SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois State Fair (ISF) theme, “Grow With Us,” could not be more timely, according to Fair Director Rebecca Clark.

“I’m really excited to be back. My family farms in Jasper County, and I’m really excited to be back in agriculture,” said Clark, who grew up on an Illinois farm. “Our theme is ‘Grow With Us,’” she said. “Our mission is agriculture, and we enjoy this opportunity to showcase how agriculture touches every Illinoisan.”

There are currently no COVID or other restrictions placed on any 4-H or FFA entrants to either of the Illinois State fairs, the ISF director told Farm World.

“(But) Covid is a very fluid situation. The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) will follow CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidance,” Clark said. “As of now there are no restrictions pertaining to COVID at the Illinois State Fair. We are in the monitoring process, and Avian influenza is still being detected in the state, so that is something we are monitoring in our animal and health welfare, and we are continuing to monitor. For now, everything is on for the state fair.”

With COVID restrictions lifted, Clark looks forward to hosting a full complement of blue and gold FFA jackets and 4-H youth at both the Illinois Springfield and DuQuoin State Fairs. “It has been a very long two years. Just the feeling of normalcy – that’s what I see happening here,” Clark said. “The possibility of returning to normal.”

Entry prices and parking fees for the Illinois State Fair have not increased, Clark pointed out, despite rampant inflation.

Agriculture Day will be Aug. 16 at the ISF. It will be capped off by a grandstand performance by Willie Nelson. “We have an amazing grandstand lineup that we’ve put together, and we have a big spotlight on Willie Nelson and Family and Elle King taking the Grandstand stage on Agriculture Day,” Clark said.

Illinois State Fair officials are anticipating large crowds at both the Springfield and DuQuoin fairs, with COVID-19 restrictions relaxed after two years. But the actual value of the Illinois State Fair is determined not in the attendance figures, but in its significance to the community, according to Clark.

“(Attendance count) is not what is really important,” she said. “What is important is what we offer to our community, the value we are giving each exhibitor that comes in the gate and the experience we are providing to (the public). How much benefit we are giving the community, our local economy and our state’s economy. This is what we should really be looking at – that’s really the value of the state fair, the revenue and the experience, the tax dollars and things like that.

“I hope that the weather cooperates and we have high attendance numbers. But really, the spotlight should be on the impact we have on the community, and the impact on the exhibitors that are showing here at the Illinois State Fair.”

Since reassuming her role as ISF director in January (Clark previously served as fair director from 2009-2016), she has focused much of her time on examining the fair’s policies and procedures. “How can we make this fair a better experience not only for our exhibitors, but also for my staff as well? We are a small team of eight including my staff and myself, putting on a giant fair, an 11-day spectacle. I want to make sure I am creating a great experience not only for our exhibitors, but I want to improve efficiency all across the board. That’s one of the things that I’m really trying to pay attention to,” Clark said. 

Illinois 4-H members are looking forward to the return to normalcy during this year’s fair, according to Dan Jennings, Illinois 4-H livestock advisor. Award-winning 4-H members will have an opportunity to display their project work during three days of the Illinois State Fair, including the junior livestock show, as they compete for grand champion honors in sheep, goats, swine, dairy and beef.

What is still in question is the status of avian competitions and exhibits at the ISF, due to the continued presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Illinois. As of now, 4-H chapter members are moving forward with their eyes on the big stage of the ISF, though contingency plans are in place.

“We have a plan put together, but we are following the orders of the Illinois Department of Agriculture,” 

ISF and 4-H leaders are considering an online 4-H avian competition if a quarantine on poultry exhibits is continued by the IDOA, according to Jennings. “The kids are kind of used to that, since COVID,” he said. “They would still get their premium funds and ribbons this way.”

The Illinois State Fair in Springfield is Aug. 11-21. The Du Quoin State Fair will be held Aug. 26-Sept. 5. 

For a schedule of events and general information on the 2022 Illinois State Fair, visit www2.illinois.gov/statefair/info.