Purina Farms

About Us

Located on more than 300 acres of rolling hills, Purina Farms offers animal lovers of all ages an opportunity to get up close and personal with barnyard animals and everyday pets such as dogs and cats. Purina Farms features the Visitor’s Center where kids can play in the hayloft, milk a cow, take a tractor-drawn wagon ride and watch exciting canine performances of flying disc, diving dog and agility.

Recently, the Purina Event Center, a state-of-the-art indoor facility designed to host a variety of canine activities from conformation shows to performance events like obedience, agility, Rally and flyball, opened on the Purina Farms property giving visitors a chance to see some of the most prestigious dog shows in the country year-round.

Spectators
Except when noted, all dog shows and events taking place at Purina Farms inside the Purina Event Center and outside at the outdoor competition venues are free and open to the general public. Spectators can sit ring-side or watch all the action from bleachers and grassy hillsides for outdoor events.
NOTE: When a show is taking place at the Purina Event Center, only entered dogs can be on the premises.

Parking
More than 600 hard surface visitor parking spaces are available. Parking is permitted on black top and gravel lots. During large events, grassy areas may be authorized for parking and will either be marked or someone from the host club will direct guests to an authorized area.

There are 74 full-service RV spaces to the South of the Purina Event Center and then an overflow lot featuring 43 RV spaces with electric hook-ups near the Main Show Field. RV overnight parking is allowed.

Rules and Regulations
Please follow all directions on posted signs. Be kind to all animals including the ones that call Purina Farms home. No outside food allowed on the property. Please keep all dogs leashed while on the property except required by competition. Your cooperation is appreciated!

Banquets and Receptions
The Founder’s Room inside the Purina Event Center resides on the second floor of the building overlooking the two Halls below and can accommodate 300+ people for a formal dinner, meeting or social gathering. Catering is available upon request. Banquet tables that can accommodate 10 people each and chairs come with the rental of the Founder’s Room. The Visitor’s Center down the hill from the Purina Event Center features a patio with tents and covered planted trellises that can be used to serve lunches or host a dinner or cocktail party outdoors. Specialized Catering has been contracted to supply all food service needed for any event ranging from snack bar food to catered dinners and cocktail parties. Call Chris at 314-982-5244 or 314-982-5117 to make arrangements.

Exhibitors' Canopies and Tents
Canopies and tents are permitted on and around parking areas outside the fenced-in show field. Canopies can also be set up on gravel areas inside the show area. During large events, we ask that exhibitors be considerate of others and use only the minimal space they require. Please no tenting or exercise pens on the show fields.

Vendors
Vendors are welcome to participate in shows taking place inside and outside at Purina Farms, but it must be pre-approved through the organizing Club. If you are interested in being added to the list of preferred Purina Farms vendors, please email Kaite Flamm at kaite.flamm@purina.nestle.com. Upon arriving at any show, vendors should check-in with the organizing club to receive direction on set-up and parking.

Gift Shop
The Purina Farms Gift Shop, located inside the Visitor’s Center, offers a variety of unique gift and souvenir merchandise, as well as items with a specific breed theme.

Click here for a printable coupon to the Purina Farms gift shop

Restrooms
Two sets of restrooms are located in the Purina Event Center along with two sets of restrooms in the Visitor’s Center, which is directly adjacent to the show site.

Waste Management
Purina Farms makes arrangements for containers to handle all waste created from food service, visitors, exhibitors and their pets. Containers are placed throughout the grounds and inside the Purina Event Center. Outside, white barrels are for paper trash and brown barrels are for pet waste. Complimentary plastic gloves are provided for your convenience at these locations. There is also designated relief areas set up for dogs to use including an outdoor public x-pen area on the East side of the Purina Event Center. PLEASE PICK UP AFTER YOUR PET.

Security
24-hour security is provided which includes gate attendant and roving guard. For a fee, additional security can be arranged for group events with at least 2 weeks prior notice.

You May Also Like:
Map of Purina Farms
Events Schedule

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A Best-In-Class Show Facility
For more than 80 years, Purina has been a leader in pet care and nutrition. And with 16 years of hosting outdoor dog shows and sporting events, Purina has become an important partner with kennel and parent breed clubs. Now with the opening of the new Purina Event Center, Purina Farms is a full-service destination for canine enthusiasts who want to host or participate in an indoor or outdoor show.

