The Kentucky State Aid to Local Agricultural Fairs Program came into being in 1962, created by an act of the General Assembly. The program is designed to promote local agricultural fairs through grants of State funds. The Commissioner of Agriculture has charge of the Aid to Fairs Program, and it is administered by the Department of Agriculture's Division of Shows and Fairs.

The Commissioner is advised on matters concerning administration of the program by the Kentucky Fair Council, a group composed of various government and agricultural leaders.

Grants made to local agricultural fairs through the program are calculated on a matching funds basis with each dollar of State funds being matched with funds from the local area. The amount of any grant is based on the amount spent by the local fair board in the four qualifying areas listed below.

General Eligibility Requirements
Required Reports and Due Dates

Local agricultural fairs must meet various requirements of the Department of Agriculture in order to qualify for these grants of State funds.

General Eligibility Requirements for State Aid

To be eligible for grants of State Funds as provided in the Kentucky Revised Statutes 247.220 a local fair board must:

1. Conduct an annual fair running for at least three consecutive days.
2. Incorporate its Fair Board.
3. Present an educational program concerning agriculture through the medium of youth organizations such as 4-H, FFA, FHA, etc.
4. Provide for some divisions to be open divisions - open to both youth and adult exhibitors.
5. Have the following organizations represented in at least an advisory capacity on the Fair Board:
   • Local Farm Bureau
   • County Extension Service
   • Vocational Agriculture (FFA)
   • Local Livestock Association (if one exists)
   • Local Horsemen's Association (if one exists)
6. Publish an official fair catalog which includes:
   • A schedule of events planned as part of the fair.
   • A listing of fair officials and their responsibilities.
   • Local fair rules, regulations, and policies.
   • The State's Livestock Health Requirements for Exhibition.
   • A complete listing of all classes and events and the premiums offered in each.
7. Meet the requirements of the Division of Show and Fair Promotion for submitting certain reports, including:
   
   • Request for State Aid Form by March 1.
   • Open Dairy and Beef Show Information Form by May 1.
   • Rough copy of catalog at least 45 days before the fair opens.
   • Printed copy of catalog at least 30 days before the fair opens.
   • Complete financial statement of the fair no later than December 1.

Contact Show and Fair Staff

2008 Livestock Show Calendar (pdf)

District/Preview Beef Shows

District Dairy Shows

District Goat Shows

District Sheep Shows

District Swine Shows

Kentucky Proud Points Program (pdf)

2008 Local Agricultural Fairs and Livestock Shows

Kentucky National Dairy Shows and Sales

Agricultural Premium Program

The Agricultural Premium Program assists fairs in paying premiums and awards on agricultural related exhibits, shows, and contests. Fairs may receive up to $4,500 per year on a matching basis for these approved classes.

1. Livestock Shows. Any farm livestock, such as cattle, swine, sheep goats, etc., showmanship and fitting classes are also included.
2. Livestock Performance Classes such as milk production for dairy cattle, average daily gain contests for market animals, etc.
3. Halter Horses or Mules. Must be listed in the catalog and on the Financial Report as being halter classes.
4. Crops (tobacco, hay, grain, seed, etc.).
5. Garden Produce and Fruits.
6. Poultry and Poultry Products.
7. Bees and Honey.
8. Farming-related Judging Contests (livestock, tobacco, seed identification, etc.).
9. Foods (cooking, canning, preservation, etc.).
10. Any class limited to exhibits produced in conjunction with an approved 4-H, FFA or FHA project. Must be clearly listed in the official fair catalog as part of the 4-H, FFA or FHA Division or Department.

* The following classes became eligible for funding in 1998:

• Flowers
• Clothing
• Home Furnishings
• Handicrafts
• Antiques

Horse Events Premium Program

The Horse Events Premium Program assists fairs in paying premiums and awards for any shows, contests, or other events which primarily involve horses (harness horse racing is not included, as it receives aid through a separate program). Fairs may receive up to $2,000 per year on a matching basis for approved horse events classes.

Approved local agricultural fairs are eligible for State Matching funds of up to $2,000 per fair for payment of premiums and awards in the following classes:
A. Horse Shows (English, Western, Walking, 4-H, etc.)
Note: This includes all horse show classes with the exception of horses which are shown at halter. Halter classes should be reported separately as "Livestock Classes".
B. Horse Racing.
C. Horse, Pony or Mule Pulling Contests.

