By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There could be some federal help coming for the Kansas State Fair, according to Kansas First District Congressman Dr. Roger Marshall.
"COVID has impacted the State Fair like most every business," Marshall said. "What we're suggesting is we use the agriculture marketing service, that's part of USDA. Typically, those funds are used for say, down in Mexico or perhaps in Japan or South Korea, trying to sell more beef, more wheat, more pork to those folks. When I think of the State Fair, of course, there's so many fun things. I think of all things fried food and the concerts, but really, its the best agriculture education piece that we do in the state of Kansas."
The Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act will provide $500 million in grant funding for agricultural fairs across the U.S. to ensure the continuation of agriculture-related events and competitions.
"They do a great job marketing and educating consumers," Marshall said. "Consumers want to know where their food comes from. We can share our conservation stories and so many great things."
Local, county and state fairs would all be eligible for funding assistance.
"We'll see where it goes," Marshall said. "We'll do our best. We'll keep fighting for it, but I think it's a great match. This is very bipartisan. We're out now trying to get more legislators to sponsor the bill. We need Democrats and Republicans across the country to do this. I'm fairly optimistic that we can get something like this done."
The Kansas State Fair is holding small events and livestock competitions, but the full-scale fair is off until 2021.