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Skagit County Fair organizers preview events, year-round fairgrounds activity and capital work
Summary
Fairgrounds staff told commissioners the Skagit County Fair will begin in 16 days, outlined year‑round events, youth participation levels, capital projects and grant funding for restrooms and sewer, and highlighted partnerships that support community programming and accessibility.
At the July 22 Skagit County Board of Commissioners meeting, Skagit County Fairgrounds staff outlined plans for the 2025 fair, year-round programming at the fairgrounds and recent capital and operational work.
Eric Ather, the fairgrounds manager, said the fair is the county’s longest‑running event (126 years) and described year‑round use of the grounds, including about 45 public and community events annually, ride nights for 4‑H, race car use in winter months, the Master Gardener Plant Fair, the Skagit Wood Expo and recent Highland Games. Ather said the fairgrounds has three full‑time staff listed as himself, an assistant manager and a maintenance technician, and depends on a large corps of volunteers and contributions from county parks staff.
Frances Ngranzu, assistant fair manager, gave event and participation statistics from 2024 and early 2025 planning: the fair typically draws 28,000–30,000 attendees over four days, fields three stages with more than 100 performances, supports about 580 exhibitors (a year‑over‑year increase), and recorded roughly 4,500 total exhibits including nearly 600 livestock entries in 2024. She said the hog barn for the market sale was full and that turkey market entries increased from three to 12 compared with the previous year.
Ngranzu and Ather described youth programming and partnerships: the fair supports 4‑H and FFA; Skagit County 4‑H program coordinator Nicole Jones said Skagit has roughly 500 4‑H members and about 600 livestock entries were expected this year. The fairgrounds staff highlighted Skagit Farm Circle (a school program for third graders), a Read to Win literacy partnership with county libraries, and charity initiatives such as a Stuff the Bus diaper drive on Aug. 7 and the Skagit County Junior Livestock Sale on Aug. 9 at 10 a.m.
The presentation covered recent capital and grant‑funded projects: a restroom and sewer line project funded in part by a Washington State Department of Agriculture capital grant (the restroom grant figure cited was $250,000) and supplemental funds from Ag West (cited as $43,000). Staff also noted a recent LED lighting upgrade carried out at no cost through utility upgrade programs, and that the restroom/sewer work had been completed in phases.
Staff said the fairgrounds hosts additional non‑fair events that provide revenue, including garage sales and a fall car show, and that many vendor and exhibitor addresses come from nearby counties (Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish). They listed named sponsors and partners—Cascade Natural Gas, Molina Healthcare, Northwest Propane, Mount Vernon Kiwanis, and local nonprofits who run concessions or parking to raise funds for community programs. Staff also announced new events being considered for 2026, including a large pesticide training with WSU Extension, the State Grange Convention, and possibly a Renaissance fair.
Commissioners asked questions and thanked staff and volunteers. Commissioner Wiesen and Commissioner Browning both praised 4‑H and FFA participation; no formal motions or funding requests were made during the presentation.
