WASHINGTON CO. FAIR REPORTS RECORD ATTENDANCE, SALE FIGURES
The 157th Washington County Fair is in the books, and organizers say it is in the record books, as well.
Early data from the Washington County Fair Association shows that overall attendance and combined sale totals from this year’s fair exceed those from last year.
Fair President Ricky Bosse said from big crowds for the entertainment to higher sale numbers in support of local students, this year’s fair was “a huge success.” He said, “We couldn’t have asked for a better fair.”
According to Fair Manager Dean Fuchs, the fair auctions and sales brought in a combined $3,948,900 before add-ons, which is up from last year’s total of roughly $3.3 million prior to add-ons. This year’s unofficial sale figures include a record $1,513,500 in the junior livestock auction, as well as the country creations auction, colt sale, and commercial steer and heifer sales.
Attendance-wise, the weekly total between the four days of ticketed sales – Wednesday through Saturday – was 61,402 guests, up from 52,934 last year and what is believed by Fuchs to be a new record. The numbers include season passes and day passes purchased at the gate, but do not count the free entry weekend and Tuesday.
Broken down between each day, Wednesday saw 12,862 guests, while Thursday had 17,149, Friday brought in 12,012 and Saturday welcomed in 19,379. Fuchs said this is the first time each paid day had over 10,000 people and noted how attendance nearly doubled between the Thursday of this year’s fair and the 9,882 people who came on Thursday a year ago.
Among the thousands of fairgoers on Saturday were international students from Texas A&M, as Bosse said a group of 50 students was bussed in to experience a county fair.
Bosse commended the hard work of all the people working behind the scenes, saying their efforts make the fair what it is.
Final ticket sale totals are still being calculated, but Fuchs said sales from season passes and tickets bought at the gate are expected to be over $350,000.
The down time will not last long, as Bosse said planning is already underway for the fair in 2026.
KWHI and KTEX-106 thank everyone who came by the fair booth to spin the Wagon Wheel of Prizes. Just under $1,100 was raised to support the nonprofit organization Gather ‘n Grace and its Monday Family Dinner program.