Lauri King was the first woman CEO of the Big Fresno Fair. Photo by the Big Fresno Fair

Former Big Fresno Fair CEO Lauri King has taken a new position as director of development for the Ag One Foundation at Fresno State.

King was elevated to the position of Big Fresno Fair CEO about a year ago after 19 years with the organization. Before her promotion, she also served as interim co-CEO with Stacy Rianda, who later took the CEO position at the Ventura County Fair.

King brings a wealth of experience and skills in planning and management, volunteer engagement, advocacy and marketing to her new position, according to a LinkedIn post by Ag One Executive Director Alicdia Freitas Gomes.

Ag One, which has raised more than $27 million in endowed funds, supports the needs of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno STate.

In May, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) made public an audit of the 21st District Agricultural Association, which runs The Big Fresno Fair. It discussed “weaknesses and deficiencies” in administrative controls for the Association. It also found that from 2018-2021, the Association “improperly agreed” to nearly $555,000 in payments to the Friends of the Fair nonprofit foundation from various contractors doing business with the Association.

In a March 9 letter to the CDFA in response to the audit, Big Fresno Fair Board President Terry Gonsalves pledged to align with the audit’s findings.

“CDFA has my personal declaration that the entire Fair team and our Board are committed to directly aligning with all Compliance Audit corrections and working alongside State officials to advocate for enhanced management education to ensure compliance among all fairs,” Gonsalves wrote.

A message to the Big Fresno Fair communication team seeking more information about King’s departure wasn’t returned Wednesday morning.