Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Ag Commish Says Bills Will Cripple Fairgrounds

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture & Commerce Andrew Gipson issued the following statement. 

Commissioner Andy Gipson announced today that a pair of bills moving through the Mississippi Legislature this Session are threatening to end a large number of events traditionally held at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, both in Jackson, Mississippi.  House Bill 1357 and Senate Bill 2631 would restrict or prevent Fairgrounds and Ag Museum private event funds in the form of sponsorships, advertising and naming rights, sweeping private funds into the “control” of the State Legislature effective July 1. Currently, these voluntary private sector dollars fund Fairgrounds and Ag Museum operations, improvements, and repairs. 

Commissioner Andy Gipson said, “I have already been contacted by the main Dixie National Rodeo and State Fair sponsors, as well as by dozens of other event promoters who are adamantly opposed to these bills.  They see this as a money-grab by the Legislature; a true attempt to confiscate their voluntary private sponsorship dollars by the State. The result of this legislation will either be diminished investment in the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and the Agriculture and Forestry Museum, or an increase in taxpayer dollars going toward those facilities instead of private sector dollars. Both outcomes are unnecessary. Past legislatures have created laws and policies for the Fairgrounds and Museum to operate under state control but in the mode of a business to save taxpayer dollars.”

The passage of these bills would threaten not only the existence of the Dixie National Rodeo and Livestock Shows, but also the Mississippi State Fair and livestock shows and all the sponsored Fair activities and sponsored Ag Museum activities in Jackson.

In addition, most other private events on the Fairgrounds would be in jeopardy or have services and facilities diminished because the Mississippi State Fair and Dixie National Rodeo pay most of the operational and repair costs of the State Fairgrounds.

Commissioner Gipson continued, “All of our great livestock shows and horse shows would be at risk, plus any Trade Mart, Fordice Equine Center and Coliseum events.  I do not believe our Legislators really want to jeopardize the future of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and Ag Museum.”

The Commissioner observed, “It’s bad enough our Legislature has refused to fund the needed facilities repairs on the Fairgrounds and Ag Museum the last three years.  But now, they want to remove MDAC’s ability to partner with our private sector sponsors to pay for what the Legislature cannot or will not.”

All affected livestock show and horse show families and promoters, 4-H and FFA youth and all our private event sponsors should be deeply concerned if these bills become law.  

The House of Representatives passed House Bill 1357 on Monday, March 11, so now both it and Senate Bill 2631 are in the state Senate where only Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann has the power to make necessary corrections to the bills.

Commissioner Gipson said, “I urge everyone affected to contact Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann at (601) 359-3200 or e-mail ltgov@senate.ms.gov, and also contact your local State Senator and tell them to stop this money grab and support our ongoing Fairgrounds and Ag Museum events.  Ask them all to stop these bills, or work with the Commissioner to amend HB 1357 and SB 2631.”

Commissioner Gipson concluded, “If the Legislature persists in passing these bills as introduced, I can guarantee both the Fairgrounds and Ag Museum will lose many valuable private sponsors. As a result, there will be fewer events, less revenue generated, and less economic development for the City of Jackson and the State of Mississippi.  Rental rates will be forced up by the Legislature on all Fairgrounds venues.  And, instead of a destination for thousands of schoolchildren, the Ag Museum could quickly become a ghost town.  I remain cautiously optimistic that our elected Legislators will listen to the concerns of our great event promoters as well as our 4-H and FFA livestock and horse show families, before it is too late.”

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Some pols are trying to tap into the cowboy's "rice bowl."

Anonymous said...

Wonder why all hat, no cattle doesn't want the legislature looking over the books. Claims to be a fiscal conservative until oversight applies to him and then the sky is falling.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the Hat should have thought about this before he stepped off in the IVF s--t.

Anonymous said...

I don't know which one triggers the peanut gallery the most, Mr. White, or Mr. Gipson.

Anonymous said...

Certainly it needs oversight. But, isn’t that the job of the State Auditors office? Seems like some legislators want to get their hands on some of the sponsors Monty. “Why sho Boy I. A get. You a deal at the fairgrounds but I might need a litttle help. If you know what I mean.” Andy may play a role but he ain’t no dummy.

Anonymous said...

