Celebrating the Illinois State Fair with Senator Doris Turner and Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello

·12 min·1 clip

The Illinois State Fairgrounds received $130 million in upgrades, transforming a century-old site.

The episode features State Senator Doris Turner, chair of the Senate Agricultural Committee, interviewing Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello. They open by expressing mutual appreciation and excitement for the upcoming Illinois State Fair, noting attendance growth from 508,000 in 2019 to 773,000 last year. Costello details extensive fairground improvements funded by $86 million from the capital bill and $55 million from the department's budget, totaling $130 million for renovations like the Coliseum, roads, and roofs. The discussion shifts to youth involvement, with Costello praising Turner's efforts to secure $550,000 annually for FFA, leading to a membership increase from 23,000 to over 43,000 in two and a half years. He also mentions that 4-H hours now count as excused absences in schools, boosting participation. Turner and Costello emphasize diversity in agriculture, citing a female FFA state president and increased minority participation in 4-H by over 30%. They explore broader agricultural trends, including the aging farmer demographic—average age 58.5—and the need for technology adoption among youth. Costello highlights the economic impact of agriculture in Illinois, which grew from over $17 billion to $26.4 billion in five years. The conversation touches on legislative support, with Costello noting continued investment in agriculture despite tight budgets and a 50% increase in department employees to 445 under the Pritzker administration. They conclude by reaffirming agriculture as the state's top industry and their collaborative efforts to advance it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Sound of the State