The Washington County Fair used to be magical. I remember taking kids there 10 or 20 years ago and watching their faces light up as they walked up to the barns, petted animals, talked to 4-H kids, and maybe even helped a friend wash their goat or pig. The fair was alive with the sights, sounds, and smells of real agriculture — and most importantly, with connection. Kids milking cows. Friends helping friends. Fairgoers learning directly from youth who had worked hard all year to get there.
That kind of experience — the kind that only a truly agriculture-centered county fair can offer — is disappearing before our eyes.
This hasn’t been an accident. It has been a deliberate process — years of small decisions and major changes, each one slowly pulling the fair away from its roots. Washington County has taken purposeful steps to transform the fair from an old-fashioned, hands-on celebration of local agriculture into a commercialized, generic event. But a county fair isn’t supposed to feel like a trade show or a theme park. The agricultural component isn’t just one piece of the fair — it’s what makes a county fair a county fair.
Today, animals are hidden behind fences and barriers. The public can’t get close. Cloth covers the stalls. Barns have been demolished and never rebuilt. The livestock shows are scheduled before the fair even opens to the public. If you visit today, you’ll walk past rows of vendor booths and food trucks — but you might not even know that animals are part of the fair at all.
Many of the show rings have been moved off the central south lawn and squeezed between barns, barely visible to the public. They’re half the size they used to be and often only viewable from two sides. Fairgoers walking by might not even realize there’s a 4-H or FFA show happening. What used to be a central and celebratory part of the fair has now been tucked away like an afterthought.
One of the most disappointing losses was the removal of the rodeo arena — once home to the tractor pull, beloved draft horse shows, and other cornerstone fair traditions. That arena was a place where families gathered to cheer, connect, and celebrate our rural heritage. But rather than improving or preserving it, the county demolished it — and in its place built the Wingspan Event Center, a sprawling commercial venue that bears little resemblance to the spirit of a county fair.
As if that weren’t enough, the county also removed the horse barns and never replaced them. No effort was made to invest in equestrian facilities that could have supported generations of 4-H kids. A large covered arena and a second show ring — the kind many other counties offer — could have been built for a fraction of what was spent on the Wingspan center. But Washington County chose revenue over agriculture, and in doing so, pushed the entire 4-H horse program out of the fairgrounds altogether.
The Washington County 4-H horse program is now forced to hold their fair in McMinnville — in Yamhill County — because there’s no longer space for them here. These kids have been cut off from the rest of 4-H. They don’t get to attend the recognition events, the dances, or the team-building fun that happens during fair week. They’re excluded from the very community that 4-H is meant to foster.
And the public loses, too. Horse shows are among the most popular events at any fair. Families love to watch the beauty and skill of horse and rider. But here in Washington County, there’s nothing left to offer them — no arena, no barns, no opportunity to experience it.
The buildings that once housed 4-H exhibits — photography, sewing, horticulture, and educational displays — were also torn down and never rebuilt. Instead of standing proudly in a central location, the 4-H exhibits are now hidden at the back of the Wingspan building. To even find them, you have to walk past rows of commercial booths and sales displays. Only then, tucked behind it all, will you find the youth projects — the heart and soul of what a county fair is supposed to be.
Even the covered stage building — where 4-H youth used to model their handmade outfits in fashion shows, perform, and take part in special presentations — was removed. This structure sat in the heart of the fairgrounds and gave the public a place to gather and support these talented young people. It wasn’t just a stage — it was a space where the community could come together, cheer on their kids, and celebrate the creative and personal achievements that make 4-H so special. Without it, we’ve lost another vital thread of connection.
4-H and FFA youth — once the heart of the fair — have been pushed to the sidelines. Literally. They’re fenced off behind the main fairgrounds and allowed to enter only through two access points. And why? Because the fair “can’t afford” more security staff to enforce the rule that kids must spray their boots every time they walk through a gate. This kind of excessive biosecurity protocol is not only unnecessary — it’s unreasonable. It’s not used at other fairs, including the Oregon State Fair, where the public is still allowed to interact with the animals and the kids who raise them. Here, we’ve created an environment of distance and fear — as if livestock are some kind of health hazard rather than an opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate hard work.
All of this — the barriers, the shrinking animal presence, the commercialization of space — has created a sterile, disconnected experience that bears little resemblance to the fair so many of us grew up with. What we’re left with feels more like a convention and less like a celebration of our county’s agricultural heritage.
