Livestock Show Interest High Despite Lower Premium Payout

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[With the early entry deadline not until Aug. 1, interest in the Du Quoin State Fair's livestock show is good despite the fact costs for participating are up slightly and premiums available for winners are down.

"Early entries have been as good as ever," said supervisor Danette Harbison.

Glen Hamilton, the key member of the Hamilton Angus Farm located in Ava, has the answers why exhibitors will continue to show their animals at Du Quoin despite the financial ups and downs.

"The Du Quoin fair's reputation alone is reason enough for guys like me and families like mine to continue showing regardless of the changes," Hamilton said.

"The Hamilton family members who have shown at Du Quoin are in their third generation and we'll be there whatever just because of the fair's tradition, the way the livestock show is run, the green grass and shade trees," he continued. "Other fairs have nothing but buildings and concrete or asphalt streets, but at Du Quoin everything is convenient for exhibitors."

"Your cattle are more relaxed at Du Quoin, too, and that means they're going to show better," Hamilton added.

Glen's father, Archie, first entered livestock at Du Quoin in 1962 and now his sons, Doug (28) and Dusty (24) have taken over after having first attended "when they were babies", Hamilton said.

Although admitting that "showing is a business for us as it's good advertising when our entries are successful in receiving top honors," Hamilton said while quickly adding, "The premium money is nice, but the experiences and good times we've enjoyed at Du Quoin are more important."

The changes at this year's fair include entry fees being increased from $10 to $15 while premiums in the beef cattle department have been reduced from $46,530 to $37,650. Other departments have had similar changes, dairy cattle $23,264 to $13,299, sheep $26,520 to $14,495, swine $17,750 to $13,450 and youth judging $1,112 to $680. At the same time, heavy horses and mules premiums increased from $9,885 to $11,435.

Overall livestock show premiums now totalling $91,009 were reduced $33,252 from a year ago.