Update from Commissioner Jeremy Gordon

Inside Salem

By Jeremy Gordon, For The West Side Newspaper

In 1949, Polk County purchased 20 acres of land in Rickreall from H.A. Dempsey and George Esau, intending to relocate the Polk County Fair closer to the heart of the community. While the inaugural Polk County Fair was held at the Dallas Armory in 1934, the main exhibit building and first barn were constructed in 1953, and the fair has been held at its current Rickreall location every August since. Unfortunately, due to rising costs, revenue limitations, and aging infrastructure, the Polk County Fairgrounds is now at risk of closure. This is a difficult reality for any county commissioner to share, let alone manage.

Perhaps our community can draw inspiration from the past — where innovative solutions were forged to sustain the fair even during the most challenging periods in our nation’s history. In 1913, local residents sold stock at $1 per share to establish a fairgrounds in Dallas. Originally, the county fair was a community-supported endeavor rather than a county-owned facility funded by property taxes. This same community-led spirit and investment will be essential to saving the fairgrounds today.

During the Depression, the fair moved frequently to remain viable. It returned to the Dallas Armory in 1934, moved to a tent next to Monmouth City Hall in 1938, and from 1940 to 1952, it was held at the grandstand of what was then the Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University).

Today, the Polk County Fairgrounds and Event Center hosts approximately 700 events annually. It provides productive, healthy activities for hundreds of youth through FFA and 4-H in partnership with OSU Extension. It also supports local vendors and small businesses while hosting numerous nonprofit initiatives, ranging from distributing holiday gifts and meals to conducting public safety training and Master Gardener programs.

Perhaps most critically, the fairgrounds serves as a vital hub for local emergency evacuation and reunification. During the Beachie Creek fires in 2020, the facility provided refuge for over 70 families and 400 animals. Given the increased frequency and severity of wildfires, the fairgrounds remain a cornerstone of our disaster response. Furthermore, in the tragic event of a school-based emergency, the fairgrounds is designated as the county’s reunification center for students, staff, and families.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners has placed a five-year local option levy on the November ballot, asking voters to support a rate of $0.12 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home assessed at $300,000, this represents a modest investment of just $36 per year. These funds are critical to restoring essential operations and tackling long-overdue capital improvements, including electrical upgrades, parking lot repaving, building repairs, and HVAC modernization.

The business community is already stepping up as a committed partner, recognizing that our fairgrounds' survival is vital to our regional economy. I urge you to join us alongside the Fair Board and your neighbors in considering the importance of  this measure. This is about more than just maintaining a facility; it is about securing a community-owned asset for the modern era. By collectively investing in the basics today, we build the foundation for the community-led partnerships that will define our future.

Governance today challenges us much like it did our predecessors in the early 20th century. From West Salem to the far reaches of our county, it is vital that we unite to protect this cornerstone of our youth development, local economy, and emergency response. If you are ready to help preserve this century-old asset, please contact my office at gordon.jeremy@polkcountyor.gov. This is our opportunity to ensure the Polk County Fairgrounds remains a vibrant hub for our community, not just for today, but for generations to come.