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

The Big Fresno Fair has a new permanent CEO after nearly two years under interim leadership — and it’s a familiar face.

Lauri King has been selected as the Fair’s CEO, capping off 19 years with the organization — 16 of those under CEO John C. Alkire, who retired in September 2020.

King also served as interim co-CEO for the Big Fresno Fair after Alkire’s departure along with Stacy Rianda, who last month was announced as new CEO of the Ventura County Fair.

“Lauri is a proven leader who is well-respected by our Board, her employees and Fair partners. Her work ethic, team-first focus, agricultural background and fair industry knowledge is extraordinary,” stated Chuck Riojas, president of The Big Fresno Fair board. “Most importantly, Lauri demonstrates an undeniable and contagious passion for the fair industry, our community and The Big Fresno Fair.”

Supervising overall operations for the Fair, King knows every inch of the fairgrounds. She has been instrumental in the growth and development of several key programs, according to a news release, including the expansion of interim events, enhancing the fairgrounds’ position as a multi-purpose facility. She also established the award-winning Health and Safety Program, which is now an industry-wide model used throughout the United States.

“Lauri is a premiere example of what a leader is and should be. She’s known for her hands-on management style and passionate drive as a force of positive industry change, always striving for collaborative, innovative and mutually-beneficial solutions to programs and partnerships,” stated Sarah Cummings, president and CEO of the Western Fairs Association (WFA). “As a longstanding WFA Board member and now CEO of The Big Fresno Fair, Lauri has advanced – and will continue to advance – the fair industry, while ensuring it stays rooted in tradition.”

King is a lifer in the fair industry. Growing up on a five-generation family ranch in Templeton near the Central Coast, she showed animals at the California Mid-State Fair. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in animal science in 2003 and was promptly recruited by The Big Fresno Fair.

“At nine years old, showing animals at the California Mid-State Fair I fell in love with what fairs stood for – how they celebrated agriculture and the best of the community. That appreciation has multiplied in my two decades at The Big Fresno Fair, as we have evolved beyond just an annual tradition. Our Fair is an essential part of our community – a source of education, cultural celebration and positive economic impact,” stated King.

The 2022 Big Fresno Fair will return Oct. 5 – 16 with live horse racing, entertainment, exhibits, carnival rides and more.