30 ILCS 120/1 This Act may be cited as the Agricultural Fair Act
(30 ILCS 120/1) (from Ch. 85, par. 651) Sec. 1. This Act may be cited as the Agricultural Fair Act. (Source: P.A. 77-1208.)
30 ILCS 120
30 ILCS 120
in effect30 ILCS 120/2
(30 ILCS 120/2) (from Ch. 85, par. 652) Sec. 2. When used in this Act, "Department" means Department of Agriculture. "County fair" means a fair sponsored by a fair association or agricultural society. "Director" means the Director of the Department of Agriculture. "Junior exhibitor" means an exhibitor whose age is within limits established by Department rule. (Source: P.A. 91-934, eff. 6-1-01.)
30 ILCS 120/3
(30 ILCS 120/3) (from Ch. 85, par. 653) Sec. 3. A county fair in order to be eligible to receive state funds from the Agricultural Premium Fund must have held annual fairs or have been organized for that purpose prior to July 1, 1971 and at that time be eligible to participate in programs under Section 28 of "An Act in relation to State finance". If no county fair within a county meets the requirements set forth in this Section, the county board may by resolution designate an existing county fair to be the participant in such programs, and shall notify the Department of its action. (Source: P.A. 77-1208.)
30 ILCS 120/4
(30 ILCS 120/4) (from Ch. 85, par. 654) Sec. 4. The Department has the power to make rules and regulations as may be necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this Act. The provisions of the rules and regulations shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Act. (Source: P.A. 77-1208.)
30 ILCS 120/5
(30 ILCS 120/5) (from Ch. 85, par. 655) Sec. 5. To qualify for disbursements made by the Department from an appropriation made under provisions of this Act, each county fair should notify the Department in writing of its declaration of intent to participate by December 31 of the year preceding the year in which such distribution shall be made. The DeWitt County Fair shall qualify for disbursements made by the Department from an appropriation made under the provisions of this Act in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, subject to appropriation, and provided the DeWitt County Fair notifies the Department in writing of its declaration of intent to participate within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. The notification shall state the following: facts of its organization, location, officers, dates of exhibitions and approximate amount of premiums to be offered. (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
30 ILCS 120/6
(30 ILCS 120/6) (from Ch. 85, par. 656) Sec. 6. After August 20, 1971, the General Assembly and the Director shall approve the organization of new county fairs that shall be established for the purpose of holding annual fairs, provided that an element of such approval shall be an appropriation authorizing such fairs' participation in the disbursements provided for in this Act. (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
30 ILCS 120/7
(30 ILCS 120/7) (from Ch. 85, par. 657) Sec. 7. The Department may deny any county fair participation in the programs provided in this Act for violation of any part of the Act and for failure to comply with the rules and regulations as provided for in this Act. If a county fair eligible to participate in the appropriations made under this Act does not hold a fair for 2 consecutive years, unless failure to hold a county fair is due to an act of God or war, it shall be ineligible to participate in the programs provided in this Act until the county board designates it as the county fair in that county to be eligible to receive disbursements from an appropriation under this Act. (Source: P.A. 77-1208.)
30 ILCS 120/9 Premiums
(30 ILCS 120/9) (from Ch. 85, par. 659) Sec. 9. Premiums. The formulas for distributing monies from the Agricultural Premium Fund or the Fair and Exposition Fund pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 17 to eligible county fairs shall be contingent upon the following provisions: (a) Of the total amount of premiums which are to be paid to persons for exhibitions at its annual fair for the current year for exhibits of any events related to agriculture including horticulture, flora culture, poultry, livestock, light horses, harness-racing and running horse races, rodeos, and domestic and mechanical arts, no one department or class shall be paid premiums awarded in excess of 30% of the total premiums awarded by the county fair except those departments or classes limited to junior exhibitors. Harness horse races and running horse races shall be considered as one department. (b) (Blank). (c) A reasonable entry fee for all classes may be charged which will not exceed the maximum limit as established by the Department. (d) No part of any appropriation made for the benefit of county fairs shall be used in payment for personnel or acts which are solely for the entertainment of persons attending the fair or for acts which have been hired or contracted for by the fair, except events related to agriculture, including tractor pulls, truck pulls, rodeos and other acts which may be exempt in the judgment of the Director. (e) Prizes awarded for light horses, and for harness-racing and running horses shall be payable from such appropriation. (Source: P.A. 104-2, eff. 6-16-25.)
