Press Room

2023 News Releases

March 22, 2023

NOW ACCEPTING COMPETITIVE EXHIBIT ENTRIES

The Merced County Fair, presented by Valley Children’s Healthcare, is now accepting entries for its 2023 competitive exhibits! All Livestock & Still Competitive Exhibit Handbooks are available online now; deadline for majority of entries is Thursday, May 4 at 5:00 p.m. The Merced County Fair, presented by Valley Children’s Healthcare, is now accepting entries for its 2023 competitive exhibits! All Livestock & Still Competitive Exhibit Handbooks are available online now; deadline for majority of entries is Thursday, May 4 at 5:00 p.m. Read Complete Release.

March 16, 2023

MERCED COUNTY FAIR BOARD OFFICERS SELECTED FOR 2023

The Merced County Fair is proud to announce the 2023 officer positions for the 35th District Agricultural Association Board of Directors, which was voted at the February 13th board meeting. Those positions are: Vicky Banaga, President; Luis Lara, First Vice President; and Mark Erreca, Second Vice President. Read Complete Release Here.

January 30, 2023

MERCED COUNTY FAIR ANNOUNCES TERRI O'LEARY-COLLINS AS LIVESTOCK SUPERINTENDENT

The Merced County Fair is excited to announce Valley native and former Merced resident Terri O’Leary-Collins as its new Livestock Superintendent. Terri brings over four decades of experience in livestock shows, most recently as the Livestock Superintendent for The Big Fresno Fair, a position she has held for the past eight years and will continue on a contract basis. Read Complete Release Here.

2022 News Releases

December 5, 2022

MERCED COUNTY FAIR ANNOUNCES RICHARD SANDOVAL AS NEW DEPUTY MANAGER

The Merced County Fair is excited to announce Richard Sandoval as the new Deputy Manager for the Merced County Fair. Richard has an extensive history in the fair industry and the Merced community. Read Complete Release Here.

June 28, 2022

THE 2022 MERCED COUNTY FAIR RETURNED IN A BIG AND SAFE WAY THANKS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF THIS ANNUAL TRADITION AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS

The Merced County Fair’s Board of Directors, Management and staff want to thank the community for coming out to support the 2022 Merced County Fair presented by Valley Children’s Healthcare as it returned June 8 – 12 for a Fair that was “Bigger and Better Than Ever” after a two-year hiatus thanks to incredible support from the community. Read Complete Release Here.

June 9, 2022

Merced County Fair Partners with Valley Children’s Healthcare, Merced County Library and First 5 Merced County to Create the Early Childhood Literacy Partnership

As the Merced County Fair returns this year after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the focus is all on the children in the Merced County community. As such, the Merced County Fair has partnered with Valley Children’s Healthcare, the Merced County Library and First 5 Merced County to form the Early Childhood Literacy Partnership whose mission is to empower children to read, as well as foster a love for reading. Read Complete Release Here.

April 12, 2022

Merced County Fair Announces Its Return After a Two-Year Hiatus, Bringing Back Five Days of Fair Tradition and Fun This June

After a two-year hiatus, the Merced County Fair is thrilled to announce its official return this summer with an in-person fair filled with carnival rides, live music, action-packed Grandstand shows, community performers, still and livestock exhibits, fair food and more! The 2022 Merced County Fair will take place June 8-12 and will feature an incredible line-up for the FREE Outdoor Theatre Concert Series presented by Coors Light, as well as the Grandstand shows presented by Coors Light, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Save Mart and FoodMaxx. Tickets for the Merced County Fair will go on sale later this month. Read Complete Release Here.

March 17, 2022

Merced County Fair Board Officers Selected for 2022

The Merced County Fair is proud to announce the 2022 officer positions for the 35th District Agricultural Association Board of Directors, which was voted on at the December board meeting. Those positions are: Kim Rogina, President; Vicky Banaga, First Vice President; and Luis Lara, Second Vice President. Read Complete Release Here.

January 26, 2022

Merced County Fair Announces Dawn Stornetta as New Livestock Superintendent

The Merced County Fair is excited to announce Dawn Stornetta as the new Livestock Superintendent for the Merced County Fair. Dawn has a longstanding history in agriculture growing up on a 5th generation farm in Sebastopol, CA where her family raised sheep and cattle, she showed 4-H and FFA, went on to compete nationally on a livestock judging team, began as a high school ag teacher and now manages livestock shows throughout the Western United States. Read Complete Release Here.

