Livestock and Commodity Exposition Competitive Grants

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development offers this grant opportunity to associations or other organized events hosting fairs or expositions showing livestock and commodities. The FY 2026 purpose is to award, through a competitive grant process, up to a total of $25,000 to county fairs, regional fairs, local fairs, festivals or livestock and commodity expositions that are a non-profit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(5).

A fair, festival or exposition means a congregation, gathering or collection of livestock and/or commodities that are presented or exposed to public view for show, display, swap, exchange, entertainment, educational event, instruction, advertising, or competition.

Associations or other organized events hosting fairs, expositions, festival, or statewide non-profit organization representing festivals are eligible to apply for grants. Applicants must be a non-profit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(5).

Funding qualifications:

• Fairs applying for grant funding must have submitted all required year-end reports for the prior three years. Grant requests for new livestock and commodity classes that will increase the number of exhibitors and have a greater impact on the surrounding community will be given priority.

• Livestock Exposition exhibitor requirements: an All-Species show offering youth and open classes must have at least 200 exhibitors; a Single Breed Show or Light Horse Show must have at least 500 exhibitors.

• Promotional Grants: Expositions, Festivals or Fairs applying for the promotional grants must show how the funds will impact attendance as well as the livestock and commodity industry.

• Organizations that have successfully gained contributions from outside sources will be considered before those that have not. Handwritten justification letters will not be accepted.

• Cost reimbursement grant and must have a dollar-for-dollar cash match.

• Grants will be awarded at a minimum of $1,000 and maximum of $5,000.

• Limit of one proposal per exposition, fair, festival, or statewide organization representing festivals; limit of one project and proposal per organization.

• Eligible expenses (not all-inclusive): financial support for awards in the form of premiums, equipment, products, etc.; promotional activities of the livestock and commodity expositions or festival.

• Ineligible expenses (not all-inclusive): salaries; indirect rates or cost; labor costs; IT equipment purchase or rental; machinery such as tractors or trailers; livestock purchased for use by an individual; building rentals.

• Project duration: May 2026 through August 31, 2027. Interim reports due September 15, 2026; final reports due September 15, 2027.

Complete the grant application and use the prescribed format to complete a grant request. All grant proposals shall be submitted electronically to MDARD via the MiAgGrants system, using a MiLogin Citizen Account (individual, personal transaction) or Business Account (on behalf of a business, organization, or corporation).

The 2026 grant cycle request opened October 15, 2025 and grant proposals were due March 18, 2026 at 5pm EST. Recipients are announced in early May 2026.

Questions: Zane Stanton, Financial Analyst, Executive Office, StantonZ@michigan.gov, 517-855-0041.

• FY 2026 Livestock and Commodity Exposition Grant Program Guidelines (PDF)

• MiAgGrants help page

• MDARD grant recipients dashboard

• Sign up for email updates about Michigan agriculture grants