30 ILCS 120/10
(30 ILCS 120/10) (from Ch. 85, par. 660) Sec. 10. (a) Effective with fiscal year 1987, each county fair's authorized base shall be set at 66 2/3% of the approved amount of premium paid in either fiscal year 1984 or 1985, whichever year has the largest approved amount. The authorized base of the Gallatin, Montgomery and Massac county fairs for fiscal years 1987 and 1988 shall be $15,000 each. Subject to appropriation, the authorized base of the DeWitt County Fair for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 shall be $20,000 each. If there is a change in the appropriation, the Director shall allocate to each fair the same percentages of that appropriation as it received of the authorized bases for all fairs. (b) The Department shall reimburse each eligible county fair as follows: 100% of the first $2,000 of approved premiums awarded at each eligible county fair; 85% of the next $2,000; 75% of the next $3,000; 65% of the next $3,000; 55% of the next $4,000; and 50% of the remaining premiums paid until the total reimbursement equals the authorized base amount for each fair. (c) If, after all approved state aid claims are paid for the current year pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section, any amount remains in the appropriations for state aid, that remaining amount shall be distributed on a grant basis. If the total amount of excess approved state aid claims over the authorized base is equal to or less than the remaining amount appropriated for state aid, then each participating fair shall receive a grant equivalent to the excess of its approved claim over its authorized base. If the total amount of excess approved state aid claims exceeds the remaining monies appropriated for state aid, the grants shall be distributed to the participating fairs in proportion to the total amounts of their respective excess approved claims. If, after all approved claims are paid, any amount remains, that amount shall be distributed to all county fairs eligible under this Section in proportion to their total state aid claims. Fairs filing approved claims exceeding both their authorized base and the grant provided for in this subsection shall participate in the Growth Incentive Program set forth in Section 10.1. Grant monies received by a county fair shall be used only for premiums, awards, judge's fees, and other expenses incurred by the fair which are directly related to the operation of the fair and approved by regulation of the Department. Each fair shall file with the Department a fiscal accounting of the expenditure of the grant monies received under this subsection each year at the same time it files its report under Section 12 in relation to the fair held in the next succeeding year. Effective with fiscal year 1989 and each odd numbered fiscal year thereafter, the authorized base of all participating county fairs shall be adjusted by applying 66 2/3% to the amount of approved premiums paid in the highest of the previous 2 fiscal years. (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
30 ILCS 120/10.1
(30 ILCS 120/10.1) (from Ch. 85, par. 660.1) Sec. 10.1. Fairs with approved state aid claims exceeding both their authorized base and the grant provided for in subsection (c) of Section 10 of this Act, hereinafter referred to as eligible claims, shall receive a special appropriation from the Growth Incentive Program as provided in this Section. If the total amount of eligible claims is equal to or less than the amount appropriated for the Growth Incentive Program, then each participating fair shall receive the amount of its eligible claim. Should the total amount of all such eligible claims exceed the monies appropriated for this program, the amount appropriated shall be distributed to the several participating fairs in proportion to the total amounts of their respective eligible claims. If, after all approved claims are paid, any amount remains in the special appropriation for this program, that remaining amount shall become a part of the grant program for all county fairs as provided for in subsection (c) of Section 10 of this Act. (Source: P.A. 81-159.)
30 ILCS 120/12
(30 ILCS 120/12) (from Ch. 85, par. 662) Sec. 12. On or before October 15 of each year, the president and secretary of each county fair claiming state aid shall have postmarked to or shall file with the Department a fiscal accounting of the expenditure of the grant monies received under Section 10 and a sworn statement of the actual amount of cash premiums paid at the fair that year. The sworn statement shall state the following: a) That all gambling and gambling devices which are declared unlawful by laws of Illinois and the sale of alcoholic liquors other than beer have been prohibited and excluded from the grounds of the fair and from adjacent grounds under the fair's authority, during the fair and at all other times when the fair grounds or adjacent grounds are in the possession of and under the immediate control and supervision of the fair officials. b) That all receipts from any source other than admissions to the grandstand and entry fees for races, not necessary for the payment of labor and advertising, have been prorated among all other claims and expenses or that all other claims and expenses have been paid in full. The statement shall correspond with the published offer of premiums, and shall be accompanied by an itemized list of all premiums paid upon the basis of the premiums provided, a copy of the published premium list of the fair, and a full statement of receipts and expenditures for the current year that has been duly verified by the president and secretary of the fair. The Department may within the period not to exceed 30 days after a fair has filed its claim pay 75% of the fair's authorized base amount if the claim for premiums filed is equal to or exceeds such fair's authorized base for that year. If the claim filed is less than the fair's authorized base, the Department shall only pay 75% of the amount of the claim filed. Should the amount paid a fair exceed the amount authorized after the final audit of such claim, then the fair shall within 30 days after notice by the Department pay to the Department the difference between the amount received and the amount as approved for such fair in the final audit as long as funds are available. (Source: P.A. 94-261, eff. 1-1-06.)
