Vermont fair organizers praise $110,000 stipend, urge continued capital grants to fix aging infrastructure

Jackie Bolsom, the lobbyist for the Vermont Agricultural Affairs Association, told the Vermont Health Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on Feb. 19 that fairs across the state depend on a $110,000 annual stipend voted through the legislature and on periodic capital grants.

"We actually get a $110,000 stipend from the Agency of Agriculture that you all vote on in the budget and that is used literally to turn the lights on," Bolsom said, explaining the stipend covers day‑to‑day operating items such as premiums and ribbons. She said the committee‑voted capital grants this year total about $300,000 and are typically divided among fairs "about $30,000 to $35,000 per fair."

The stipend and capital grants, presenters said, are used to upgrade aging electrical systems, roofs and water infrastructure and to meet local building and fire requirements. "We literally could not operate without the stipend grant and the capital grant, as well," said Tim Shea of Champlain Valley Expo, citing electrical upgrades and an $80,000 roof project in which the fair used a $30,000 grant plus matching funds.

Caledonia County Fair President Chris Vance described using grant funds to improve facilities so the fair can host larger shows and protect public safety. "Originally [the show arena] cost us 56,000 for the entire building. Extension of 14 feet on each side is gonna be more like 130,000," Vance said, adding the fair draws about "20,000 paid attendance each year." He said improved facilities helped the fair secure the New England Holstein show under a three‑year contract.

Other presenters described recent projects and needs:

- Lana Contorski, representing the Vermont State Fair, said work on water pressure and a new fire hydrant addressed long‑standing problems around cattle barns and wash racks.

- Cindy Kayhart of the Addison County fair said last year's grant was used to add stone under carnival rides after flooding; this year the fair is building a post‑and‑beam "antique house" so organizers can stop renting wind‑prone tents.

- Nancy Howe of Tunbridge said a multi‑year electrical upgrade relied on hard‑to‑source transformers; Tunbridge expects about 32,500 paid attendees when its fair runs and serves as the town's primary park and event space.

- Scott Shee of the Bonneville Fair described more than $200,000 in recent electrical work, including a complete new service and breaker panels, and said about $134,000 of that came from state support.

Presenters also described fairs' roles beyond entertainment. Vance and Shea said fairgrounds provided staging during recent floods; Shea noted fairgrounds served as vaccine clinics and testing sites during the COVID‑19 pandemic and host public safety training at no charge. "Fairgrounds are often sometimes forgotten until the fair occurs or something bad happens in the community," Shea said.

Committee members praised the presentations and discussed whether to seek additional base funding. Representative Clark (committee member) said he and fellow appropriations leaders might "recommend some little extra money in the base funding" because fairgrounds serve year‑round community and emergency functions.

Why it matters: Organizers say the stipend and capital grants keep long‑running community institutions operating, preserve volunteer efforts, sustain local economic activity and maintain facilities used for emergency response. Several fairs reported multi‑year projects, critical electrical and water upgrades, and attendance figures that far exceed local populations.

Speakers listed in this report spoke during the fair presentations and public Q&A and are quoted above or summarized in their own words. No formal votes or motions were recorded during this portion of the committee meeting.