Thurston County will host the first-ever Thurston County Youth Exposition and Jackpot April 25-26, the county announced this week.
Entrance to the Thurston County Fairgrounds in Lacey will be free and open to the public both days of the expo.
The two-day expo will serve as the agricultural equivalent of spring training to provide young people throughout the region with educational clinics, and a competitive platform to showcase livestock and refine showmanship skills ahead of the summer fair season.
Beyond the show ring, the Thurston County Fair Foundation will host its Secondhand Safari, a massive community garage sale and treasure hunt which supports ongoing fairgrounds improvement, the county said in a news release.
Food and commercial vendors will be on hand both days of the expo, while the Secondhand Safari runs all day April 24-25.
“The Expo is all about creating a pipeline for success,” said Thurston County Fair Board member and the event’s volunteer lead planner Lance McElroy. “It presents a unique opportunity for kids to learn the ropes, get their animals comfortable in a show environment, and really get ready for the Thurston County Fair. We want them to walk into the ring this summer feeling prepared, capable, and excited.”
County officials say creating a path from youth training to the ag marketplace is the cornerstone of a larger economic development play. By leveraging the new $1.25 million agriculture center at the County’s fairgrounds — funded by state and federal grants last year and slated for construction this year — the county said it hopes to position the community to compete for a larger share of the state’s $14 billion ag industry.
“Livestock drives about $4.5 billion statewide, and here in Thurston County livestock and poultry make up nearly 80 percent of all ag sales,” said Chair of the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Tye Menser. “Developing local talent and providing a year-round venue for training and market days is a strategic economic investment that doubles down on our strongest asset. We hope our community will come out to the Fairgrounds to support these young agriculturalists.”