30 ILCS 120/13 Rehabilitation
(30 ILCS 120/13) (from Ch. 85, par. 663) Sec. 13. Rehabilitation. Except as otherwise allowed by the Director, to qualify for disbursements made by the Department from an appropriation made under the provisions of this Section, the land on which the fair is held must be owned by the county fair board participating in this disbursement or by a State, city, village, or county government body, or be held under a lease that is at least 20 years in duration, the terms of which require the lessee to have continuous possession of the land during every day of the lease period. No county fair shall qualify for disbursements made by the Department from an appropriation made under the provisions of this Section unless it shall have notified the Department in writing of its intent to participate prior to obligating any funds for which reimbursement will be requested. Each county fair shall be reimbursed annually for that part of the amount expended by the fair during the year for liability and casualty insurance, as provided in this Section, and the rehabilitation of its grounds, including major construction projects and minor maintenance and repair projects; as follows: 100% of the first $5,000 or any part thereof; 75% of the next $20,000 or any part thereof; 50% of the next $20,000 or any part thereof. The lesser of either $20,000 or 50% of the amount received by a county fair pursuant to this Section may be expended for liability and casualty insurance. The maximum amount the DeWitt County Fair may be reimbursed in each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023, subject to appropriation, is $13,250. If a county fair expends more than is needed in any year for approved projects to maximize State reimbursement under this Section and provides itemized receipts and other evidence of expenditures for that year, any excess may be carried over to the succeeding year. The amount carried over shall constitute a claim for reimbursement for a subsequent period not to exceed 7 years as long as funds are available. Before June 30 of each year, the president and secretary of each county fair which has participated in this program shall file with the Department a sworn statement of the amount expended during the period July 1 to June 30 of the State's fiscal year, accompanied by itemized receipted bills and other evidence of expenditures. If the Department approves the claim, the State Comptroller is authorized and directed to draw a warrant payable from the Agricultural Premium Fund or the Fair and Exposition Fund pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 17 on the State Treasurer for the amount of the rehabilitation claims. If after all claims are paid, there remains any amount of the appropriation for rehabilitation, the remaining amount shall be distributed as a grant to the participating fairs qualifying for the maximum reimbursement and shall be distributed to the eligible fairs on an equal basis not to exceed each eligible fair's pro rata share granted in this paragraph. A sworn statement of the amount expended accompanied by the itemized receipted bills as evidence of expenditure must be filed with the Department by June 30 of each year. (Source: P.A. 104-2, eff. 6-16-25.)
30 ILCS 120/14
(30 ILCS 120/14) (from Ch. 85, par. 664) Sec. 14. 4-H. (a) University of Illinois extension units that conduct at least one show or exhibition of the eligible members' project work approved by the State 4-H Office and that pay premium moneys, including $800 maximum in judges' fees, shall be eligible to participate in an appropriation made for this purpose by the General Assembly. As directed by the University, each county's extension leader shall report to the State 4-H Office the eligible number of members participating in the 4-H year. The University shall then file with the Bureau of County Fairs and Horse Racing an Accountability for Agricultural Premiums report certifying the number of eligible 4-H members. All appropriated moneys are to be fully expended as specified (see Part 260 Fairs Operating Under the Agricultural Fair Act Sec. 260.305). If moneys are not fully expended, they shall be returned to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of County Fairs and Horse Racing. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to more than one show or exhibition per calendar year of any one class or type of project work. Based on each year's specified appropriation and as determined by the Department, the county or extension unit shall participate at a rate predetermined by the Bureau per eligible member for the year as recorded in the State 4-H Office. (b) Premium payments. The extension leader of each county or unit shall certify to the State 4-H Officer under oath on a form furnished by the Department the projected amount to be paid out in premiums per exhibitor at the show or exhibition for the current fair season and the name of the officer or organization making those projections. The certification shall be based upon the certified number of eligible 4-H members from the previous 4-H year, reported to the Department as of December 31 of that year. Upon receipt of the certification the Department shall make payment to the officer or organization in accordance with the provisions of this Section. (c) Reimbursement for judges' fees and ribbons. The extension leader of each county or unit shall certify to the State 4-H Officer under oath on a form furnished by the Department the amount paid out in judges' fees and ribbons at the show or exhibition for the current fair season and the name of the officer or organization making the payments. This certification shall be accompanied by itemized receipts as evidence of the certified amounts, and it must be filed with the Department before December 31 of each year. Upon receipt of the certification the Department shall reimburse the officer or organization making the payments in accordance with the provisions of this Section. (d) Subject to continued appropriation and availability of cash. All extension publications stating that cash premiums will be awarded shall recite that awards are subject to modification or cancellation in any year for which the General Assembly fails to make an appropriation to fund the premiums. (Source: P.A. 97-214, eff. 7-28-11.)
