Site Selectors Attend Sikeston Rodeo, Explore Southeast Missouri’s Business and Workforce Strengths

• August 19, 2026

Familiarization tour brings corporate location advisors to the Sikeston area to experience the region’s businesses, workforce initiatives, infrastructure and community firsthand.

Site selectors got a firsthand look at Southeast Missouri during a Familiarization Tour hosted by Bootheel Progress With Partnership in the Sikeston area. Coordinated in partnership with Missouri Partnership and Missouri One Start, the tour gave corporate location advisors an opportunity to experience the region’s business climate, workforce initiatives, infrastructure and quality of life while connecting with the local and statewide resources that support business growth.

Experiencing the Community Behind the Business Climate

The tour was timed to coincide with the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, giving site selectors an opportunity to experience one of Southeast Missouri’s largest annual events and an important contributor to the local economy. Held annually since 1953, the rodeo attracts more than 40,000 visitors and generates more than $8 million in revenue for area businesses during rodeo week. As one of the top 40 rodeos in the nation, the event also has a significant community impact, with proceeds benefiting more than 3,696 organizations over the years.

“One of the best ways to introduce people to the Bootheel is to let them experience it for themselves,” said Marcie Lawson, President/CEO of Bootheel Progress With Partnership. “The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo brings together everything that makes this region special—our hospitality, our community pride, and the quality of life our residents enjoy every day. It was the perfect opportunity to showcase not only our business assets, but also the people and culture that make companies want to invest here.”

Seeing Workforce Development in Action

The tour also provided a firsthand look at how Southeast Missouri businesses are developing the next generation of workers.

At Alan Wire, a leading national wire and cable manufacturer, site selectors toured the company’s operations and learned about its Next Step workforce development program. Designed for high school students, the program provides hands-on exposure to the workplace and opportunities to develop skills while students are still in school.

“We started Next Step because we wanted students to walk into their futures with confidence,” said Chris Hodgkiss, HR Director at Alan Wire. “We want to help them build life skills and the tools they need to be successful in their ‘next step’ of life, no matter what that next step is. It has been one of the most rewarding things we’ve done as a company.”

Workforce development is also a key component of Missouri’s statewide business attraction strategy. Missouri One Start, the state’s workforce recruitment and training division, works with expanding and relocating companies to develop customized recruitment and training solutions that help employers build skilled teams.

Existing Businesses Demonstrate Capacity for Growth

The tour also highlighted the strength of Southeast Missouri’s existing industries and their role in driving new investment.

At Magnum Ice Cream Company, the largest ice cream producer in North America, site selectors toured an 18,000-square-foot expansion representing a $37 million investment and the addition of a Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt production line.

The Familiarization Tour gave site selectors a unique opportunity to experience Southeast Missouri from both a business and community perspective. By visiting local businesses, learning about the region’s workforce and economic strengths, and experiencing the hospitality and quality of life that make the Sikeston area special, attendees gained a firsthand understanding of what makes Southeast Missouri a compelling place for companies to grow and for their employees to live and thrive.

Bootheel Progress With Partnership serves as a regional economic development organization for Southeast Missouri, working to attract new investment, support existing businesses, and promote long-term economic growth across the Bootheel region.

Learn more about Bootheel Progress With Partnership.