The Purina Event Center, an 84,000-square-foot state-of-the-art indoor facility that opened in August 2010, can accommodate the largest of dog shows and performance events and includes all the extra amenities to make every event exceptional.

Amenities
The Great Hall is a 45,000-square-foot main exhibition space featuring custom-textured, sport flooring that is padded for optimal comfort and safety.
A 13,500-square-foot Gateway Hall for benching and grooming features easy access to the dog bathing room and handler changing rooms and it can also double as an exhibition hall for smaller shows and trials. Ample electricity accommodates more than 150 grooming spaces.
Lighting in both exhibition spaces is designed to approximate natural sunlight, for showcasing dogs’ coats.
Fully-equipped show office complete with built-in sound system, phone and office equipment, plus work and storage space
Checkerboard Caf adjacent to The Great Hall provides on-site food service at all shows and banquet catering by reservation
A Founder’s Room on the second level of the Purina Event Center offers a phenomenal view of all activities taking place below and can accommodate banquets, meetings and special receptions. A balcony off the Founder’s Room offers scenic views of the main exhibition space below, and is ideal for videotaping dog shows.
Large conference room on the second floor away from the exhibition halls
A Service Center behind the Purina Event Center features an exam room, meeting space, showering facilities and dog bathing tubs
Complimentary agility and obedience equipment, ring gating, tables and seating for 200
Ample parking for vehicles and full-service RV spaces with 50 amp electric, water and sewer.
Multiple drop-off lanes for exhibitor and Club unloading and loading of supplies and equipment
A separate loading dock is provided on the west side of the building for large Club deliveries.
Two special tribute walkways leading to the North and South entrances of the building: Walk of Champions and Path of Honor
One 90′×120′ ring of artificial turf available upon request for indoor agility trials
Click here to view the Purina Event Center Facility Video

Click here to view photos of the Purina Event Center

Book Your Dog Show
We strive to provide the best experience available. For more information or to book an event, contact Kaite Flamm, Purina Event Center Manager at 1-888-688-PETS (7387) or email her at kaite.flamm@purina.nestle.com. Commercial rates are also available for miscellaneous events held at the Purina Event Center.

Click here for a downloadable and printable copy of the Purina Event Center Brochure

Click here to download the Purina Farms Event Packet (pdf) including layouts (Purina Event Center RV lot, Purina Event Center first floor, Purina Event Center second floor, Gateway Hall grooming, Service Center), amenities, emergency plan, property rules, local dog-friendly lodging, added offerings and property map

Located about one hour southwest from downtown St. Louis and the LambertSt. Louis International Airport, the Purina Event Center in Gray Summit, Missouri, provides a central location for people traveling from all parts of the country. Within 10 minutes from the Purina Event Center are several hotels that accept dogs with little or no additional fees; some even offer dog-bathing rooms. Besides the RV parking available at the Purina Event Center, five campgrounds are located near the show site. A variety of restaurants can be found in the area, and there are major entertainment attractions throughout the metropolitan St. Louis area. We invite you to schedule your next dog show or event with us. Our Purina Event Center promises to deliver “Best in Show” amenities and we will do everything possible to help ensure your event goes smoothly. Through our partnerships with parent breed and kennel clubs, we help promote the sport of purebred dogs. Doing so, we believe enhances the lives of dogs and the people who love them.

Testimonials
“I’ve always enjoyed exhibiting at Purina Farms. “I’ve been showing for quite some time and I’m loving the new Purina Event Center facility. The floors are my favorite part because I spend a lot of time on my feet from 6 a.m. 6p.m. showing dogs and the cushion in the floor makes kneeling and running a lot easier on me.”
“The Purina Event Center is great not only for the dog fancy and Purina, but for the community. I think it sets a new standard for what dog show facilities should be, and with keeping the outdoor venues as well, Purina Farms offers the complete package.”
Doug Carlson
Professional Handler

“Purina Farms has always been super. Brock Fitzgerald, Director of Purina Farms, and his staff have been so accommodating, helping us put on the best shows possible. Now they’ve taken it to an incredible new level with the Purina Event Center. I don’t know of any other indoor space in the country set up just for dog shows, and I know the Event Center will be the premier dog show facility in the country.”
Cledith “Clete” Wakefield
AKC Delegate, AKC Judge, President, Spirit of the Heartland Kennel Club, and Show Chairman, Jefferson County (Mo.) Kennel Club

Photos

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