high cost of beef right now, I'm not so sure that's a true statement. The last time I got the steak sandwich at Little Big Horn it was a little spendy too. But his hot take has merit.

On Friday night, we hit the Missouri Pork Association's Pork Place. I got the pulled pork sandwich, chips, and an ice-cold Diet Dr. Pepper for $13.00. Definitely a bargain. It was just as tasty and filling as the Ribeye Steak Sandwich. I got a side of chips, and my drink too. Here's the kicker, I found a menu from Pork Place from 2018 and while the price of the dinners has gone up two to three dollars, they've managed to keep the prices on the sandwiches largely unchanged.

My hot take, yeah I was surprised at how much the Ribeye Sandwich's price increased. Yet, if you're a beef lover, you can get a cheeseburger, chips, and a drink at the Beef House for $13.50, which is around the same price point as Pork Place's Pulled Pork Sandwich. Yet, my brain, when comparing menu prices just can't get past the impression you're going to get more bang for your pick at Pork Place.

The bottom line. The Pulled Pork sandwich from Pork Place and the Ribeye Steak Sandwich from the Beef House are both very tasty. As I am sure, the rest of the menu is too. Second, the restaurants being run by the Missouri Pork Association and the Missouri Cattlemen's Association respectively, almost guarantee you a great meal. After all, it's their showcase to get you to eat more beef and pork.

So if you're heading out to the fair and you're going to get a meal, you can't go wrong at either place. Especially when you add in the opportunity to get out of the sun and heat, into some air conditioning, and just take a breather from the sights and sounds of the Fair.

When you start comparing the prices at The Beef House or Pork Place to some of the items at the stands on the fairgrounds. Like the $16 dollars, I spent on two slices of pizza and a soda last year.  Or the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich priced at $18 dollars I saw on one vendor's menu board. There is some bang for your buck from these places.

That said, I'll probably resist the urge to get the Ribeye Steak Sandwich again, and maybe just opt for the cheeseburger.

61 Pictures of Smiling Faces and Sights of the Mo. State Fair

The best way to experience the Missouri State Fair is to go to the Missouri State Fair. Eat the food, enjoy some cold beverages, ride the rides, see the shows, go to the concerts. The second way is through the smiling faces and photos of the people there. During the 2021 Missouri State Fair, I asked you on Facebook, to post your state fair photos. What struck me most about your photos were all the smiling faces. Here's the collection of the photos you posted on our Facebook page.

Gallery Credit: Rob Creighton

You Can Buy This '60s Era Old West Theme Park in Warsaw

Did you ever experience the 1800s-inspired theme park in Warsaw on the way to Lake of the Ozarks in the '80s or '90s? It opened in 1979 according to Four States Homepage and closed in 1995. This little pioneer village was a labor of love for Marion Shipman and his family until it closed. Now they'd like to see someone else with a passion for entertaining and the old west bring it back to life.

Take a look at all the pictures. I think it'd be a great place to show off blacksmithing, carpentry, and the arts and crafts of the pioneer west, offer gifts for sale, and fun place to step back in time and get a drink, use the bathroom, and get into that Lake of the Ozarks vibe. Heck, someone could make bank updating the buildings and making it a themed Airbnb or bed and breakfast.

The property is being offered for $295,000 through Susan Newman at Missouri Lakes Realty.

Gallery Credit: Rob Creighton

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