Harness Horse Racing Program

The Harness Horse Racing Program assists fairs in paying purses for harness horse racing. Fairs may receive up to $7,000 per year on a matching basis for harness racing, with a maximum of $750/race being matched by State funds.

Building Program

The Building Program assists fairs in purchasing land for fairgrounds, constructing new buildings or making other improvements on their fairgrounds, and maintaining or repairing buildings and other facilities on the fairgrounds.

The Building Program is set up on a matching funds basis in the same way as the other portions of the overall program. Funds received from the State must be matched by local money on any approved project. Fairs can qualify for an additional $3,000 grant on a matching basis for these capital improvements. The fair board must either own or hold a long-term, renewable lease on their fairgrounds.

A special provision of this program allows fairs to carry over excess amounts from capital building and improvement projects from year-to-year until grants have been made totaling one-half of the entire cost.

What qualifies for aid?

Examples of expenditures which qualify for grants under this program are: The purchase of land; the construction of new buildings, bleachers, fences, etc.: the installation of utilities; road building and other grading and landscaping work; and repair or maintenance of existing facilities.

The buildings and facilities must be used primarily in conjunction with the fair, and must be constructed either on land owned by the fair board or on land for which the fair board holds a renewable lease. The Division of Show and Fair Promotion may require the local fair board to file a copy of leasing agreement.

What must a fair do to participate?

In order to participate in the Building Program a fair must first make application and be accepted in the overall aid program. Application for assistance in the building program must then be made on the proper forms by June 1 of the year that the work is to be completed. Request for State Aid in the Building Program forms (see sample this section) will be distributed after fairs are accepted in the overall aid program or upon individual request.

Upon acceptance of the fairs request for the building program, assistance by the Division of Show and Fair Promotion will be supplied with the Financial Report of the Building Program form (see sample this section). Upon completion of the approved project(s), fair officials must prepare the Financial Report of the Building and submit it for payment. This report must include an itemized list of the actual expenses plus a copy of all receipts of any work completed (materials, labor, etc.). It must be signed by an official of the fair and properly notarized. The report is due in the offices of the Division of Show and Fair Promotion within 45 days after the project is completed or no later than December 1.

When will be payments be made?

The building program grant is disbursed in two payments. The first building payment will be one-fourth of the total amount submitted on the fair's building report, up to a maximum of $1,500. This payment will normally be sent within four weeks after receipt of the notarized report.

The second building payment will not be made until all financial statements and building reports are received by the Division of Show and Fair Promotion, and the total amount required for all grants is known. At this point, the second building payments may be adjusted, on an equal basis to bring the total grants in line with the funds available in the Aid to Fairs Program budget. These second building payments are normally sent out around the end of the calendar year.

What about large building program projects?

The Kentucky Fair Council has authorized a special provision within the Building Program which allows fairs to "resubmit" building projects over a period of years until the State has provided matching funds equaling one-half of the cost. For example, a local fair which spent $12,000 for a new cattle barn would submit this project in the year it was actually completed and receive the $3,000 building grant (if payments were not adjusted). The following year, the fair would resubmit the "carryover" from this project on its Request for State Aid for the Building Program form.

The amount of carryover is calculated by subtracting the amount of aid received AND an equal amount of local matching funds from the original amount submitted. In this case, the calculation would be: $12,000 (original amount) minus $3,000 (state grant) minus $3,000 (local matching funds) equals $6,000 (amount of carryover). The fair may add to this carryover any new building projects it will be completing in the current year. The carryover, plus any new work, are later reported in the same way on the Financial Report of the Building Program form. In the following year the process is repeated, again by reducing the total amount submitted in the previous year by the amount of building grants received and an equal amount of local funds.

Sample of both request and report forms showing how carryover is submitted are included in this section. To assist fairs in properly resubmitting their carryover, the Division of Show and Fair Promotion will normally fill in these amounts on each fair's request and report forms before mailing them out. It is important to remember, however, that resubmission of carryover is NOT AUTOMATIC. Fairs must file the proper forms each year, even if they are only resubmitting carryover and not submitting any new work. The Division must receive the forms, properly signed and notarized in order to issue grants.

Local agricultural fairs must meet various requirements of the Department of Agriculture in order to qualify for these grants of State funds.

Required Reports and Due Dates