Gov. Pritzker officially opens Illinois State Fair at ribbon cutting in Springfield

Posted on August 8, 2024
Gov. Pritzker (left) has peace offering for newspaper reporter Brenden Moore (right), who is pro-ketchup. (Photo courtesy: Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker led a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning to officially open the Illinois State Fair.

Illinois Department of Agriculture director Jerry Costello dares to dream big. “Two years ago, we broke the 2019 (attendance) record by 126,000. Last year, we broke that record by 72,000,” said Costello. “God willing, with great weather on a weather-dependent event, I think we are geared to break that record again.”

A question-and-answer between reporters and the governor, noting that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, which state – Illinois or Minnesota – has a better state fair.

“First of all, we have the better state,” answered Pritzker. “I have to say that we have been working hard to make our state fair the best state fair in the country, and I want to make sure we have the attendance of any state fair in the country. I haven’t looked at the numbers for Minnesota, but don’t miss this state fair!”

The Illinois State Fair runs through Sunday. Aug. 18.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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