12:48
My thoughts exactly.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry, they are actively trying to figure out how to move the Fairgrounds and livestock arenas to Rankin County...behind closed doors of course. It's going to be over where the new Made in Mississippi Market is.

Anonymous said...

I back Gibson on this. The events there cover the costs of operation. Running the way it should. I hope the bill dies. And 12:48 PM, the books are fine. This has to do with legislature taking away the money for a self-funding mechanism.

Anonymous said...

I have lived in the Jackson area for fifty years and can count the number of visits on two hands. If you take away the Elvis appearances, you can count the visits on one hand.

Anonymous said...

2:07, read the bill. It defines the permanent location of the fairgrounds to prohibit it moving away. Also, this is just about oversight and accountability just like every other state agency.

Anonymous said...

Hat must have stepped on some toes of higher ups at the legislature.Maybe they see him as a contender in the LG and Gov race. Since we like to elect rednecks he has potential. Since White is taking out Finch maybe this is a chance to take another one out.Maybe this is Karma for him trying to shut down the Ganza and give it to his buddies. If anyone audits the books hopefully they can account for all the state employees working for the non profit agriculture and wildlife expo.

Anonymous said...

I support the Commissioner on this. Let's see who, exactly, sponsored these bills and why? Money grab?

Can't we just worry about jacked trucks and the State-Color?

Fuck around with the few things that come to Jackson and you'll regret it.

Anonymous said...

In 2016 , while in the legislature, Andy spearheaded a push to do exactly what he doesn’t want the legislature to now do this to his operation. Do your homework folks.

Anonymous said...

2:22
The legislature isn’t “Taking” away the money . Also the improvements were all requested when CHS was there and landed after she left.

Anonymous said...

I’m with the legislature on this. It’s no telling what you would find opening those books. The word “private” and government don’t mix. Sounds like the hat is freakin out about his private money being handled by someone else. Wish he would explain why these donations and events may go away when their donations are just routed through a different department with more oversight.

Anonymous said...

Most of you tools seem to be of the Rukia persuasion. Please carry on.

Anonymous said...

Yea, Hinds County has done such a tremendous job handling money.....

Anonymous said...

You Dems can bash Gipson all you want. But he has done a lot for the fairgrounds and that relic of a coliseum. Its actually a jewel in the pile of shit that is Jackson. I hope he moves the whole place. Most of you are just jealous that someone is actually doing something right.

Anonymous said...

Anything is possible. Wasn't somebody pimping at the fairgrounds?

Anonymous said...

Where there is smoke, there is fire. What does the legislature know, and when did they know it.

Does this mean that cowboy hats will no longer be purchased with public money?

Anonymous said...

This is political trickery. It will not be long before people will be calling him Governor-elect Andy Gipson

Anonymous said...

Andy,Andy,Andy, what do you have to hide here? Have you been following the Ole Jim Buck playbook?

Anonymous said...

This is old Delbert wanting his piece of the pie. He did the same to the MDA on loan interest. How much you get and I want it. We trust the Commissioner and went to the fairgrounds the first time since our boys were young and must admit it we enjoyed it. Delbert is a snake in the grass. He smells competition for Governor.

Anonymous said...

Ol' Andy is following the playbooks of OM and MSU - off the books money (and lots of it) spent on whatever the administrators want with no oversight by the auditor or anyone else because it is "private" money they say. Seems like everyone (including the legislature) is ok with it when it comes to their good ol' state U sports programs but they don't want the Hat to have that same "flexibility" with private funds.

Anonymous said...

Gipson, unlike so many other politicians who treated the Ag Commish position as a political springboard for other higher offices, has done a fanastic job as Ag Commish. He's a true ambassador for our state, and just ask anyone in the Ag or farming business about him. He's the real deal, and he does his job well.

Anonymous said...

An Agriculture Commissioner wearing a “cowboy hat” seems to really fascinate some of you commenters.
That’s like being surprised that a mechanic has his name on his shirt…. LOL

Anonymous said...

You folks have no idea. Its donated money. Free to the state. Its for bettering the fairgrounds/coliseum. You cant deny that Andy has been good for the State. Much improvement. Now you can hate on who you want to, but that money doesnt belong in the general fund


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