New Du Quoin State Fair manager, ag director are expected to meet staff today

Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Philip Nelson and newly named Du Quoin State Fair and Illinois State Fair manager Patrick Buchen are expected to be in Du Quoin at 1 p.m. today to meet with the fair's staff.

Planning for the meeting happened at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday during a telephone conversation with Du Quoin State Fair assistant manager Norm Hill. Buchen will manage both of the fairs in Springfield and Du Quoin, a flashback to the joint management of the fairs by Mike Dubois after Gov. Jim Thompson purchased the fair in 1986.

The staff says it is looking forward to the new chapter with only four months remaining before the 2015 Du Quoin State Fair.

Buchen has the credentials to be a great fair manager, having directed the Indiana State Fair operations. He is forward-thinking and has several ideas to enhance revenues at both fairs with an eye toward watching expenses. The newspaper will cover the first meeting at the fairgrounds.