June 7, 2021

The Merced County Fair's In-Person Livestock Sale Happens Saturday, June 12

The 2021 Merced County Fair’s modified in-person Livestock Show and Sale begins this Thursday, June 10 and runs until Friday, June 11. Then, the Merced County Fair Livestock Sale will be Saturday, June 12 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Yosemite Hall at the Merced County Fairgrounds with a livestream of the showring in the Hilmar Cheese Barn. There are nearly 500 hardworking 4-H, FFA and Independent exhibitors participating in this year’s modified in-person livestock show and sale at the Merced County Fair. Read Complete Release Here.

May 19, 2021

Merced County Fair is Seeking Sponsors & Buyers For Its Modified In-Person Livestock Sale, June 12

The Merced County Fair Board, Management and Livestock Department are excited to move forward with an in-person modified Livestock Show and Sale for Merced County’s hard-working 4-H and FFA students. The Merced County Fair Livestock Show takes place Thursday, June 10 through Friday, June 11. Then, the Merced County Fair Livestock Sale will be Saturday, June 12 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Yosemite Hall at the Merced County Fairgrounds with a livestream of the showring in the Hilmar Cheese Barn. There are 500 4-H and FFA members participating in the livestock show and sale. Read Complete Release Here.

March 9, 2021

The 2021 Merced County Fair Cancelled For A Second Year Amid The Continued Uncertainty of COVID-19 and Restrictions On Large Public Events

At its monthly meeting held on March 8, the Merced County Fair Board of Directors and fair CEO unanimously made the difficult decision to cancel its upcoming 2021 Merced County Fair, scheduled to be held June 9-13. The decision was made based upon the ongoing uncertainty of COVID-19 and current restrictions on large public events in the State. However, the fair is moving forward with plans for a modified in-person livestock show and sale that aligns with COVID-19 health and safety protocols to keep this aspect of the fair tradition alive and support the hardworking 4-H and FFA students. Read Complete Release Here.

February 1, 2021

Merced County Fair Welcomes New Board Member, Mark Pazin, and Announces 2021 Board Officer Positions

The Merced County Fair proudly welcomes its newest Board Member, Mark N. Pazin to the 35st District Agricultural Association Board of Directors. This appointment was made in November 2020 by California Governor Gavin Newson. Additionally, the 2021 officer positions for the 35th District Agricultural Association Board of Directors were made official on September 14, 2020 after a Board vote during its monthly meeting. Those positions are: Carol Sartori-Silva, President; Kim Rogina, First Vice President; and Vicky Banaga, Second Vice President. Read Complete Release Here.

August 27, 2020

Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act Aims to Preserve These Vital Community Assets

Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20) and Congressman Billy Long (R-MO-07) have introduced H.R 7883, the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives to help preserve agricultural fairs across the country and offset the devastating financial losses they have experienced due to COVID-19. The Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act will provide grant funding for agricultural fairs through state departments of agriculture to keep them functioning and preserve them for the future. Read Complete Release Here.

May 7, 2020

Work Continues on 2020 Merced County Fair Virtual Livestock Sale

Plans continue to move forward on the 2020 Merced County Fair Virtual Livestock Sale, supported by Merced Irrigation District (MID), to support the more than 500 Merced County Fair 4-H and FFA exhibitors through the utilization of the StockShowAuctions.com (SSA) online sales platform. The virtual sale will take place starting Thursday, June 11 at 8 a.m. and go until Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m. Buyers, both past and new, will need to register as a buyer on www.stockshowauction.com/register either in advance of the sale or during, then they can login during the sale and place bids, add-ons and receive notifications if they get outbid. Read Complete Press Release Here

May 5, 2020

Merced County Fair Launches 'Fair Food Fridays' Drive-Thru Fair Food Event Series

The Merced County Fair has teamed up with Valley fair food vendors to bring the new drive-thru "Fair Food Fridays" event to the Merced County Fairgrounds! The event series launched on Friday, May 1, drawing lines of cars all waiting to get their fair food favorites like corn dogs, kettle corn, Icees and cotton candy at special pandemic pricing. Read Complete Press Release Here