The rules are created by bureaucrats and appointed officials — many of whom have little understanding of what a real county fair is. Volunteers who’ve been committed to this fair for decades have no say. The Fair Boosters, who spent years supporting the fair with time, money, and heart, were forced out for daring to want the fair to stay true to its roots. The voices of 4-H leaders, FFA advisors, animal superintendents, and farm families are completely ignored.
But we remember. We remember what a real fair felt like. The laughter of kids brushing their animals. The pride of showing a hand-sewn dress. The joy of a young person explaining how they raised their pig. These moments don’t happen in vendor halls and paved convention spaces. They happen in barns, in show rings, on stages — in open-air spaces where the community gathers to learn, support, and celebrate.
Here’s what needs to happen:
- Rein in the biosecurity overkill and align with Oregon State Fair standards that allow for safe, common-sense interaction between animals, youth exhibitors, and the public. And yes — get rid of the foot-spraying requirement. It’s unnecessary, impractical, and serves only to create fear and inconvenience, not safety.
- Restore public access to animals and shows. Place the show rings back out on the central south lawn, where they belong — open, visible, and welcoming. When the livestock shows are front and center, 4-H and FFA kids can actually interact with fairgoers, answer questions, and proudly represent their work. That kind of personal connection is what makes the fair meaningful — and memorable.
- Adjust the fair schedule so the fair is fully open during 4-H and FFA show times. The public deserves the opportunity to see and engage with these events — not just the carnival rides and vendor booths.
- Welcome back the Washington County 4-H horse program and provide the facilities they need to return. At a minimum, the fair should offer two show arenas, including one large covered arena — something that would have cost far less than the Wingspan building but made a world of difference for youth and fairgoers alike.
- Let the ag community help make the rules. The people who have stewarded this fair for generations — 4-H leaders, FFA advisors, superintendents, volunteers, and farm families — deserve a voice in how it’s run. Their insight, experience, and values should guide the fair, not just the decisions of distant bureaucrats.
- Restore the infrastructure that made the fair feel like a fair — barns, livestock areas, a covered stage, and dedicated exhibit areas for 4-H and local talent. These aren’t optional extras. They’re the places where youth achievement, creativity, and agricultural excellence are brought to life and shared with the public.
We don’t need another convention center. We need our fair back. A real fair. One that honors the hard work of 4-H and FFA youth. One that welcomes families to learn from the land and from each other. One that reconnects Washington County to its agricultural roots. If we don’t act now, we won’t just lose buildings — we’ll lose the soul of our fair. It’s time to turn things around. The fair belongs to the people, not the bureaucracy.
Sign the petition: https://chng.it/fWm6nKwTHP
https://www.oregonlive.com/argus/2012/07/community_uses_of_washington_c.html
Sound Off Below!! Have the changes at the Washington County Fair ruined your experiences there? Do you long for the Rodeo to come back and for more animals, 4-H, and more traditional things that made our Washington County Fair a real Fair? Hit the comments section below or share this on social media.
Mmmm great story,,some things change,,I remember the fire work show therer as well,,but kids ,young adults,,and young moms have changed with the times too,,they are more apt to selling ,or doing multi level businesses on line and or more crafty things on esty,,so if they get a chance to sell their products in the public eye they will do do,,like Christmas bazaars ,,nothing wrong with it,just different,,hope your dooms day mood changes my freind,
A County Fair isn’t a LuLaRoe convention and doesn’t owe people a table for ending up downstream of an MLM ploy.
The post noted that the County Fair used to dedicate far more space to actual crafts and artisans (not people silkscreening “It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere” on 30-cent bulk T-shirts), but if you feel the fair should “change with the times” and tout both the healing powers and earning potential of the acai berry, I’m guessing that reading every line of a paragraph may not be your preferred means of consuming content.
If you want to sell mass-produced leggings and your pandemic bead project, Holly Days has a tent with your name on it. But we don’t have to keep shoving the “kids, young adults, and young moms” who actually raise and care for animals in this county to the margins because the Stretchpant Society can’t see their pasture from the window of a garden apartment at Reed’s Crossing.
Fairs are essentially markets. If anyone wants to sell anything and the county allows it they should be able to. Where did the crafters and artisans go? If it were still beneficial for them they would be there.
Phones and people’s lack of wanting to go out and do stuff is what is killing ALL fairs, not just Wash Cos. That and higher costs.
Yes, Ryan, fairs ARE essentially markets. However, this particular marketplace is curated by the county itself, and it—not the market at large—has dictated who sells what where. “Where did the crafters and artisans go?” Read the story, read the comments. We know where: They’re still there in many regards… just funneled off to the wings.
