LITTLE ROCK, AR - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture today announced more than $1.4 million in funding to support Arkansas’ local fairs and livestock shows.

The funding - awarded through the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Fair Funding Program - will assist with operational costs, facility improvements, and livestock-related expenses at 80 different fairs and livestock shows across the state.

“Agriculture isn’t just Arkansas’ largest industry - it’s part of our way of life,” said Governor Sanders. “The Fair Funding program helps showcase our farmers and ranchers and gets the next generation excited about agriculture - while also being a great way for small town Arkansas to come together and have fun.” 

“We’re proud to work with fairs and livestock shows throughout the state to highlight the importance of our state’s largest industry and provide opportunities for the next generation to participate in the industry that provides the food, fiber, fuel, and shelter that is critical to the daily lives of every Arkansan,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward.

The fairs and livestock shows receiving funding are below:

• Arkansas State Fair - $84,000
• Arkansas Youth Expo - $48,000
• Arkansas County Fair Assoc. Inc - $12,564.48
• Ashley Co Fair Association - $12,927.18
• Baxter County Fair Association - $15,336.66
• Benton County Fair Association Inc - $17,109.17
• Boone County Fair - $17,335.57
• Bradley County Fair Association - $14,208.45
• Calhoun County Fair - $13,678.08
• Carroll County Fair & Livestock - $14,611.26
• Chicot County Fair Association - $12,392.26
• Clark County Fair Association Inc - $14,311.12
• Clay Co Agricultural Fair Assn Inc - $15,542.56
• Cleburne County Fair and Livestock - $14,838.81
• Cleveland County Fair Association - $14,407.40
• Columbia County Fair & Livestock - $11,493.69
• Conway County Fair Association - $13,257.46
• Crawford Co Fair Association Inc - $15,150.29
• Dallas County Fair Association - $12,651.33
• Drew County Fair & Livestock Association - $12,097.00
• Faulkner County Fair - $15,794.98
• Fulton County Fair Association - $18,048.70
• Garland County Fair and Livestock - $14,487.19
• Grant County Fair Association - $13,525.21
• Greene County Fair Association - $14,839.92
• Hempstead Co Fair Association - $13,455.46
• Hot Springs Co Livestock Exhibition - $14,667.09
• Howard County Fair and Livestock - $13,642.83
• Independence County Fair Association - $15,598.16
• Izard Co Fair Association - $13,595.99
• Johnson County Fair Association - $13,713.10
• Lafayette County Fair & Livestock - $13,347.23
• Lawrence Co Fair Association - $13,148.39
• Lincoln County Fair Association Inc - $13,777.81
• Little River Co Fair Association Inc - $14,962.23
• Lonoke Co Fair & Livestock Association - $12,338.28
• Madison County Fair Association Inc - $19,599.02
• Marion County - $14,556.26
• Miller County Fair Association - $11,761.33
• Mississippi County Fair Association - $11,108.51
• Montgomery County Fair Association - $12,946.76
• Nevada County Fair - $16,208.76
• Newton County Fair and Rodeo Inc - $14,301.22
• North Franklin County Fair Association - $13,218.59
• Ouachita County Livestock & Fair - $13,598.60
• Perry County Fair Association - $13,430.35
• Pike County Fair Association - $13,169.20
• Poinsett County Agricultural Fair - $12,323.44
• Polk County Fair & Rodeo Association - $15,137.21
• Pope County Fair Association - $12,460.22
• Randolph County Fair Foundation - $13,991.55
• Saline County Fair Association - $14,288.22
• Scott Co Fair Association - $14,025.38
• Searcy County Fair Association - $14,197.13
• Sevier County Fair - $13,798.67
• Sharp County Fair Association Inc - $14,730.60
• South Franklin County Fair Association - $9,035.43
• South Logan Livestock & Fair - $13,329.89
• South Sebastian County Fair - $13,202.64
• St Francis Co Fair Association - $11,108.51
• Stone County Fair Association - $12,829.74
• The Logan County Fair Association - $11,684.21
• The Prairie County Fair and Livestock - $12,932.38
• The White County Fair Association - $11,559.08
• Three Co Fair Association Inc - $22,837.91
• Tri County Fair - $22,260.62
• Union County Fair Association - $12,158.50
• Van Buren Co Livestock Show & Fair - $15,695.37
• Washington County Fair Association - $13,449.89
• Yell County Free Fair Inc - $15,481.46
• Arkansas-Oklahoma Fair - $54,000.00
• Four States Fair - $54,000.00
• North Central Arkansas District Fair and Livestock Show Inc - $54,000.00
• Northeast District Fair - $54,000.00
• Northwest District Fair - $54,000.00
• South Arkansas Livestock Show - $54,000.00
• Southwest Arkansas District - $54,000.00
• Buffalo Island Ne District Jr Livestock - $5,400.00
• North Arkansas Jr District Spring Livestock - $5,400.00
• Southeast District Jr Livestock Show - $5,400.00
• Southwest Arkansas District - $5,400.00
• Washington County Fair Association - $5,400.00

In addition to administering funds through the Fair Funding Program, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture plays a vital role in safeguarding animal health during all fairs and livestock shows. Last year alone, livestock inspectors spent more than 1,600 hours at fairs across the state and inspected more than 1,800 cattle, 1,400 hogs, 2,200 goats, 1,000 sheep, 7,000 poultry, 1,700 rabbits, and 470 equine.

The Fair Funding Program was established to preserve and promote Arkansas’ agricultural heritage while investing in the future of the industry. As part of the program, funding recipients are required to maintain detailed financial records and submit an annual report to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Arkansas Legislative Audit. For more information on the Fair Funding Program, visit agriculture.arkansas.gov.