Gouverneur Agricultural & Mechanical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO INSTRUCT THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON AGRICULTURAL,HORTICULTURAL,DOMESTIC ARTS, AND ALLIED SCIENCE MATTERS THROUGH AN ANNUAL FAIR. TO PROMOTE AND FURTHER THE INTEREST IN AGRICULTURE IN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH LEADERSHIP THROUGH AGRICULTURALLY- RELATED COMPETITION AND PARTICIPATORY ACTIVITIES. TO PARTICIPATE IN AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORTS AIMED AT PROMOTING SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA.
- Income
- $531,226
- Spending
- $427,909
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- -3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- THE SOCIETY HOLDS THE GOUVERNEUR AND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY FAIR ANNUALLY IN GOUVERNEUR, NY. THE FAIR HAS BEEN HELD FOR 165 YEARS. THROUGH THE FAIR, THE SOCIETY EDUCATES THE ATTENDING PUBLIC ON AND PROMOTES A WIDE VARIETY OF INTERESTS THROUGH EXHIBITS AND COMPETITIONS INVOLVING: AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, BEEF CATTLEL DRAFT HORSES, POULTRY,SHEEP, DAIRY OPERATIONS, AND OTHER SMALL ANIMALS; HORTICULTURAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS VEGETABLE GARDENING, FLOWER CULTIVATION,MAPLE SUGAR PRODUCTION AND ORNAMENTAL PLANT VARIETIES; DOMESTIC ARTS SUCH AS KNITTING, WOOD CRAFTS, QUILTING,CANNED FOODS,BAKING,PAINTING,AND DRAWING; AND FARM EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS TRACTORS,WATERING TECHNIQUES AND ALTERNATIVE HEATING AND POWER METHODS. PRIZES FOR EACH COMPETION ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AND EXCELLENCE WITHIN THE COUNTY. A FIREMEN'S PARADE, HORSE AND TRACTOR PULLS, FIRE AND RESCUE DEMONSTRATIONS, AND HARNESS RACING SHOWCASE THESE ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDE RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE PUBLIC. THE FAIR ALSO HOSTS MUSICAL AND OTHER ACTS, CARNIVAL RIDES AND CONCESSIONS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT OF MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC. THIS ENTERTAINMENT SERVES TO ATTRACT THE PUBLIC TO THE FAIR. THE FAIR ALSO HOLDS AGRICULTURALLY-RELATED CONTESTS AND FESTIVALS AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR, SUCH AS PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, AS FUNDRAISERS AND MEANS OF SHOWCASING AGIRCULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS. THE SOCIETY HOLDS THE GOUVERNEUR AND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY FAIR ANNUALLY IN GOUVERNEUR, NY. THE FAIR HAS BEEN HELD FOR 165 YEARS. THROUGH THE FAIR, THE SOCIETY EDUCATES THE ATTENDING PUBLIC ON AND PROMOTES A WIDE VARIETY OF INTERESTS THROUGH EXHIBITS AND COMPETITIONS INVOLVING: AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, BEEF CATTLEL DRAFT HORSES, POULTRY,SHEEP, DAIRY OPERATIONS, AND OTHER SMALL ANIMALS; HORTICULTURAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS VEGETABLE GARDENING, FLOWER CULTIVATION,MAPLE SUGAR PRODUCTION AND ORNAMENTAL PLANT VARIETIES; DOMESTIC ARTS SUCH AS KNITTING, WOOD CRAFTS, QUILTING,CANNED FOODS,BAKING,PAINTING,AND DRAWING; AND FARM EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS TRACTORS,WATERING TECHNIQUES AND ALTERNATIVE HEATING AND POWER METHODS. PRIZES FOR EACH COMPETION ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AND EXCELLENCE WITHIN THE COUNTY. A FIREMEN'S PARADE, HORSE AND TRACTOR PULLS, FIRE AND RESCUE DEMONSTRATIONS, AND HARNESS RACING SHOWCASE THESE ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDE RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE PUBLIC. THE FAIR ALSO HOSTS MUSICAL AND OTHER ACTS, CARNIVAL RIDES AND CONCESSIONS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT OF MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC. THIS ENTERTAINMENT SERVES TO ATTRACT THE PUBLIC TO THE FAIR. THE FAIR ALSO HOLDS AGRICULTURALLY-RELATED CONTESTS AND FESTIVALS AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR, SUCH AS PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, AS FUNDRAISERS AND MEANS OF SHOWCASING AGIRCULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS.
- THE SOCIETY ENCOURAGES YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP THROUGH COMPETITIONS AND EXHIBITIONS AT THE FAIR AND SUPPORT 4-H, FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA AND THE GRANGE. THE FAIR INCLUDES DEDICATED SPACE FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND ENCOURAGES YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN EACH OF THE GENERAL FAIR COMPETITIONS AND EXHIBITS.
- $425,828 spent. EDUCATES ABOUT, PROMOTES AND ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND RELATED ACTIVITIES IN AROUND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, INCLUDING THROUGH HOLDING THE ANNUAL GOUVERNEUR AND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY FAIR.
- EDUCATES ABOUT, PROMOTES AND ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND RELATED ACTIVITIES IN AROUND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, INCLUDING THROUGH HOLDING THE ANNUAL GOUVERNEUR AND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY FAIR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on March 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on March 15, 2011.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending October 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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