The Carroll County Fair Board is seeking level funding from the board of supervisors for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. Fair Board President Brian Sander presented during the supervisors’ meeting on Monday. The fair board is again requesting $13,500 from the county, and Sander says their support helped them reach a significant milestone this year.
More than $2 million in improvements have been made to the fairgrounds in recent years. Sander says the 2024 fair was a solid year in terms of attendance and featured 223 exhibitors. He says their biggest challenge isn’t finding kids to show at the fair or people to come watch. It is insurance.
That comes out to a 165 percent increase in premiums, compared to an inflation rate over the same period of 37 percent. In an effort to offset some of the rising expenses, the fair board slightly increased gate fees for adults during the 2024 fair, which did not have a significant impact on attendance. The board generates a substantial amount of their revenue from the six races they host each year, plus they’ve started renting out the facilities on the fairgrounds for people to store their boats and RVs during the winter. According to Sander, the Carroll County Fair Board is well-positioned with the county’s support, and he says the fair is worth the investment.
The supervisors did not take formal action on the Carroll County Fair Board’s request at Monday’s meeting, but they will consider it as they proceed through the FY26 budgeting process.