30 ILCS 120/15 (Repealed)
(30 ILCS 120/15) (from Ch. 85, par. 665) Sec. 15. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 81-159. Repealed by P.A. 91-934, eff. 6-1-01.)
30 ILCS 120/16
(30 ILCS 120/16) (from Ch. 85, par. 666) Sec. 16. Agricultural education. Agricultural Education Section Fairs, which shall not be located in more than 25 sections, shall be organized and conducted under the supervision of the Department. The Department shall designate the sections of the State for Agricultural Education Fairs. These fairs shall participate in an appropriation at a rate designated by the Bureau that is in compliance with the current year's appropriation for each section holding an Agricultural Education Section Fair or Fairs during the current year. Such monies are to be paid as premiums awarded to agricultural education students exhibiting livestock or agricultural products at the fair or fairs in the section in which the student resides. No premium shall be duplicated for any particular exhibition of livestock or agricultural products in the fair or fairs held in any one section. Within 30 days after the close of the fair, a section fair manager as designated by the Department shall certify to the Department under oath on forms furnished by the Department a detailed report of premium awards showing all premiums awarded to agricultural education students at that fair. Warrants shall be issued by the State Comptroller payable to the agricultural education teacher or teachers on vouchers certified by the Department. If after all approved claims are paid there remains any amount of the appropriation, the remaining portion shall be distributed equally among the participating agricultural education section fairs to be expended for the purposes set forth in this Section. A fiscal accounting of the expenditure of funds distributed under this paragraph shall be filed with the Department by each participating fair not later than one year after the date of its receipt of such funds. For State fiscal year 2020 only, any section unable to hold an Agricultural Education Section Fair or Fairs shall receive all funds appropriated, at the rate designated by the Bureau of County Fairs, for the purpose of issuing premiums awarded to agricultural education students. Warrants shall be issued by the State Comptroller payable to the agricultural education teacher or teachers on vouchers certified by the Department. (Source: P.A. 101-636, eff. 6-10-20.)
30 ILCS 120/17
(30 ILCS 120/17) (from Ch. 85, par. 667) Sec. 17. Fair and expositions. (a) Any county fair eligible to participate in appropriations made from the Agricultural Premium Fund may elect instead in any odd numbered year to participate in the appropriation from the Fair and Exposition Fund. The Department must be notified of such election by January 1 of the year of participation in that fund. Any such election shall be binding for 4 calendar years. No county fair may choose to participate for the same calendar year in appropriations under both this Fund and the Agricultural Premium Fund. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, during State fiscal year 2026 only and regardless of prior elections under this Section, the Department may make payments to county fairs from the Fair and Exposition Fund for amounts otherwise payable under this Act from the Agricultural Premium Fund, subject to the same conditions as if the moneys were paid from the Agricultural Premium Fund, and receipt of such payments from the Fair and Exposition Fund shall not affect the county fair's prior election under this Section. (Source: P.A. 104-2, eff. 6-16-25.)