April 21, 2020

2020 Merced County Fair Cancelled; Livestock Auction Goes Virtual!

At an emergency meeting yesterday, the Merced County Board of Directors and fair CEO made the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming 2020 Merced County Fair, which was to be held June 10 - 14, due to COVID-19 public health concerns. In light of Governor Newsom’s current position on the likelihood of public events in the near future, and after consultation with the Merced County Department of Public Health, it became apparent that this year’s fair could not take place. However, the fair is moving forward with plans to hold a virtual Jr. Livestock Auction in June. The fair is working with StockShowAuctions.com (SSA) to utilize its online platform for the more than 500 4-H and FFA Merced County Fair exhibitors to sell their animal projects in a professional, easy to use way. Read Complete Press Release Here

February 4, 2020

Merced County Fair Selected For Facility Improvement Project

The Merced County Fair is proud to announce it has been selected by the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) Fairs & Expositions Branch to receive funding from the State's $3 million of general fund monies allocated through the Budget Act of 2018, Control Section 6.10. The Merced County Fair is set to receive $798,950 to install a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system in the fair's Pavilion building. Read Complete Press Release Here

January 22, 2020

Merced County Fair Board Officers Selected for 2020

The Merced County Fair is proud to announce the 2020 officer position for the 35th District Agricultural Association Board of Directors, which was made official on January 13 after a Board vote during its monthly meeting. Those positions are: Carol Sartori-Silva, President; Lee Lor, First Vice President; and Kim Rogina, Second Vice President.

"It is exciting to have the opportunity to work with Carol in a new capacity as our Board President, who has been involved in the fair her whole life. Her connections with our fair, our community and our agriculture community run deep," said Teresa Burrola, CEO of the Merced County Fair. "I look forward to the year ahead as she further helps us continue to serve our community and grow the Fair." Read Complete Press Release Here

2019 News Releases

November 20, 2019

Merced County Fair Gets New Board Member, Luis Lara of Atwater

The Merced County Fair is proud to announce that Luis Lara of Atwater has joined the Merced County Fair (35th District Agricultural Association) Board of Directors after being appointed by Governor Newsom on November 8, 2019.

Luis Lara was born and raised in Atwater where he still resides with his family. He has served as a sergeant for the California Highway Patrol since 2011. Prior to that, Lara held several different positions since joining the California Highway Patrol in 1998, including serving as an officer in the Merced Area and Redwood City CHP Area Office. He has also served as an instructor at Merced Community College since 2013. Lara is secretary treasurer for the Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union Board of Directors; a board member of the McSwain Union Elementary School District. He previously served on the Merced County Spring Fair Board from 2013 to 2018. Read Complete Press Release Here

June 14, 2019

2019 Fair Brought Community Together for Five Days of Tradition, Fun and Education

The Merced County Fair’s Board of Directors, Management and staff want to thank the community for coming out to support and “Discover the Magic” at the 2019 Merced County Fair, which ran June 5-9. During the fair’s five-day run, the community enjoyed delicious food, great entertainment, carnival rides, incredible exhibits and new free attractions like the Safari Adventure, Farmers Market and Discovering Science exhibit, plus so much more! The 2019 Merced County Fair unaudited attendance total during the five days was 64,536 people, a decrease of 10% from last year’s total of 71,201 people. Record heat on Opening Day and school graduations played a factor in the attendance decrease, but those who came out enjoyed their Merced County Fair to the fullest.

“We are so honored to once again host the biggest party in Merced County for our community,” said Teresa Burrola, CEO of the Merced County Fair. “We not only entertained, but were able to educate our fairgoers with our various exhibits and attractions thanks to partners like UC Merced’s Mobile Makers Space, Kids Discovery Station, our F.A.C.T. program students and more. We are thankful for the continued community support and look forward to next year – which thankfully will not overlap with graduations!” Read Complete Press Release Here

June 3, 2019 | UC Merced to Debut New Mobile Makers Space at 2019 Merced County Fair

March 26, 2019 | Merced County Fair’s 2019 Entertainment Line-Up Announced

January 31, 2019 | Merced County Fair Board Officers Selected for 2019