A new report from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions shows agricultural fairs generate nearly $52 billion in economic impact across the United States.
David Grindle, President and CEO, says the 2025 Economic Impact Study highlighted the financial contributions from 1,400 fairs.
“We look at how much money the fair and fairgrounds spend and put into the community that they’re buying from local resources,” he says. “When we get into fair attendance, attendees who come in and they spend money in the community, they spend money at the fair.”
He also suggests that these events generate year-round income. “They are hosting events in the arena,” he says. “They’re hosting events and shows. They really are that big event space. That’s bringing tourism dollars in, so that’s showing that year-round impact.”
Grindle says more than 60 percent of the U.S. population attended a fair in 2024.
“They’re helping to educate and show people how to connect with the source of their food,” he says. “These fairs are connecting people back to rural America and showing them what it takes and the amount of work that our dedicated farmers and agricultural employees do.” Grindle says agricultural fairs will continue to support growth in rural communities across the country.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
For someone who grew up in a rural area and on a farm, fairs were something we experienced from a very early age. I can remember being a 4-H member and later an FFA member who exhibited livestock and crops at the fair. Later, as Director of Agriculture for the State of Michigan I connected with fairs in a different manner, helping to support them with prize money, promotion and regulatory assistance. We also were able to host the Governor’s Luncheon at the State Fair each year. Even today I occasionally have an opportunity to visit a fair somewhere in the country. For me it’s a bit nostalgic, but as this article points out, it is also a big boost to the local economy in many counties and states. Plus, fairs attract a lot of people.
Don’t overlook the fairs in your market area as a means of connecting to farmers/ranchers as well as the general public. For those farmers/ranchers be sure to promote AgPack® with nearly $50,000 in potential exclusive rebates and discounts. And, you may just want to have a new AGwagon on display!