30 ILCS 120/18 Money shall be paid into the Fair and Exposition Fund by the Illinois Racing Board, as provided in Section 28 of the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975
(30 ILCS 120/18) (from Ch. 85, par. 668) Sec. 18. Money shall be paid into the Fair and Exposition Fund by the Illinois Racing Board, as provided in Section 28 of the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. The General Assembly shall from time to time make appropriations payable from such fund to the Department for distribution to county fairs. Such appropriations shall be distributed by the Department to (i) county fairs which are eligible to participate in appropriations made from the Agricultural Premium Fund but which elect instead to participate in appropriations made from the Fair and Exposition Fund and (ii) county fairs that participate in the Agricultural Premium Fund under Section 17 but which receive moneys from the Fair and Exposition Fund under subsection (b) of Section 17. If a county has more than one county fair, such fairs shall jointly elect to participate either in appropriations made from the Agricultural Premium Fund or in appropriations made from the Fair and Exposition Fund. All participating county fairs of the same county shall participate in the same appropriation. Except as otherwise allowed by the Director, a participant, to be eligible to expend moneys appropriated from the Fair and Exposition Fund for the purchase of new or additional land construction or maintenance of buildings, grounds, facilities, infrastructure, or any improvement to the grounds must hold the land on which such fair or exposition is to be conducted as a fee or under a lease of at least 20 years, the terms of which require the lessee to have continuous possession of the land during every day of the lease period, or must be owned by the fair association participating in this disbursement, by an agricultural society, or by a fair and exposition authority. (Source: P.A. 104-2, eff. 6-16-25.)
30 ILCS 120/19
(30 ILCS 120/19) (from Ch. 85, par. 669) Sec. 19. Each year, beginning in State fiscal year 2001, each county fair or Fair and Exposition Authority that received moneys from the Fair and Exposition Fund during State fiscal year 2000 shall receive from that Fund an amount equal to that received in State fiscal year 2000. If an eligible county fair elects to begin participation in an appropriation from the Fair and Exposition Fund in State fiscal year 2001 or thereafter, an additional amount shall be appropriated not to exceed an amount equal to the number representing the last official census of that county multiplied by the amount determined by dividing the amount appropriated for State fiscal year 2000 by the total official census of those counties that participated in State fiscal year 2000, except that no county fair shall receive an amount greater than the largest amount received by a county fair or Fair and Exposition Authority in 2000. In the event a county has more than one fair participating in such appropriation, that county's share shall be divided equally among them. (Source: P.A. 91-934, eff. 6-1-01.)
30 ILCS 120/20
(30 ILCS 120/20) (from Ch. 85, par. 670) Sec. 20. Appropriations made from the Fair and Exposition Fund may be used for financing agricultural, educational, trade and scientific exhibits; for premium and award purposes as set forth in subsections (a) through (e) of Section 9; for premiums to agricultural extensions or 4-H clubs; for premiums to vocational agriculture section fairs; for rehabilitation of county fairgrounds; for distribution to encourage and aid county fairs and other agricultural societies; for grants and other purposes for county fair and State Fair horse racing; and for other expenses incurred by the fair that are directly related to the operation of the fair and approved by rule by the Department if the participant holds the land on which the fair or exposition is conducted as a fee or is under a lease of at least 20 years (the terms of which require the lessee to have continuous possession of the land during every day of the lease period), or is owned by the fair association participating in this disbursement, by an agricultural society, or by a fair and exposition authority, except as otherwise allowed by the Director. (Source: P.A. 104-2, eff. 6-16-25.)
30 ILCS 120/21 (Repealed)
(30 ILCS 120/21) (from Ch. 85, par. 671) Sec. 21. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 87-1219. Repealed by P.A. 91-934, eff. 6-1-01.)
30 ILCS 120/21.5
(30 ILCS 120/21.5) Sec. 21.5. No county fair shall qualify for disbursements made by the Department from an appropriation made under the provisions of this Act unless it notifies the Department in writing of its declaration of intent to participate by December 31 of the year preceding the year in which such distribution shall be made. The notification shall state the following: the facts of its organization, location, officers, dates of exhibitions, approximate amount of premiums to be offered and the estimated amounts to be expended, and the purpose for the expenditures. Before the end of the calendar year following the expenditure, each participant receiving money shall make an accounting of it to the Director. (Source: P.A. 91-934, eff. 6-1-01.)
30 ILCS 120/22
(30 ILCS 120/22) (from Ch. 85, par. 672) Sec. 22. No appropriation made under the provisions of this Act shall be used for the payment of the salary of any officer or employee of any fair. (Source: P.A. 91-934, eff. 6-1-01.)
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs.aspFetched: 10/17/2026