Mid-State Fair reports big boost in attendance, best concert series since Garth Brooks

Chloe Lovejoy
·4 min read

The California Mid-State Fair returned at full capacity this year with a big boost in attendance from last year’s modified version.

Approximately 310,000 people turned out for the 76th annual fair, a 42.5% increase compared to last year, according to a Mid-State Fair news release. However, that’s still a drop in ticket sales compared to the pre-COVID 2019 fair, which hosted 426,000 people.

Official ticket counts will take a few more weeks to calculate, the fair said.

The Chumash Main Grandstand concert series had over 89,000 guests in attendance of the performances, capped by the sold-out Kane Brown show, according to the release. It was the best attendance since 2017 when Garth Brooks performed two shows.

“We’re obviously thrilled with the way that the fair turned out, thrilled that so many people came back,” Fair spokesperson Tom Keffury said. “We take a lot of pride in our event and we worked really hard to put it on, so to see kind of the fruits of your labor — it’s really fulfilling.”

Auctions and revenue

The 2022 livestock auctions raised $2,469,341 from the sales of 731 different animals, according to the release. The Replacement Heifer Sale generated $667,250 of that total, while the Junior Livestock Auction brought in $1,802,091, according to the release.

Total auction revenue will increase after Aug. 8 as auction “add-ons” will continue through Aug. 7.

“The total revenue raised is slightly greater than last year ... a big testament to our community,” the release said.

The industrial arts auction made $191,000 spread over 59 different projects, “the most ever raised in a single-year,” according to the release. The 22-year-old industrial arts auction has brought in $940,000 since the year it began.

Helm and Sons Amusements Inc. -— the portable carnival hosted by the Mid-State Fair — earned approximately $1,600,000 in total revenue, a 16% increase from last year, according to the release.

The over 50 different food and beverage concession vendors generated approximately $3 million in revenue, “a number that far surpassed previous fairs,” according to the release.

Corporate sponsors also gave over $1.2 million in donations from 90 different businesses and individuals, according to the release.

“The response from the community with the large turnout was overwhelming and proved people were ready to come experience one of the great traditions of San Luis Obispo County,” Fair CEO Colleen Bojorquez said in the release. “For us, seeing so many smiling faces was a dream come true.”

Competitions and awards

Pear Valley Vineyards of Paso Robles won the Central Coast Wine Competition’s 2022 Winery of the Year Award and “had 22 entries with two best of class awards, three double golds and nine golds,” according to the release.

This is the second time Pear Valley Vineyards has won Winery of the Year.

Here’s a look at other wine winners:

  • Best of Show/Best of Red — Riboli Family Wines, Paso Robles, 2019 San Simeon Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

  • Best Dessert — Halter Ranch, Paso Robles, 2019 Vin De Paille

  • Best Sparkling — Vintage Wine Estates, Arroyo Grande, Laetitia Brut Rosé

  • Best Rose — Cass Winery, Paso Robles, 2022 Oasis

  • Best White — Midnight Cellars, Paso Robles, 2021 Aurora Reserve

Central Coast Vinegar Competition

  • Best of Show — Kismet Refining Company, Escondido, Black Garlic Balsamic

California Craft Spirits Competition

Best of Show/Best White Spirit — Wine Shine & Tin City Distillery, Paso Robles, vodka

Best Brandy — Bethel Road Distillery, Templeton, VSOP

Best Liqueur — Bethel Roa Distillery, Templeton, orange liqueur

San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Awards

  • Winemaker of the Year — Bob Lindquist, Verdad Wine Cellars & Lindquist Family Wines

  • Wine Grape Grower of the Year — Hilary Graves, Booker Vineyard

  • Wine Industry Person of the Year — Gretchen Roddick, Hope Family Wines

Agriculture Awards

  • Agriculturalist of the Year — Tom Bordonaro

  • Cattlewoman of the Year — Sarah Kramer

  • Cattleman of the Year — Paul Tognazzini

Country Rodeo Final Winners

  • Team Penning — Cody Mora, Chad Rava, Tom Martinus

  • Barrels ± Megan Mcnulty

  • Ranch Rope & Brand — Will Centoni, Brinan Varian, Ryan Pascoe, Keith Pascoe

  • Mixed Ribbon Roping — Cody Mora, Lilly Thompson

  • Match Roping — Kelly Barker, Clayton Grant

  • Double Mugging — Danny Leslie, Franky Martinez

  • Ladies Breakaway Roping — Grace Lopez

Legacy Project Scholarship

  • James W. Brabeck Youth Legacy (JWBYLF) Fund 2022 winner — Cody Domingos

Miss California Mid-State Fair

  • California Mid-State Fair Queen/Miss Congeniality — Brooke Smith, Templeton

The California Mid-State Fair will return in 2023, running from July 19 to 30. For more information, call 805-239-0655 or visit the fair’s website at midstatefair.com/fair/.