GAINESVILLE, Mo. (KY3) – The Ozark County Health Department’s Public Health Fair is back for another year, and it’s only continuing to grow.
After having 30 booths in 2025, the setup has expanded to 40 booths, offering health resources and on-site healthcare opportunities, including vision checks and a mammogram bus.
“You will get endless resources,” said Lauren Suter with the Ozark County Health Department, “whether it’s from checking your vision to what insurances are available in this area, and how to apply and how to get the help that you need in this area. There’s not much in Gainesville. We’re a pretty small town. Ozarks Healthcare is coming from West Plains. Baxter Health is coming from Mountain Home. We all just meet in the middle here.”
While the event grows, it’s keeping some of the same things that people love. If you missed your chance to walk through the inflatable colon last year, you’ve got another chance at the fair on Thursday.
Alongside that will be other interactive stations, such as a bike kids can pedal to make a smoothie and a rollover simulator from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The people behind the event know just how important these hands-on models can be.
“I remember when I was a kid,” Suter said, “that they would make the whole gym the digestive system, and you got to sit on the teeth, and you got to go through the whole digestive system. I think that’s kind of similar. You were excited. You looked forward to it all week. Even if you weren’t necessarily excited about learning, you got to see what was available, and you got to learn something anyway, regardless of if you were worried about that or not.”
Everyone who attends the event and signs in will be entered into a single giveaway.
The health fair will be at the track at Hoerman Memorial Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 9.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.
Copyright 2026 KY3. All rights reserved.