Reps. Johnson, Jackson, Switalski, Durhal, Bettie Scott, Young, Leland, Cushingberry, Lemmons, Tlaib, Bledsoe, Geiss, Sheltrown, Melton, Barnett, Gregory, Haugh, Donigan, Robert Jones, Byrnes, Huckleberry, Smith, Roy Schmidt, Womack, Constan, Daley, Lipton, Liss, Lori, Spade, Stanley, Valentine, Warren, Dean and Hansen offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 72.

            A resolution to urge the Governor and the Department of Agriculture to keep the Michigan State Fair operating.

            Whereas, Joseph L. Hudson, the department store mogul, and three associates acquired 135 acres which were sold to the Michigan State Agricultural Society for one dollar in 1905. An additional 32 acres were acquired, growing the site to 167 acres, before it was conveyed to the state of Michigan in 1921 by the Society. The legislation conveying the property to the state, 1921 PA 13, also created the Department of Agriculture. That act placed the land for the state fair under the control of the newly created department; and

            Whereas, America's first state fair was held in Michigan in 1849, making the Michigan State Fair the oldest in the nation. The Michigan State Fair provides a forum for those interested in Michigan's $64 billion agriculture industry. It provides incentive and inspiration for farmers to improve the quality of their product. It has provided children a means to learn about farming, especially as our state became more urbanized and lost more and more family farms to developments; and

            Whereas, The now 164 acres that comprise the State Fairgrounds provide space for a number of other activities. The Joe Dumars Fieldhouse, Detroit Equestrian Club, Little Caesar's Hockey Program, and the Youth Connection have a presence on the Fairgrounds. Other activities are hosted on the fair grounds, including dog and horse shows, auto swap meets, car shows, the Shrine Circus, and birthday and wedding parties. This state-owned land provides a significant agricultural presence in the Detroit area, as the Michigan State Fair Authority Board promotes the fairgrounds as a family-centered destination for education and recreation; and now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Governor and the Department of Agriculture to keep the Michigan State Fair operating; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Department of Agriculture and the Governor.