The Bonner County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting March 23 with members of the Fair Board, discussing the future of the fair and addressing various operational questions with input from legal counsel. Though neither side has made any official decisions, the Fair Board will consider drafting a memorandum of understanding between the two boards and broadening the scope of the fair’s events.
Fair Board Chairman Ben Wood first suggested the idea of an MOU inspired by the Kootenai County Fair, which he described as an “operating agreement, basically” so that the county and fair “have a path forward, you know, without trying to reinvent the wheel” every time the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners turns over.
“We would like to move forward with operating the fair,” said Wood. “We’d like to move forward — the community would like to move forward — and kind of get the fair up and going. Get the fair out of the hot seat, if you will.”
The Bonner County Fairgrounds. Courtesy photo.
The question of the Fair Board’s powers over county employees and property has long haunted both the county and the fair and, recently, bogged down operations. The controversy stems from a Dec. 4, 2025 BOCC meeting, when Human Resources Director Jonathan Holmgren requested permission to update fairgrounds employee job descriptions to clarify that they work for, and report to, the county — not the Fair Board. The commissioners voted to proceed with the revisions, noting that the fair manager and related positions “have no direct reporting responsibility to the Fair Board.” They overturned that vote on Dec. 30 after public outcry, with many arguing that the decision would have undermined the Fair Board, which works closely with fairgrounds employees throughout the year.
The MOU would clarify the balance of powers between the Fair Board and the BOCC. Wood did not propose any specific language as he and his fellow board members hadn’t “necessarily discussed” it, but wanted to gauge the BOCC’s receptiveness to the idea.
“Is that possible, or are we going to be locked horns in this battle for eternity?” asked Wood.
The commissioners each stated they were open to an MOU, with Chair Brian Domke cautioning that, even if adopted, the “board can’t bind a future board in their actions” should they have a different interpretation of statute.
The BOCC gave the Fair Board the green light to draft an MOU based on Kootenai County’s example. To further clarify future operations and the relationship between the boards, Domke also requested that the Fair Board submit “quarterly financial updates.”
“Each year we’re about $60,000 short-ish, with a little bit more every year,” said Commissioner Asia Williams. “We’re not a profitable fair; we’re not self-sustaining. Even if we knock down a little bit of that money every year, that would help us see that we’re headed in the right direction.”
Staci McBrayer, who stepped down from her position as Fair Board treasurer on March 10 to take up the position of fair manager, asked for clarification on what the commissioners “think success looks like” for the fair.
“I don’t mind jumping in: Financial stability, right? Because that’s what makes things viable long-term,” said Williams.
“I don’t have any answers, but my perception is we’ve been losing community engagement year over year, and how do we change that trend?” added Domke. “I think there are aspects of that, that may have a little bit to do with, culturally, people’s interests are also shifting somewhat, and I don’t ever want to lose our agricultural roots, because it’s critical … That said, I think being more open to what other types of things can be a part of the fair, I think, is part of the future of success with attracting a broader audience as our community grows.”
Domke suggested hosting events and activities that are “not commonly done” at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, but are popular at other regional fairs to boost attendance. Commissioner Ron Korn seconded that idea, adding that attracting new audiences will also introduce people to the fair’s staples, such as 4-H activities, which have lost participants in recent years.
Applications are open for the two remaining Fair Board seats. Visit bit.ly/BoCoFairBoard for more information.
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