“Phones and people’s lack of wanting to go out and do stuff.” Really? Because a packed Hawthorne on a Sunday afternoon says otherwise. Are we now saying that Portland’s more capable of drawing people out on a summer weekend that Hillsboro or the Washington County Fair? If so, I genuinely wonder why that is.
The limitations on viewing the 4H events which the fair website does not even list on the events is so sad, And some 4 H events (Goat Olympics) start at 5pm but the public is waiting to get through the main gate until 5:20pm.
Basically a good article and I agree with much of it. However, what you fail to mention is that the fair’s purpose first and foremost is to make a profit. Many of the activities you mention are not revenue generating. That is unfortunate.
I personally would love to see more livestock barns that could also double as evacuation centers. But they are costly and expensive to maintain. And they don’t bring added monies to the Fair.
I would love to see more agriculture activities represented. However, Washington County is no longer just a small ag county. We are a large urban/suburban county with agriculture.
As you frequently do, you present a complex problem as having simple solutions. This is rarely the case.
I don’t think you know the history and legal arrangements from the Fair over the years. It was never about making a profit-
I think Pam is apt to point out that while the fair’s purpose may not be to make money, the decision makers are driven by money and profit. However her take that it’s not a simple-solution problem ironically leaves out the actual simple solution. I’m not sure she knows how animal auctions work and that the fair gets to keep a percentage. Or that a lot of these 4-H and FFA programs do animal auctions in the first place. Not including entry fees and parking.
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Yes things change, but sometimes in a good way. Many of our new neighbors from other countries find it very difficult to purchase lamb and goat meat at market and the fair offers that opportunity. Since the Egg cost crisis this last year, thousands have now started their own backyard egg factories. There are a lot of folks that don’t use online retail to sell their goods like goat milk soap or lavender oils where the fair would meet that need or inspire others. Many parents struggle to find activities for their kids to get their noses out of screens – and 4H/FFA are more options to consider. This is especially great considering the scholarship opportunities they offer.
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Washington county isn’t just the city of Hillsboro and parts of Beaverton. It’s expansive and competes as one of the Willamette Valley’s most prosperous Ag counties. Maybe a wine and vineyard event space should be added? Moreover, we are seeing a huge shift in generational culture where people tend to enjoy performative niche activities. Next time you’re at a country music concert, look at all the young ladies wearing brand new boots and guys wearing new cowboy hats. The county fair is that niche activity that draws in people from all walks of life – when the fair has the right feel and essence.
Washington county stretches far beyond beaverton and Hillsboro. Many smaller towns bring in exhibitors. It’s a problem. There are plenty of carnivals. This is a county fair which includes 4-h and ffa as big contributors.
Thank you for bringing this up and sharing the information. Since the new fair became a reality, I have been angry and I appreciate this being put out to the public.
Great story. I had no idea that the Fair had completely changed. Must go back to the original program with emphasis on the local 4 H , sewing, painting. Farm animals etc
I agree with most of Anonymous’ article and I am happy the Hillsboro Herald has posted the message. I joined 4H at age 9 with the purchase of my first horse. The Washington County Fair was always a summer highlight. We took our horses and spent a full week there, even camping in tents on the fairground lawn overnight. All the young girls in our area had horses and all were involved with showing their horses at the fair. We were responsible to interact with fair-goers visiting the horse barn by answering their questions and teaching them about horses. We let visitors pet our animals. We had competition with other horse clubs on who had the best barn decorations or kept their barn area the cleanest. We were tasked with feeding, watering and caring for our animals. The show events highlighted and rewarded our dedication to training our horses and honing our horsemanship, showmanship, and trail course practice dedication. We were so proud of our ribbons and trophies! And, even won a little bit of money if we were lucky.
The experience taught us hard work & responsibility. My time spent showing at the fair are some of my fondest childhood memories.
I have seen the change in the fair over the years. I realize many people no longer have livestock in our area due to costs of land, hay, necessary equipment and the animals themselves. Washington County’s agriculture/ranching has shrunk and we are much more urban county.
However, the animals that are still brought to the fair deserve to be showcased. Not hidden off to the side and stalls barricaded off so no one can get close.
Biohazard security is important to keep animals and humans healthy. I get it. But, it can be overdone. Handwashing stations are readily available throughout the animal area.
This year is the first year I did not attend our County’s fair since I was a child. I have been “grinning and bearing” it for the past several years, noticing less and less animals and arts & crafts and more and more commercialization. Going forward I will attend Yamhill or Tillamook County who still hold a true fair.
