“Home of the Brave – 250 Years of Heroes” is the theme for this year’s county fair, scheduled for July 29 through August 2. Come visit CRG’s booth in the commercial building (and consider a shift staffing the booth).
Our fair, like many Western County fairs, is evolving beyond carnival rides and corn dogs into more educational, interactive experiences for the whole community. However, in addition to these positive changes, behind the scenes, there are concerns about the long-term future of the county fairgrounds.
In 2018, the Josephine County Fair appeared to be in serious decline. The county commissioners had eliminated financial support, and the aging fairgrounds seemed likely to be sold. That year, Tamra Martin became fair director and faced the challenge of restoring community trust. Her energy, combined with support from Travis Boersma, helped begin the revitalization of the century-old facility. Recognizing the shift toward multi-use event centers, Tamra Martin promoted year-round use of the fairgrounds. Rentals have been increasingly popular, and in the past year, the facility recorded over 950 rentals.
Sale proceeds resulting from Travis Boersma’s donation of Flying Lark created a permanent fund that now generates interest income to be used for capital improvements, fairgrounds maintenance and matching grants. Funds may only be borrowed from the principle if the Board of Commissioners and Fair Board agree to do so. Then the interest cannot be used again until the principle is repaid and back to its original balance
Despite this progress, challenges remain. County budget cuts have drastically reduced staffing, forcing the fairgrounds to rely solely on the income generated through facility rentals. Meanwhile, the aging buildings and grounds require extremely costly infrastructure upgrades.
In addition, the temporary loss of OSU Extension created complications and tensions. Careful cooperation and coordination by fairground leadership and participating groups is necessary to ensure that all FFA, Youth and Ag and 4H participants are treated equally and fairly.
When asked about the need for volunteer help Tamra commented, “The success of the Fair depends heavily on our volunteers. With more than 20 different exhibit categories open to the public, it would be impossible for staff alone to provide the level of expertise and support needed in every area. Volunteers who have experience and knowledge in specific skills help properly display exhibits, answer questions, and create a better overall experience for Fair participants and visitors. We are looking for additional volunteers in a variety of areas, especially in Fine Arts and Farm & Garden exhibits this year. In addition to helping in exhibit buildings during the Fair, there are many opportunities to assist with Fair preparation, light janitorial support during the event, and post-Fair teardown activities. Nobody needs to be an “expert” just willing.”
Like many fairgrounds statewide, Josephine County developed a master plan in 2021 to respond to changing public interests. The plan envisions a modernized fairgrounds experience with updated, multi-use buildings to replace aging barns. Proposed improvements include a new entrance off Ringuette Street, redesigned traffic flow, and a more pedestrian-friendly midway. While these upgrades will require time and funding, they aim to strengthen both the fair and the fairgrounds as a year-round community resource. View the plan here; https://www.josephinecountyfairgrounds.com/sitemap.aspx
Tamra Martin’s enthusiasm for the County Fair and the fairgrounds is contagious. Through strong management and promotion, she has helped align Josephine County with a broader movement to keep Western County fairs vibrant and relevant.