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Growing Illinois Beef Expo returns to two-day show in new arena
The public relations manager with the Illinois Beef Association says the annual Illinois Beef Expo is expanding.
Olivia Hoots tells Brownfield the event’s three featured shows have a new home.
“We’ve moved to the show to the Coliseum, that big arena where a lot of times there’s horses.” She says, “This time we’re going to have our Illinois Beef Expo shows in the Coliseum. So, it’s going to be big. I know that it continues to grow.”
She says the added space of the Coliseum means the shows are back to a two-day event following last year’s change to three days.
“I really think they’ve been wanting to do it for a few years now, but it’s been under construction.” She says, “Now that it’s looking great, it’s the prime opportunity to capitalize on what the Illinois State Fairgrounds have to offer. Just with our growing numbers, it makes complete sense.”
Hoots says several consecutive years of growth in the Expo’s junior shows is a good sign for the future of the state’s beef industry.
“The juniors put a lot of hard work into their animals, year in and year out, and this is their Super Bowl.” She says, “It’s definitely a great, great opportunity to see what these juniors have done and what the different producers across the state have put together.”
The Illinois Beef Expo runs February 19th through the 22nd at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
AUDIO: Olivia Hoots – Illinois Beef Association
date: 2026-02-13 22:01:00
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