Petition signed. Hope it helps!
This falls right in line with what the bureaucrats running Washington county are looking for….. forget the 4H forget the FFA. Forget that we have/HAD some of the best farm land around….let’s just pave it over for data centers. I understand the times change. Agriculture is not a fun and happening thing for the younger generations. It requires years and years of hard work and dedication to build a successful farm and keep it running. And everyday the odds get harder and harder to keep that farm going with how our society is operating. Additionally, with what has been happening lately with Intel and the loss of numerous jobs in this county, we are going to see a major shift towards those bureaucrats being more and more willing to grab every little penny they see. And if they continue on the path that they are on, they will by default be destroying every inch of farmland and cultural heritage we have in this county. Those running Washington county could have easily taken the time to work with companies to improve our agriculture and make Washington county a world-class hub for agricultural innovation. As I wrap this up, please also keep in mind that it’s not just the elected officials but it’s also the general public. We as a people need get off our butts and pull our phones out of our faces and learn to do some hard work once again. I am a fourth/fifth generation Washington county resident. I trace my heritage back through the names of hornecker, Logan, Barnes and long. All of them have left a mark on this area and I am watching it get paved over and ripped out all in the name of progress
Keeping kids off phones is the biggest issue here 100%
When agricultures is pushed aside for the love of profit that say we care not about the people who raise our food or support our community this a travisty .this is lack of foresight on the part of those running county they are out of touch with what is wholesome fair experience is all about these young people work all year to show there accomplishments they should be our communities focus .
Any one going to harvest fest…
Maybe the fair changed because there are far less people interested in the activities the writer is talking about. its also hard to say sympathize with them when they vote to keep us in 19th century and want the fair to be that way.
This is unfortunate. I was originally excited we moved a few years ago so close to a county fair, but if there is little to no 4H or FFA activity and only commercial carnival rides and food trucks, we’ll make a point to drive farther to a real fair until this changes.
When my family moved here they were very disappointed when they first went to the fair. They told me it wasn’t really a fair, so I have never even bothered to go. It’s ridiculous to have a fair and not have the animals a part of it. That just tells me it’s run by someone who didn’t grow up with animals and does really understand business. If the infrastructure is properly put in place, the fair grounds could be a real fair and bring in revenue not only during the fair but all year long with other events. Bring back a real fair, I would pay to see that!
The fair is the best fair around but it’s going backwards now t they are a non profit organization t shouldn’t be putting money over the kids I agree it’s gotten to exploded to bring in the high dollars from tickets vendors T midway we need to bring back more of the animals T not worry so much about bio security if that’s a problem then vet check going in vet check going out the gate bring back our old days when people stop t talk at all different places T vendors farmers first over any other ones t bring back the show s a lot of the older crowds use to watch all of that. Kids come to show t ride the the rides. The prices are way to expensive t they are told about what to prices at the vendors Strike it for one yr then see how they will change
They could stand to charge an entrance fee to recoup some of what may be seen as lost profit. This could also cut down on some of the delinquency.
Agreed. As it is it is unsafe and just a sweat box of humanity
Lots of snake oil and junk to be had there. The entertainment and food aspect of this fair is out of hand. Here is a turkey leg to chaw on and no place to sit. It is no longer visitor friendly for outdoor events.
They need to take a lesson from Yamhill and Clark County Fair – they have a thriving model both have lots of commerce coming from outdoor concerts. But Washington County redesigned easy money right out of the fairground.
Love this article. Yes we need to bring back the real fair feeling so that this generation sees and learns more about great things and less about gang violence.
The Cano Al side is not family friendly so many rival fans and unattended youth wanting to fight make it very unsafe. The carnival side NEEDS TO HIRE SECURITY to help eliminate and make it safe to go to the fair.
County fairs should be for the kids to show their skills and animals
I feel like there are a lot of places to look for what is happening. I went this year with my kid and it was the most disappointing it has ever been. For me, I think the biggest issue is the lack of space to be a community at the fair. When I was a kid, the Master Gardeners had a huge space where they all oversaw a garden but also just got to sit around and commiserate with each other while answering questions. The Cloverleaf Building was always ALIVE with all the kids that would spend the entire week there, not only to watch their animals, but also to just hang out with friends from other parts of the county. I did the record keeping for 4-H for years and I LOVED getting to set up my computer in the Cloverleaf Office and just soak in the energy all around me. There was always a contest being set up of taken down or happening at that moment. I don’t even know if the Cloverleaf Building was open to the public this year because all the primary paths to it were blocked off by fences.
