Regional Initiative
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
STATE FAIR
A unified, world-class fairgrounds on the South Stanislaus/North Merced border — merging the Stanislaus and Merced County Fairs into a single regional institution, with Tuolumne and Mariposa counties as full partners, governed through a formal revenue-sharing and joint powers framework.
Regional Concept
This is a regional concept and discussion framework. The Mayor of Turlock has no direct authority over county fair governance, intergovernmental land agreements, or multi-county JPA formation. Turlock's role is to champion the conversation and advocate for a regional solution — not to unilaterally deliver it.
This is a multi-county, multi-year effort. Merging two county fairs requires intergovernmental agreements, site selection, and broad regional buy-in. Turlock can champion it — but it cannot happen unilaterally or quickly.
Funding Principle
Bringing a state fair to Turlock is a regional economic development initiative. Funding is pursued through state agricultural and fair system channels, regional partnerships, and private sponsorship — not City general fund appropriations. The City's role is advocacy, site facilitation, and building the regional coalition needed to make the case to the state.
4
Counties
Stanislaus · Merced · Tuolumne · Mariposa
2
Fairs Merged
Stanislaus County Fair + Merced County Fair
±90
Acres
Horizon District Unlocked by Relocation
2
Cities
Turlock & Merced Urban Land Redeveloped
The Vision
ONE FAIR.
FIVE COUNTIES.
THE WHOLE VALLEY.
The Central Valley is home to some of the most productive agricultural land on earth, a deeply rooted cultural heritage, and a regional population that deserves world-class civic institutions. Yet the county fairs that have long served as the region's gathering places — the Stanislaus County Fair, the Merced County Fair — are aging, underfunded, and operating at a scale that no longer matches the region's ambitions.
The vision is to establish the Central California State Fair as a major multi-county regional institution — merging the Stanislaus and Merced County Fairs into a unified "Super Fair" located on the South Stanislaus/North Merced border, with Tuolumne and Mariposa counties as full regional partners. This model unlocks the urban land necessary for the redevelopment of both Turlock and Merced while creating a new flagship fairground capable of serving as a true Central California destination.
Under one unified platform, the fair would bring together the region's agricultural strength, cultural identity, tourism potential, youth programming, entertainment assets, and small business economy — governed through a joint powers structure with representation from all participating counties and cities.
Pillar
Entertainment & Regional Leadership — Pillar 04
Site
Stanislaus–Merced County Line
Structure
Joint Powers Authority (JPA) — Four-County Governance
Connection
Enables the ±90-acre Horizon District site
Partners
Stanislaus, Merced, San Joaquin, Fresno, Madera Counties
Status
Regional Concept · Discussion Framework
Concept Framework
FOUR PILLARS OF THE CONCEPT
A NEW HOME ON THE SOUTH STANISLAUS / NORTH MERCED BORDER
The Central California State Fair would be sited on the South Stanislaus/North Merced border — a deliberate choice that places the facility at the geographic and symbolic center of the region it serves, and unlocks the urban land in both Turlock and Merced currently occupied by aging county fairgrounds.
Key Elements
South Stanislaus/North Merced border siting for shared regional identity
Accessible from Turlock, Modesto, Merced, and surrounding communities
Designed as a permanent, purpose-built regional fairgrounds
Replaces aging, undersized county fair facilities with a world-class venue
Unlocks former fairground land in Turlock and Merced for redevelopment
FOUR-COUNTY REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP
The initiative establishes a formal intergovernmental partnership anchored by Stanislaus and Merced counties as foundational partners, with Tuolumne and Mariposa counties included as full regional partners from the outset — expanding the fair's cultural, tourism, heritage, and agricultural reach into the foothills and Sierra Nevada.
