Chris Brown and Ne-Yo together for under $100,000 a few years ago, but the cost quickly skyrocketed when they signed a multimilliondollar touring contract, and fair organizers were forced to look elsewhere for acts that year.

Though talent agents and industry analysis are a big part of the booking process, the governor of Illinois also has a say in who performs at the fair, says former fair manager Joe Saputo. Though he now markets the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Saputo recalls taking over the fair in 1995, when country singer Clint Black was already booked.

Then-governor Jim Edgar wasn’t thrilled at that selection, Saputo says.

“We were kind of on pins and needles about that, and it might have even been on Governor’s Day, which would have made it even worse,” he says. “But it all worked out. We didn’t really catch any heat over it.”

Saputo says Edgar always paid for his own tickets and made a point of attending shows.

“He always thought it was important to support the fair,” Saputo says. “I would say for at least 50 to 75 percent of the shows, Gov. Edgar would attend. He wouldn’t always stay through the whole show because he had a lot of other events, but he would come regularly.”

Saputo says the governor’s aides usually poll the governor for suggestions, and Edgar apparently suggested ditching longtime performers like Willie Nelson, a favorite of Edgar’s predecessor, Gov. Jim Thompson.

“I think Gov. Edgar was kind of tired of that and wanted to change things,” Saputo says. “Same with the Beach Boys.”

He remembers the fair’s agent at the time,

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