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Johnson County Free Fair Association urges continued county support for modernization plan
Summary
Stephanie Keis told commissioners the Johnson County Free Fair has invested in facility upgrades and is pursuing new revenue through rentals and events; she asked the county to maintain support for capital needs that she says support accessibility, safety and local tourism.
Stephanie Keis, a member of the Johnson County Free Fair Association board, told the Board of County Commissioners at a budget hearing that the fair is pursuing a multi‑year revitalization to modernize aging facilities and expand revenue opportunities.
Keis said the fair draws about 100,000 visitors during fair week and that the association invested roughly $277,000 in facility improvements in the 2026 budget year. She outlined itemized investments the board has made this year — grounds and parking, operations and technology, infrastructure work and enhancements to the visitor experience — and said those upgrades support higher rental revenue for non‑fair events.
"We have about 100,000 visitors per year," Keis said, adding that the fair expects to see rental income rise from about $12,000 in 2023 to an anticipated $85,000 in 2026 as buildings are used year‑round.
Keis emphasized electrical upgrades so vendors and food trucks can plug in safely, new bleacher seating and an announcer booth and sound‑system improvements to support the rodeo and concert programming the fair has expanded. She also described the association's strategic planning and a feasibility study that will evaluate options for administration, accounting and possible partnerships with municipal or county entities.
Commissioners asked for clarifications about the county contribution and statutory requirements for trophies and ribbons. The chair confirmed the county line item for the fair in the draft budget — a figure the chair identified from the packet as $89,005.61 — and noted a portion of that is statutorily required for awards; Keis said trophies and ribbons cost between $25,000 and $30,000 annually.
Commissioners complimented the fair board's outreach and said they were interested in the feasibility study's findings and in quantifying broader economic impacts such as tourism spending and restaurant and hotel patronage when those data are available.
The presentation closed with commissioners thanking the fair representatives; no formal change to the draft budget was made at the time of the presentation.
