WASHINGTON CO. FAIRGROUNDS RENAMED TO WASHINGTON CO. EXPO

  
Washington County Expo Director Harrison Williams explains the name change for the Washington County Fairgrounds, now called the Washington County Expo, at Tuesday's meeting of Washington County Commissioners.

The Washington County Fairgrounds are now known by a new name.

At today’s (Tuesday) Washington County Commissioners meeting, the court approved changing the name of the facility to the Washington County Expo.  Commissioners also approved a new logo for the facility, along with updates to its rental policy and price guide.

Expo Director Harrison Williams said the name change comes as a result of wanting to break away from an industry-wide mindset that there cannot be more to a fairgrounds than just livestock.

 

 

Williams said the new name and logo should help to alleviate confusion between the Washington County Fairgrounds and the Washington County Fair Association, as the facility and county fair are run by separate organizations.  He stressed that the rebranding did not cost the county anything.

The new logo for the newly renamed Washington County Expo. Expo Director Harrison Williams said this logo was decided upon after 57 different revisions.

Fair Association Board Chair David Wellmann said the fair association does not necessarily have a concern with the facility name change, but it is worried about the lack of progress with discussions on a long-term lease with the facility.  He said talks have not gone any further than they were a year and a half ago, adding that the fair association was “forced” to exercise a five-year extension option because there was not a long-term lease in place, after being told it would happen in 2020.  He said, “You can put a skirt on a pig and you can put lipstick on it, but it is still a pig.”

Wellmann asked what the fair association will be charged to rent the facility after its five-year extension is up, and said it will look elsewhere if forced to.  Commissioner Joy Fuchs said she does not ever want to see the partnership between the county and the fair association fail, and Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the two are much better together than they are separate.  Fuchs said the county will bring talks on a long-term lease before the fair board at its next meeting.

A radius map showing the drive time to the Washington County Expo from area cities. Expo Director Harrison Williams said the map also serves as a reference tool for marketing purposes.
(courtesy Harrison Williams)

Williams also showcased the facility’s new website, www.washingtoncountyexpo.com.  He said the new website, which was purchased through Saffire in August, leverages both the Fairgrounds and the Fair Association to further drive traffic towards both entities.  He added that the county used the new website opportunity to develop the new logo for the facility.

Commissioner-approved changes to the rental policy for events at the facility will, according to Williams, streamline the rental process and avoid miscommunication between staff and individual renters.  He said the changes should provide “a consistent structure to operate off of,” while also saving money through “better utilization of staff time.”  Williams said the changes for the price guide do not result in any particularly higher or lower prices, mainly serving as a means to condense and simplify the pricing structure.

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners approved:

  • An order establishing a public hearing on a petition calling a bond election for the Pecan Glen Road District. The hearing will be held Tuesday, February 9th at 9 a.m. during commissioners court.
  • A 60 day extension of 29 excess vacation hours for Steven Smith with the Washington County Expo Department.
  • The county’s investment policy for 2021 without any changes made. County Treasurer Peggy Kramer said no changes to the policy have been made since 2017.
  • Bond renewal for Reserve Deputy Sheriff Steve Westbrook.
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6 Comments

  1. Now that this ‘top priority’ has been addressed, perhaps the County Judge and commissioners could consider using their time to make sure that Washington Co. starts receiving the Covid vaccine ! We could then use the “Expo” as a hub for vaccinations. The citizens of Washington Co. are waiting for our leadership to step up on “important” issues !!

  2. looking at the fair grounds since the county has taken full control from the fair association is a disgrace to the past fair officials & commisssioners who took pride in our county & this facility, before there was always activity in the rodeo arena now it’s so overgrown it’ll take a week of ground prep just to get half way usable to keep animals safe, entire facility has no handicapped bathrooms other that the big hall up front & it stays locked, main grounds half of them have been broke for a long time now. County just see$$ signs but if it’s going to be a rundown corner lot it becomes a liability.

  3. From a language point of view an “expo” (n) is the activity which is going on; short for an exhibition, or exhibit of certain items. The new name is like keeping the old one and shortening it to the “Washington County Fair” instead of the “Washington County Fairgrounds”. The grounds are not an expo. I do hope that Cub Stadium is considered for renaming, since the Blinn Buccaneer football team also uses it. Maybe “Brenblin Cubbuc Stadium”? Fireman’s Park also no longer has any association with the fire department, so maybe it needs to be changed as well. You may think it’s facetious, but some pinhead will ram it through some organization and it will be changed.
    Considering the new ‘Washington County Expo’, is rent being charged for all the 18-wheelers that sit on the parking lot on Blue Bell Rd. between Armbrister and Independence Street? I know those are not county or city-owned vehicles, yet they sit on the parking lot day after day. If rent is not being collected, then why not? The same for all the travel trailers parked behind the rodeo arena.

  4. Harrison Williams? Who is he. I bet he is not even from this area Young person that doesn’t respect the history of a place. Let’s change the county jail next to Washington improvement center

  5. Brazos County Expo is newer and bigger. The map Harrison shows is very far fetched, you think someone in San Antonio’ is gowing drive to either your mistaken.

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