The proceeds of the sale of any interest in real property which is owned by any association shall be paid into the Fair and Exposition Fund. The amount which is paid into the fund shall be available for expenditure by the association, with the approval of the department and the State Public Works Board, for any of the following purposes:
(a)
Permanent improvements for fair purposes on the property of the association.
(b)
Purchase of equipment for fair purposes.
(c)
Acquisition or purchase of real property, including costs of appraisal or other incidental costs, to be used as sites for the permanent improvements.
The execution of any lease, easement, or agreement for the extraction of any oil or gas from lands owned or controlled by an association is not a sale of an interest in real property within the meaning of this section.