There were open class contests and judging going on almost all the time in the old exhibit hall (may it rest in peace). I don’t even know what open class contests exist anymore because all info about the fair is online and not always easily navigable on the site. We used to get a booklet that gave us something to look at and get excited about, then they stopped sending the booklets and you had to go seek them out (but they still printed them). Making it less transparent as to where and when events are held and increasing barriers to participating also creates a generational ripple. I remember, as a kid, watching my mom and aunt both enter the open class contests (like the annual cake contest held by the flour company). Helping my mom make her cake, watching her friendly rivalry with my aunt, being there for the judging and results, all made me feel vested in what was going on and that much more motivated and excited to enter the events when I was old enough. Reducing the visibility of both the 4-H & open class contests can and will choke out both of those programs completely.
Not having the Horse Fair is another massive reason for the decline. Having all the “horse kids” and their club leaders/parents running around acted as a sort of anchor for all the 4-H/FFA kids during the fair. You saw people that you often only saw during the fair. You caught up with friends that had been at 4-H camp with you. Granted, technology has removed that limitation as you can catch up with anyone online but there is still something to be said for getting to meet in person.
All this is to say that this isn’t happening in a vacuum and this isn’t 2001. Societal changes are also directly impacting the factors that feed into the fair and what holds our attention when it is running but I feel like we could being back at least a portion of what used to be with some changes.
I completely agree who ever it is making these rules is completely out of touch with reality. I’ve noticed that what ever is going on is trying to remove common sense. People learn by experienceing things if you can’t do things then how are you going to learn.. yes the fair is nothing like it used to be I say bring all of it back . Things happen if you get hurt or something then you just learned not to do that again . Anyway I still think society is continuing to go down hill in all areas. Come on people wake up and do more to change things for the better we are losing a lot of our freedoms it’s not the land of freedom anymore.
Washington County Fair should be laid to rest.
You all want a home town “fair” but you don’t want to support it.
Horse facilities are closing, small farms are being paved over and sold. You can’t raise a steer, sheep, goats, pigs, in your city back yard. We have NO large animal Vets in Hillsboro that want to see single animals anymore. We don’t have farriers who want to do one horse.
Food producing animals used to be sold to help kids go to college. Families that were the core of the beef/dairy industry helped support kids with selling them calves to finish out for the fair.
Washington County is not that farm like community anymore. As the city has grown and non farming practices/businesses are moving in, the need to have these animals is no longer important. The county and city do not value where we came from or what our roots are based in.
They also do not value what we grow. The smaller, outer communities celebrate the berries and corn harvest. Does Washington County? Nope! We have lost our connection to the granges, the local community groups, the very people who should be involved with our Fair.
It has ALWAYS been the Washington County Fair boards intention to not provide venue options for horses/cows/etc….
They got their way. I have not and will not go to the Fair as it is now. I will not go to any event at the new, ridiculously designed, complex, nor will I pay to park there.
I live in Hillsboro, grew up here, work here, board my horse here, participated in 4H here. I go to the Tillamook County Fair or the Columbia County Fair. Those are the fairs I want to see thrive. They are the ones who recognize that a local, county fair is important.
Their direction may be in part because they don’t think we’re interested. I have to wonder if that would change if we started showing up for the meetings and objecting to their decisions. I also see an opportunity to apply to be on the board that it would be amazing to get some people with a better sense of what this should be in place
I drove by several times and but for the trailers, you’d never know there were animals there at all. I did count 3 ferris wheels because the traveling carnival rides of years past have been deemed unsafe so it was mostly just a money grab which is unfortunate. I understand they want to make money off the event, but that is no excuse to relegate the reason we have a county fair in the first place to a tiny area that is almost inaccessible to the public.
I agree we were turned away picture was too big and one was questionable also the two workers and the lady at the table were not very friendly . will not go back.
I agree we were turned away picture was too big and one was questionable also the two workers and the lady at the table were not very friendly . will not go back.!
Great article outlining the downfall supported by many comments. I am very disappointed and angry in the treatment of people that want to enter their crafts. I have heard many stories over the years and see that it is still continuing wherein people were treated badly, were criticized by the people in charge who had no experience or background in the craft world and made their own rules in judging entries. I just read the above comment and cannot believe the ignorance that was shown to an honest person just trying to enter! Shame on them. I had thought about going to the Fair but at this point, not going to happen.