More than 120,000 people attended this year’s BentonFranklin Fair & Horse Heaven Round-Up.

They hailed from 41 states with more than 30,000 of them arriving on free Ben Franklin Transit shuttle buses, setting a new record. The fair’s market stock auction also broke a record, generating $1.5 million for 4-H and FFA youth.

All told, the annual five-day event at the Benton County Fairgrounds generated $20 million in economic impact for Benton County, according to fair officials.

With a successful fair in the rear view, the fair board’s attention is now focused on reviewing a new lease for the fairgrounds amid tense negotiations with their landlord, the Benton County commissioners.

The nonprofit fair association’s lease expires at the end of this year, and county commissioners recently proposed a revised five-year lease to the fair board. The updated lease includes increased costs, reduced set-up and clean-out time, and providing dozens of free fair admissions tickets, prime seats at the rodeo and parking passes to the county.

Strained discussions

Commissioners have given the fair association until the end of September to consider the revised lease. They’ve also begun directing county staff to draft a business plan for operating the fair should the fair association not continue in that role.

“It’s a little bit of a precarious position to be in,” Lori Lancaster, the nonprofit’s executive director, told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.

Fair officials said they are still in the midst of cleaning up from the August fair and need time to review the new lease before making any decisions.

The revised lease comes after months of tension between the county and fair association. County leaders have said the fair has become too expensive for many families, isn’t transparent about its operations and needs to invest more in the facility.

“Everyone’s complaining about the food (prices), complaining about the ticket prices,” Commissioner Will McKay said during a recent workshop meeting, later adding “we’ve been bugging for financials, and we haven’t gotten it.”

Fair officials have cited their own rising costs, the fact that the fair’s prices are comparable to similar fairs around the state and their record of helping pay for past fairgrounds improvements and putting fair revenue toward grants, scholarships and other charitable causes that benefit the community.

The fair and rodeo have taken place at the fairgrounds for nearly 80 years, with carnival rides, live musical performances, 4-H and FFA livestock events, dozens of food and merchandise vendors and more.

Proposed lease

The county began discussions with the fair association about renewing the lease in March, with the first draft of an agreement provided to the nonprofit in June.

Under the current lease, the fair association pays the county $175,000 per year to use the fairgrounds for six weeks beginning at the start of August through mid-September. Under the revised lease, the rent cost would remain the same, though the fair association would also be required to contribute $30,000 per year toward capital improvements at the fairgrounds.

Among the other changes in the revised lease:

• The fair association will have occupancy of the fairgrounds for the fair and rodeo for four weeks in August and September, a reduction from the six-week window in the current lease.
• Benton County’s logo must be included in the event’s promotional materials indicating the county as a sponsor.
• Fair organizers must provide a booth for the county inside one of the exhibit buildings, along with 20 single admission tickets and 20 general parking passes.
• The county wants 24 center premium upgraded seats at McDaniel Arena for each day of the fair and rodeo. Additionally, the county wants 10 VIP bundles with sponsor parking passes, gate admission and meal tickets, as well as 24 general parking passes for the week of the fair.
• The lease may be terminated without cause by either party up to June 30 of each calendar year, with the termination being effective Dec. 31 of that year.
• The fair association must provide the county with all its tax returns and other filings to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

In a statement to the Journal, county spokesperson Katie DoValle said the revisions formalize the fair association’s past capital improvements at the fairgrounds while giving the county a direct role in identifying the projects. The requested ticket packages and passes are consistent with those given to other fair and rodeo sponsors, she said.

Commissioners and county officials have said they are interested in keeping the fair accessible to the whole community, but everything from the cost of parking ($10-$12) to day passes for the carnival rides ($35-$40) is out of reach of many.

They also noted the fairgrounds are provided below market rate to the fair association, while the county invests millions into the fairgrounds’ McDaniel Arena and parking in a bid to book more events year-round.

Benton County will use $12 million in local taxes and economic development funds to double the seating capacity of McDaniel Arena at the Benton County Fairgrounds to 6,000 along with other improvements.

| Courtesy Benton County 

“The county is at a loss at that facility,” Commissioner Michael Alvarez said during the workshop meeting. “It says Benton-Franklin Fair & Rodeo but it’s Benton (County) taxpayers that are carrying the burden of that loss or that gain of that property.”

Commissioners have requested audited financial reports from the nonprofit, saying they want to understand how the fair determines prices as well as vendor fees. The fair association has declined to provide anything other than its publicly available tax filings as required by law.  

The nonprofit does not publish detailed breakdowns of its revenues and costs. According to its most recent tax filing, the 2023 fair and rodeo generated $3.9 million in revenue against expenses of $3.8 million. In each of the immediately prior two years, revenue exceeded costs by more than $400,000. As of 2023, the nonprofit listed net assets of nearly $1.3 million.

Fair affordability

Lancaster told the Journal the fair association works to make sure as many people as possible can enjoy the fair. There are special discounts offered on specific days, such as free admission for those who work in schools, plus discounts for seniors and those in the military. Fair admission ranges from $2 on youth day to $17 for adults.

More than $30,000 in free tickets were provided to youth with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties and Big Bro Joe Foundation, as well as graduates of the Benton County Therapeutic Court.

Organizers say they are mindful of costs. The admissions price hasn’t increased in years despite rising costs to run the fair, Lancaster said. The fair association worked with vendors to offer value meal deals, with various food options offered for between $9.99 to $15.99, comparable to the cost at many fast food restaurants.

“We need to do a better job educating the public and the commissioners of the deals available,” Lancaster said.

Destination venue

The county has indicated that it wants to make the fairgrounds more of a destination for events and has seen increased interest. In 2022, the facility hosted 65 events. In 2024, that number grew to 108. DoValle confirmed that county receives numerous requests by other event organizers interested in using the fairgrounds during the time it is occupied by the fair association.

“The county appreciates the tremendous success of this year’s Fair and Rodeo, and we intend to work in partnership with the Fair Board Association and all the stakeholders involved to come to an agreement that benefits the community,” DoValle said. “It’s important we manage taxpayers’ money, ensuring transparency and accountability to our citizens, and at the same time, remain to work with the Fair Board Association to deliver a fair experience that holds the value and needs of the public we serve.”

Lancaster said that the fair association wants to see the fairgrounds used more by others during the rest of the year and that there are facility improvements the nonprofit could get on board with.

The challenge is ensuring fair organizers have a seat at the table in the fairgrounds’ future.

“I’m really hopeful, and I don’t see another way for the story to move forward without working together,” Lancaster said.