Saratoga, NY – This week, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik once again cosponsored the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide grant funding to agricultural fairs based on their loss of attendance in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“County fairs are highly-anticipated annual events for our rural communities, youth, and families, helping to promote local small businesses, family farms, and agriculture,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I am proud to support this bill to help our county fairs overcome the unfair and unprecedented financial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I look forward to attending our fairs this summer!”
Specifically, the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act would:
- Provide $500 million in Agricultural Fair Rescue Grants to agricultural fairs, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
- Provide the grant funding to states or state departments of agriculture based on the loss of attendance those fairs experienced in 2020 compared to past years.
- Prioritize fairs that have faced the greatest financial hardship.
