La Plata closed its 73rd annual Soybean Festival on Labor Day under the theme "Let Freedom Ring," with Reynolds-Martin American Legion Post 282 as grand marshal.
The La Plata Promotional Committee said Post 282 led Monday's festival parade. The three-day event ran Sept. 5 through Sept. 7 in town and at the Gary Cunningham Event Center, 206 E. Moore St., according to Visit Macon County, Chamber, and event-center listings. A Gary Cunningham Event Center Facebook post after the weekend thanked vendors and activity partners.
The Promotional Committee named American Legion Post 282 the 2026 grand marshal and said the honor recognized local veterans. The committee's festival post featured Commander John Price and Vice Commander David Johnson, who previously served as post commander for more than 10 years.
Reynolds-Martin American Legion Post 282 was chartered in La Plata in 1920 and is named for George Reynolds and Luther Martin, local soldiers killed in action in 1918 during World War I, according to the Promotional Committee. The Missouri American Legion's 1st District directory lists the post as Reynolds-Martin Post 282 at 128 E. Sanders St. in La Plata, with Price as commander. IRS exempt-organization records list the corporate name as 282 Reynolds-Martin Inc.
The committee said the post has more than 40 members and works under the mission "Vets helping Vets," including La Plata High School scholarships, community outreach, and the town's annual Memorial Day observance. The same post asked festivalgoers to recognize active-duty service members, National Guard members, reservists, civilians who have served, and first responders.
The Macon Area Chamber of Commerce listed Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and named Salt River Band, talent-show entertainment, and ice cream and pie for the GCEC community fund. The Gary Cunningham Event Center listed Salt River Band and talent-show entertainment for the weekend and detailed free mini golf by Roaming Fairways on Saturday, a free guided painting session Sunday afternoon, and free yoga with Mystic Yoga at 8:30 a.m. Monday.
Scout Troop 660 hosted a kids movie night lock-in from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday at $5 per child, according to the event center's festival page and flyer.
On Monday, the event center said it was open until 3 p.m. selling ice cream and pie to benefit the La Plata Community Fire Protection District. Its wrap post also thanked Roaming Fairways, Tonya Williams-Stanford, Troop 660 of Kirksville, Rae's home cooking, and Mystic Meadows Yoga.
The La Plata Promotional Committee organizes the Soybean Festival. Admission is free, according to FestivalNet. Visit Macon County and the Facebook event hosted by the Gary Cunningham Event Center pointed residents to 206 E. Moore St. for the weekend.