By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The Du Quoin State Fairgrounds have received over $50 million in upgrades, part of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s efforts to modernize the venue while supporters highlight the ongoing value of maintaining two state fairs in Illinois.

State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, said she will “keep fighting” for the Du Quoin State Fair, even as critics argue taxpayers should not maintain two state fairs.

“For people living in Alexander or Massac counties, Springfield is a four-hour drive — they’re actually closer to Nashville, Tennessee, than to our state capital. That’s why the Du Quoin State Fair is so important to deep southern Illinois,” said Bryant. “It may be funded at only a fraction of what Springfield receives, but it still serves a critical purpose. Some argue Illinois doesn’t need two state fairs, but in a state this large, we do.”

Bryant said the Illinois Department of Agriculture has historically aimed to break even on the Du Quoin fair and often exceeded that.

Pritzker this month announced $16.4 million in road repairs for the Du Quoin fairgrounds, adding to more than $30 million from his Rebuild Illinois program and $21.7 million in work completed by the fairgrounds’ own Buildings and Grounds team.

“Thanks to the leadership of Governor Pritzker and the Rebuild Illinois initiative, we’ve been able to address decades of deferred maintenance and work toward restoring the fairgrounds to their full potential,” said Jerry Costello, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “These upgrades not only enhance the visitor experience but also reaffirm the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds’ critical role as an economic engine for Southern Illinois.”

By comparison, the Illinois State Fair in Springfield has received roughly $140 million in combined funding from taxpayers, $53 million from the Department of Agriculture and $86 million through the Rebuild Illinois program.

Bryant defended maintaining two state fairs in a geographically large state.

“Let’s say you live in Du Quoin, it’s a three-hour drive to Springfield. My grandkids showed hogs at the fair this year, and they would never have been able to go to Springfield,” said Bryant. “Their parents wouldn’t have taken them. But it’s just a 30-minute drive to Du Quoin, where they can enjoy the same amenities as Springfield.”

Bryant explained tourism is Southern Illinois’ strongest asset, especially amid the region’s economic challenges.

“Another jewel for southern Illinois is the shooting complex in Sparta, which hosts the Grand American shooting competition and generates $20 to $40 million in tourism revenue,” Bryant told The Center Square. “On the few occasions it’s been canceled, the impact has been devastating for the region.”

When asked if Du Quoin should get more funding than Springfield, being the region faces economic challenges, Bryant said, “I don’t think we have to choose one fair over the other, as long as both remain at a level that showcases Illinois effectively. Du Quoin’s goal is always to stay affordable for families, so they don’t have to travel all the way to Springfield.”

The Du Quoin State Fair runs through Sept. 1.