$625,000 Committed to Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jill Carlson, Public Relations Strategist
[email protected] or (309) 502-2805
Compeer Financial Commits $625,000 to Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation
Funds will support renovations to additional livestock barns, Coliseum of Champions
Sun Prairie, Wis. (Aug. 11, 2025) – During the Illinois State Fair Ag Day Breakfast on Friday, Aug. 8, Jerry Costello II, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, announced a $625,000 commitment from Compeer Financial to the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation to fund ongoing upgrades to fairground buildings.
“We appreciate Compeer’s generous commitment to advancing agriculture in Illinois,” Director Costello said. “Their investment in infrastructure has and continues to strengthen the future of the Illinois State Fairgrounds, ensuring that our barns and buildings receive upgrades and renovations that will serve generations to come.”
Compeer has been a long-time sponsor and supporter of the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, serving as the first corporate investor to partner with the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation for 25 Series building restorations. From 2019 to 2023, the organization committed $320,000 to restore five livestock buildings, including the Hall of Champions. The newly announced sponsorships include:
$125,000 to fund renovations of one additional 25 Series barn, along with a 15-year named sponsorship. Barn 25L will undergo brick tuckpointing, updates to plumbing and electrical wiring, concrete repair, window replacement, and painting.
$250,000 for upgrades in Barn 110, showcased with named sponsorship of the barn.
$250,000 to support updates to the Coliseum of Champions, showcased with named sponsorship of the show ring.
“Compeer Financial’s commitment to the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation has been phenomenal. The partnership we have established to support historical livestock buildings will continue to benefit generations of agriculture families and fair visitors. We are confident others will be inspired by Compeer’s leadership and want to make their own mark on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in both Springfield and DuQuoin,” said John Slayton, chair of the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation.
“The State Fair serves as the culmination of weeks and months of hard work from our youth and their families to showcase the diversity of the agriculture industry in Illinois,” said Karen Schieler, manager of corporate giving at Compeer Financial. “Through our Fund for Rural America, we are proud to help ensure the relevance and safety of the buildings housing those exhibits. It’s another way we show our ongoing support for state and county fairs, rural communities, youth and agriculture.”
About the Fund for Rural America
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of agriculture education, youth engagement, rural development and community enrichment, agricultural advocacy and development, and cooperative initiatives. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. Learn more about opportunities available through the Fund.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $34.8 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial’s patronage program.
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