Key Elements
Stanislaus and Merced counties as foundational governance and site development partners
Tuolumne and Mariposa counties as full participating regional partners
Cities within each participating county included through a defined partnership structure
Programming, exhibitor participation, sponsorship engagement, and revenue sharing for all partners
Fair positioned as a broader regional economic and civic development platform
REVENUE-SHARING FOR COUNTIES & CITIES
A formal revenue-sharing agreement ensures that both the participating counties and the cities within them receive a direct return on their investment. Revenue is distributed in a fair, transparent, and strategic manner — recognizing the greater infrastructure, facility, and public safety responsibilities of the host jurisdiction while ensuring every partner county and city shares in the economic gains.
Key Elements
Participating counties — Stanislaus, Merced, Tuolumne, and Mariposa — each receive a defined revenue share
Cities within each participating county included in the distribution framework, not just the counties
Blended formula weighing host burden, county participation levels, and regional attendance
Vendor fees, gate receipts, sponsorships, naming rights, and tourism tax impact all factored in
Reinvestment allocation for fairgrounds infrastructure, capital improvements, and future expansion
Redevelopment value from former fairground land in Turlock and Merced recognized in the formula
Annual transparent financial reporting to all partner counties and cities
AGRICULTURAL, CULTURAL & YOUTH PROGRAMMING
The Central Valley is the agricultural heart of California. The Central California State Fair would honor that heritage — bringing together the region's agricultural strength, cultural identity, tourism potential, youth programming, entertainment assets, and small business economy under one unified platform.
Key Elements
World-class agricultural and livestock exhibition facilities
Youth agricultural programs, FFA/4-H showcases, and educational programming
Cultural programming celebrating the Valley's diverse valley and foothill communities
Arts, entertainment, and small business economy integrated into the fair platform
Tourism development and regional branding coordinated through the governance board
Connection to the Horizon District
TWO INITIATIVES.
ONE STRATEGY.
FAIRGROUNDS RELOCATION UNLOCKS THE HORIZON DISTRICT
The Stanislaus County Fairgrounds currently occupies land that — combined with the TID equipment yard — forms the ±90-acre site of the proposed Horizon District. Relocating the fairgrounds to a new, purpose-built regional facility is what makes the Horizon District possible. The two initiatives are directly linked.
A BETTER FAIRGROUNDS FOR STANISLAUS COUNTY
This is not simply about clearing land for development. The goal is to give Stanislaus County — and the broader region — a significantly better fairgrounds than what exists today. A purpose-built, regionally funded facility on the county line would serve far more people and generate far more economic activity than the current site.
REGIONAL DIPLOMACY AS A CITY PRIORITY
Bringing four counties together around a shared institution requires the kind of sustained regional diplomacy that a Mayor of Turlock is well-positioned to champion. This is part of Turlock's broader role as a regional leader — not just a city managing its own affairs.
The Economic Case
A REGIONAL ASSET THAT PAYS FOR ITSELF
A unified Central California State Fair would be one of the largest county-line regional fair facilities in the western United States — drawing visitors, vendors, exhibitors, and sponsors from across the Central Valley and beyond.
TOURISM & HOSPITALITY REVENUE
A world-class regional fairgrounds draws overnight visitors, fills hotel rooms, and generates restaurant and retail spending across the Turlock–Modesto–Merced corridor — creating economic activity that extends well beyond the fairgrounds gates.
YEAR-ROUND EVENT PROGRAMMING
Unlike a traditional county fair that operates for a limited annual run, a purpose-built regional facility can host concerts, rodeos, agricultural expos, trade shows, and community events throughout the year — maximizing facility utilization and revenue generation.
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY PLATFORM
The Central Valley produces a significant share of the nation's fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy. A regional fair of this scale becomes a platform for agricultural industry — connecting producers, buyers, innovators, and consumers in ways that smaller county fairs cannot.
SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
By pooling four counties' resources through a JPA, the region can invest in infrastructure — parking, utilities, broadband, transit connections — that no single county could justify alone, creating a facility that serves the region for generations.
THE CENTRAL VALLEY DESERVES A FAIR WORTHY OF ITS FUTURE
Support the campaign and help build the regional leadership Turlock needs.