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Addressing economic and educational losses from county fair cancellations

COVID-19 impacts are prompting the cancellation of state and county fairs across the nation, bringing economic and educational losses to communities.

Illinois Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello tells Brownfield there is concern that some county fairs may not financially recover to start back up in 2021.

“Obviously from a financial impact that is concerning, but at the end of the day the health and safety of the people of the state of Illinois has to be the number one concern.”

He says as of Friday 54 of Illinois’ 103 county fairs had postponed or cancelled, which also takes away an annual opportunity for consumer awareness and agriculture education. But, Costello says the impacts from COVID-19 have helped fill that gap.

“I think we have all learned how interconnected both agriculture and urban areas are and I think that is something that will be highlighted even more as this pandemic unfortunately may go on.”

The Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair have also been cancelled for 2020.