Washington County Fair Board Meeting | Wednesday, May 8, 2026

The Washington County Fair Board held a meeting on May 8, 2026, focusing primarily on financial updates, fair preparations, and programmatic developments related to the county fair and 4-H activities. The board reviewed and approved the year-to-date financials through March, noting a slight decline in transient lodging tax (TLT) revenue but an overall positive budget outlook. They discussed the final payment to the security company for the fair and confirmed increased state funding for fairs, which is expected to reduce dependency on TLT in future fiscal years. Additionally, the board heard a detailed presentation from OSU Extension about a proposed tax service district to support Extension programs, including potential capital improvements such as remodeling a building on the fairgrounds. The 4-H program provided updates on fair entry, safety measures, and biosecurity policies, including a proposed policy change from disinfecting to washing shoes to improve safety and reduce participant burden. The board agreed to consider this policy change at the next meeting. Contracting activities included the signing of contracts for fair vendors and advertising, with ongoing efforts to secure sponsorships and vendor participation for the upcoming fair. No specific contract awards or RFPs were detailed in the transcript, but the discussion highlighted budget allocations, vendor contracts, and capital improvement planning relevant to procurement and fair operations.