New Hampshire and Michigan traded emails with Freedom 250 as the Great American State Fair moved from promise to paperwork, and the documents show states were trying to answer basic questions about cost, shipping and approval. The fair had been pitched as part of President Donald Trump’s nation’s 250th anniversary plans.
Only 40 of the 50 states officially signed up. Planning for the 16-day affair began in February, and states were asked to submit forms by May 25 describing booth plans, internal contacts, site leads, insurance and security.
New Hampshire's Budget
A New Hampshire organizer told Freedom 250 on May 19 that the state had almost no budget, writing, "We have almost no budget, so every penny counts!" The same organizer said, "It was unclear to us that the furnishings in (tables, chairs, etc.) would be a major cost," after Freeman quoted approximately $12,000 for furnishings that were separate from booth rental.
The organizer added, "Freeman said it is approx. $12,000 for the furnishing, which are not in the budget for NH. Even if it were, we do not have sufficient time to get the proper approvals." That left New Hampshire trying to decide whether to absorb costs for items Freeman described as furnishings only, or to build its booth in-house.
Michigan's Approval Requests
Michigan pressed Freedom 250 for written approval and logistics details over several weeks. On March 8, a Michigan state official wrote, "We’re worried about the short time frame between now and June so would like formal approval as fast as possible if we’re going to try and do this well," and on March 23 Michigan asked again for written confirmation so it could begin procurement related to planning.
Michigan then asked for a shipping address on April 6 and again on May 7, saying it needed one for items it had already procured. By May 26, Michigan officials wrote, "Current renderings and information leave several important operational questions unanswered," showing that the state still lacked basic details even as the deadline approached.
Freeman and Freedom 250
Freedom 250 said states could use whatever vendors they wished and that Freeman was only a recommendation. It also said Freeman was the designated provider for material handling services, labor and furnishings only, while offering a fuller package that included shipping, load-in, interior furnishings and restocking.
That split left states sorting out whether to use Freeman, another vendor or their own staff while still meeting the May 25 filing deadline. Freedom 250 also sent a late-May email requiring states to list the National Park Service as certificate holder or additional insured on their insurance policy, adding another step to a process already moving on a short schedule.
For states still weighing whether to participate, the practical question is now narrower: whether they can handle the costs, insurance and logistics on their own terms before the fair’s remaining planning window closes. Freedom 250 has not put forward a public accounting of how much it raised for the events or who its donors were.
