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Steele County Agricultural Society

EIN 41-6038084 · Owatonna, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND LIVESTOCK THROUGH EXHIBITS, SHOWS AND COMPETITIONS AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE MANUFACTURING AND HOME ECONOMICS THROUGH EXHIBITS, SHOWS AND COMPETITION.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
37
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$104,386, manager/secertary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $1.5 million spent. ORGANIZATION OF THE ANNUAL COUNTY FAIR THAT RAN AUGUST 12-17, 2025, INCLUDING LIVESTOCK SHOWS, CARNIVAL, GRANDSTAND EVENTS, 4-H EXHIBITS AND CONCESSIONS. THE 2025 STEELE COUNTY FREE FAIR HAD ATTENDANCE OF OVER 250,000 PEOPLE. THE INCOME AND EXPENSES ARE THE REMAINDER AFTER THE MAINTENANCE AND PREMIUM AMOUNTS WERE DEDUCTED FROM THE TOTALS. MOST OF THE INCOME AND EXPENSES GO DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE COST OF PUTTING ON THE FAIR. WE SUPPORTED ABOUT 20 COMMUNITY GROUPS (YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS) WITH AROUND $40,000 OF FUNDING.
  2. $108,439 spent. COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS FOR THE USE OF THE COMMUNITY FOR PUBLIC EVENTS, PRIVATE EVENTS AND STORAGE. THE EXPENSES ARE ESTIMATED BASED ON USE OF BUILDINGS, THE ESTIMATED MAN-HOURS AND OTHER EXPENSES FOR THE PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS AND AREAS USED BY THE COMMUNITY FOR EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. WE OFTEN DONATE STAFF TIME TO COMMUNITY EVENTS AND SOMETIMES DONATE THE USE OR RENTAL OF BUILDINGS. THE INCOME IS TRACKED MORE SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CATEGORY AND REFLECTS ACTUAL DATA.
  3. $31,723 spent. PREMIUMS AND AWARDS FOR ENTRIES MADE IN THE AREAS OF LIVESTOCK, AGRICULTURE, HOME AND CREATIVE ARTS, 4-H & FFA. THESE EXPENSES VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR DEPENDING UPON THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES AND CHANGES IN PREMIUM AMOUNT PAID. WE RECEIVE SOME SUPPORT FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR PREMIUMS PAID.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.