The CEO of the Clark County Fair, John Morrison, gave the board an early report on the 2025 fair, and then he listened as more than 20 board members discussed what they experienced during the “10 Best Days of Summer”

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

The Clark County Fair is always a work in progress.

Organizers take a year to prepare for the next 10-day extravaganza that happens every August in Ridgefield. Pretty much, as soon as the Clark County Fair ends, plans start for the next Clark County Fair.

In years past, John Morrison, the CEO and the fair manager, grants a “state-of-the-fair” interview of sorts with Clark County Today. He discusses what went well and what he hopes to improve in the future.

This year, though, Clark County Today was invited to the Clark County Fair Board critique.

For roughly 90 minutes last week, Morrison listened to more than 20 subject-matter experts on how the fair did throughout the fairgrounds for the 10-day event. 

The board of directors representing the exhibition hall, the vendors, the small-animal barns, the livestock, horses, the carnival, security, facilities and more had a few minutes to share their experiences of the 2025 fair.

All seemed impressed with the event, and many had suggestions to make it even better.

“I don’t think anybody is going to be surprised by the fact that we put on probably one of the best events in Southwest Washington,” Morrison said at the beginning of the meeting.

At the same time, the definition of a good fair is different for the many walks of life at the fair — whether it is the family of four or the security official or the parking lot attendant. 

“It depends on what you are here for. If you are here for the rides and you had a good time, the fair was successful,” Morrison said. “If you are here for the exhibits and you do well in the exhibits, the fair is successful.”

Morrison has always told Clark County Today that his No. 1 priority is a safe and secure fair. That, to him, defines success. 

While that remains true, he acknowledged in last week’s meeting that as CEO, he also has to consider other factors.

“When you look at the totality of the fair, I have to look at the numbers,” he told the large gathering in the conference room at the fair headquarters.

The 2025 Clark County Fair attracted just shy of 265,000 people. The Wednesday of the fair — a rare August rainy day — led to a less-than-average day. And the final day of the fair — a 98-degree scorcher — also brought down the total attendance, Morrison said.

Still, 265K is a fantastic number, Morrison said. The final Saturday of the fair brought in close to 40,000 people.

“We are just about at capacity of what we can do, with the grounds, the parking lots, the traffic,” Morrison said, adding that he is not worried about the yearly attendance marks. “We should bounce around 265, 270 for the foreseeable future.”

That final Saturday, though, emphasized to the board just how important it is to try to find new ways to bring in the crowd. The board is considering offering a larger discount to the fair for folks who ride the C-TRAN shuttles from throughout the county to the fairgrounds.

“When you take 40,000 people and (you have) 5,000 parking spots, that tells you we have to turn that lot maybe three times a day,” Morrison said.

This year, parking and security were handled by new contractors. Morrison and the rest of the board s gave rave reviews for the new teams. Morrison said that there is a learning curve, and security and parking should be even better in the future now that they have had a year of experience.

Other highlights from Morrison’s introduction to the meeting:

• Paid admissions were 18 percent higher than the average of the last five fairs. 
• All three VIP seating areas sold out for the three concerts on the first three nights of the fair.
• Butler Amusements, which provides the rides in the carnival, has six record days at the fair. 
• For the first time, more than $3 million in food was sold, up 6.4 percent from last year.
• Beer and wine just missed having an 11th record year in a row. Morrison said the hot final Sunday led to fewer people, and the sales just missed another record.
• There were 17 more vendors this year than last year.

Another highlight this year — something that was not planned until later in the summer — was the appearance of the legendary Budweiser Clydesdales. Morrison said organizers did not know they were coming until late June, early July. 

“They were a great addition to the fair,” he said, adding that he appreciated the flexibility of the exhibitors and others who made it possible. 

The Clydesdales went on parade at the fair on Thursday and Sunday. A couple from southern Oregon saw the appearance online Thursday, then drove to Clark County to watch the Clydesdales in person, Morrison said.

For 2026, Morrison said the plan is to continue with three concerts in the grandstands, one for the first three nights of the fair. Also, the two-day rodeo will return. The last five days, though, could see “a medium to a big shift” in the lineup with the motorsports. Side by Side racing and Tuff Trucks should be back, but there might be an additional day for Monster Trucks, and the schedule could change. All that will be decided in the coming months.

Ice Age Adventures was a featured exhibit aimed at families with children 12 and younger. A similar featured exhibit with a different theme was held in 2024, and a new theme — but the same targeted audience — is expected in 2026.

Morrison then asked to go around the room and hear feedback from the board of directors from all over the fairgrounds. 

The fair is fun.

The planning of the fair is serious business.

But a week after the fair, the critique can be serious fun.

In other words, every representative is there to improve the fair, but they also enjoy each other’s company and have fun.

An example: Morrison asked who had watched this year’s Demolition Derby. One board member said she liked it. 

“Well, look at your car,” Morrison said.

Some of the reviews:

The set-up of the Exhibition Hall with 4H, fine arts, crafts, hobbies, and more, left some feeling “trapped” with the black curtains dividing the different exhibits. Another observed that it seemed like it took longer this year for a spill to be cleaned on the floor of the Hall. Those in wheelchairs or scooters had trouble maneuvering in the Exhibition Hall.

“That will be fixed,” Morrison promised.

A couple board members asked for more signage, more education for people walking through the animal barns. The fair can do a better job of reminding people to ask permission before touching an animal.

Many noted that fairgoers said they missed the pony rides. Morrison said that there were some unforeseen circumstances this year, but he believed the pony rides would be back next year.

“Hopefully they know how much they were missed,” one said.

The Junior Livestock Auction was a success, numbers wise, but all agreed that the event took too long. Morrison said discussions have already started on how to make the auction more efficient.

The Passport to Fun was a huge success. The fair said a record 2,344 children completed the mission and earned a prize. One critique, though: A lot of parents or other adults also participated. One board member wanted to emphasize that the prizes should be for children. 

Another board member said he appreciated all the hard work, from management to staff.

“All the staff I saw working, they were trying to be part of the solution, not the problem,” one said. “A very positive response from everyone.”

Another noted that while he has been coming to the fair his whole life, for whatever reason, this year’s fair seemed “fresh.”

More than one also commented on the cleanliness of the bathrooms. That, one noted, is a big deal, and those who monitored the restrooms should be commended for their constant attention.

And another really appreciated whoever came up with this year’s theme: 10 Best Days of Summer.

“Kids and adults brought that to life,” she said.