Legislative Council OKs $2.2M for fairs

The Arkansas Legislative Council on Friday approved the release of about $30,000 to each county and district fair to help them recover from financial losses sustained last year when many were forced to cancel or curtail events.

The council, which conducts the General Assembly’s business when it is not in session, approved the one-time release of $2.2 million for 73 fairs from the state’s restricted reserve fund. The money could be released to the fairs’ governing boards and associations by Monday, state Department of Agriculture officials told lawmakers.

Sen. Ron Caldwell, R-Wynne, and Rep. Bruce Cozart, R-Hot Springs, successfully sponsored an appropriations bill to provide the $2.2 million, but the money had been withheld the past few months as part of the state’s budget surplus. Lobbying by fair associations and by lawmakers who said the money had been promised broke the logjam.

The council approved the release without debate.

Numerous fairs last year canceled their carnivals and limited attendance at livestock shows to exhibitors and their relatives, moved the shows online, or canceled them altogether.

The last of the 2021 fairs are being held this month, with the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show, set for Oct. 15-24 in Little Rock, closing the season.