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 “The State Fair is the best place for Illinois to show off its
products and accomplishments, and to ensure we can continue to
do that, so that our children and grandchildren can continue on
with this same tradition, we must preserve the State Fair
experience and the legacy of its entertainment for generations
to come,” said Governor Rauner. “A foundation is the best way to
ensure that the fairgrounds get the upgrades and renovations
necessary for these important assets. And it allows the
fairgrounds to be less reliant on state money while putting no
additional costs on the taxpayers. This is a win for taxpayers
and the agricultural community as a whole.”
The Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield includes more than
170 buildings spanning 360 acres of land, with buildings as old
as 124 years. The Du Quoin State Fairgrounds includes more than
20 buildings spread across more than 1,200 acres of land, with
buildings as old as 93 years. Many of the buildings on both
fairgrounds are in dire need of restoration, including paint,
plumbing, roofing, and structural repairs. Combined, the
fairgrounds carry $180 million in deferred maintenance costs.
“As a life-long Springfield resident, I’ve had a front row seat
to the deterioration of our state fairgrounds,” said Dept. of
Agriculture Director Raymond Poe. “Years and years of deferred
maintenance has taken a toll on our fairgrounds. The facilities
in Springfield and Du Quoin are used 365 days a year, not just
the 11 days of each fair. We need to stop ignoring these
problems and start planning for the future.”
Leaders in the agricultural community established the Illinois
Fairgrounds Foundation to promote, support, assist, and sustain
the Springfield and Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. The foundation
will be led by a volunteer board representing a diverse cross
section of the agriculture industry. Board members will engage
with private sector business organizations and individuals to
develop strategies to raise private funding, coordinate with the
Department of Agriculture to plan projects and determine the
Fairgrounds’ needs, and serve as ambassadors for the
revitalization and improvement of the Fairgrounds and their
agricultural heritage.
“I have had the privilege of working with Illinois companies and
Illinois agri-businesses that support Illinois agriculture,”
said board member John Slayton. “Over the years, these companies
have contributed large chunks of money to help our youth
exhibitors through the Governor’s Sale of Champions. There are
companies in Illinois who are passionate about our state, our
state’s number one industry, and our state fairs. Many of these
companies currently donate to state fairs in other states
because these states possess a vehicle to accept such donations.
Now, with the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation, we can keep
Illinois dollars in Illinois supporting Illinois agriculture.”
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"In past administrations the maintenance of the fairgrounds has been
neglected, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in unmet
infrastructure needs in Springfield and Du Quoin. I am pleased the
agriculture community has created a foundation that will enable our
private sector partners to help modernize and restore the greatness
of these facilities," said State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington).
"I fully support the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation and its mission
to raise private funds to help improve the infrastructure as well as
promote the fairgrounds," said State Rep. Tim Butler (R-
Springfield). "I anticipate the foundation will prove beneficial to
the taxpayers, Springfield and the State."
In addition, Governor Rauner signed legislation into law to allow
the Department of Agriculture to recognize farms and other
agribusiness that have been in the same family for generations.
House Bill 5790 expands the current Centennial and Sesquicentennial
Farm Program to add Bicentennial Farms to list of those that can
receive recognition. House Bill 4318 creates a new program to enable
the Department of Agriculture to recognize agribusinesses that have
been operated for 100 years or more or more than 150 years as the
same agribusiness.
“This year’s fair theme is ‘Producing Our Future.’ Producing our
future is not simply about looking ahead, but recognizing our
storied agricultural history, how important this industry is to our
great state, not just in the goods that we produce, but in the
longstanding tradition and values it represents,” Gov. Rauner added.
[Office of the Governor Bruce Rauner]
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