The Department shall establish and promote contests and exhibitions of various classes of livestock to be known as the “Land of Lincoln Breeders Awards for Purebred or Registered Livestock” and to be conducted at the State Fair at Springfield. Only animals bred, born and maintained in Illinois and owned and exhibited by Illinois residents shall be eligible to participate in such contests and exhibitions; however, such animals shall be permitted out of this State for a reasonable period of time for showings, exhibitions, breeding or reproductive purposes, or medical treatment.
     An annual appropriation from the Agricultural Premium Fund or the Illinois State Fair Fund shall be made for the “Land of Lincoln Breeders Awards for Purebred or Registered Livestock”. The percentage of the appropriation for each class or show of livestock shall be set by the Department in premium books. These premium books shall be maintained as a public record at the Department’s principal office in Springfield, Illinois, and made available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours, but shall be exempt from the rulemaking procedures of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.