Pictured in order: Taylor Childers, Lauri King, Christina Estrada, Cinnamon Howell
“There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.” – W.E.B. Dubois
In support of International Women’s Day, we would like to honor all the hard-working and inspiring women who make the Central Valley’s largest annual event come to life! We would especially like to acknowledge some of our Big Fresno Fair team leaders – CEO, Lauri King (pictured second), Taylor Childers (pictured first), Christina Estrada (pictured third) and Cinnamon Howell (pictured fourth), along with so many other remarkable women who work to make The Big Fresno Fair a little bigger and better each year!
The Fresno Bee’s 2023 Best of Central California People’s Choice awards are back! Be sure to vote for The Big Fresno Fair in these five categories:
Best Annual Event/Festival
Best Attraction
Best Family Attraction
Best Live Music Venue
Best Museum – Fresno County Historical Museum
The deadline to vote is Friday, March 17 at 5 p.m. To cast your vote, click here! You can vote daily in the link provided. Thank you in advance for voting for us!
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time,” – Barack Obama, 44th U.S. President
The Fair Admin Office will be closed today in recognition of Presidents’ Day and will reopen tomorrow at 9 a.m. We hope you enjoy this extra day off in honor of our country’s former leaders!
Meet our 2023 Board Officers (left to right): Terry Gonsalves, President; Gary S. Chahil, Vice President; and Frank Flores, Secretary/Treasurer
The Big Fresno Fair announces new 2023 Board officer positions for the 21st District Agricultural Association, which were voted on at the January 24, Board meeting: Terry Gonsalves, President; Gary Chahil, Vice President; and Frank Flores, Secretary/Treasurer.
“Our Fair Board is committed to the betterment of the annual Big Fresno Fair and overall Fresno Fairgrounds to ensure current and future generations are able to enjoy this gathering place, this rich tradition, this longstanding annual event that is cemented in memories of so many in our Central Valley community,” said Lauri L. King, CEO, The Big Fresno Fair. “Our 2023 officers will continue to lead the Board forward and we look forward to continued conversations on how to improve our Fair for the future, grow our community and educational programs, and continue to serve our region.”
Terry Gonsalves, of Laton, has been a partner at Superior Dealer Insurance Services, LLC since 2007. He started Duvall Ag farming almonds in 2004 and expanded farming operations with Letson Limited Ag, LLC in 2013. Gonsalves was Managing Operator at Bennie Gonsalves Dairy from 2000 to 2012. Gonsalves formerly served on the 21st District Agricultural Board from 2001-2003.
“It is an honor to serve on this Fair Board and now as Board President, continuing a family legacy started by my father, Bennie Gonsalves who served on the Fair Board for over a decade (1979 – 1991) and in 1983 served as Board President,” said Terry Gonsalves, Fair Board President. “For my family, like so many others in our community, The Big Fresno Fair plays an important role in their lives and in their memories – and I’m proud to be part of the effort to continue this tradition for generations to come.”
“Two years ago, when I was reappointed to the Fair Board and selected as Secretary/Treasurer, the pandemic hit and shut down nearly all Fair operations impacting the Fair financially and leading to staff reductions. However, the Fair team led by now CEO Lauri King navigated back to a successful in-person Fair in 2021 and 2022. Our then Board Presidents, Jerry Pacheco (2021) and Chuck Riojas (2022) provided great leadership along with Lauri to navigate the pandemic. There were many who played a part in this – so I want to thank everyone who contributed to the successful return of The Big Fresno Fair – our Fair Board and nonprofit Foundation, Friends of the Big Fresno Fair. Our management team, staff and vendors, our marketing and sponsorship teams, carnival provider and public safety partners, plus many others who are imperative to making the 5th largest Fair in California run smoothly and safely,” Gonsalves continued. “It was hard work, and much of it was done with a reduced number of staff but this collective team of professionals are committed to the ongoing success of the Fair. I look forward to continuing to work with them alongside my fellow Board leadership team – Gary Chahil and Frank Flores – as we focus on keeping the annual Fair an affordable entertainment option for our community who supports this Valley tradition each year!”
Gurjinder “Gary” S. Chahil, of Clovis, is a member of the American Sikh Community and is the President of California EB5 Investments where he has been serving in this capacity since 2017.
Frank Flores, of Clovis, was a union representative at the Sheet Metal workers Local 104 from 2003 to 2012. Flores was a Business Representative for Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare counties for Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 from 2003 to 2012. He was a Union Organizer at Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 from 1996 to 2003. Flores was an Industrial Foreman and Journeyman at Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 from 1975 to 1996. He is president of the Sheet Metal Workers 104 Retiree Club and a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 and the Fresno County Civil Service Board.
First Place: Give It Your Best Shot – Food & Beverage, Photo of Kid with Ice Cream ConeFirst Place: Give It Your Best Shot – Entertainment & Grounds Acts, Photo of Paul Rodriguez in CrowdSecond Place – Give It Your Best Shot – Exhibits, Competitive or Educational, Photo of 4-H youth with RabbitSecond Place: Give It Your Best Shot – Animals With or Without People, Photo of Alaskan Pig RacesThird Place: Give It Your Best Shot – Community Outreach/Emergency Response Venues, Photo of Cal Fire With KidThird Place: Give It Your Best Shot – Carnival, Photo of Mom & Daughter in CarnivalThird Place: Give It Your Best Shot – People at the Fair, Photo of Beer & Wine Fest
The Big Fresno Fair took home 17 awards at the Western Fairs Association’s (WFA) 100th Annual Convention & Trade Show held in Reno, Nevada January 15 – 18, where more than 1,200 fair CEOs, directors, staff and fair-related professionals from roughly 125 fairs throughout the Western United States attended to celebrate the greatest accomplishments of 2022. The Big Fresno Fair walked away with 17 WFA Achievement Awards, which included 6 first place, 8 second place and 3 third place award.
First Place Awards:
Give It Your Best Shot – Entertainment & Grounds Acts, Photo of Paul Rodriguez in Crowd
Give It Your Best Shot – Food & Beverage, Photo of Kid with Ice Cream Cone
Single Social Media Ad – Early Savings
Fair Logo – 2022 Big Fresno Fair Logo
New Cultural Program – Community Cultural Center, Fresno County Historical Museum
Overall Fair Marketing – The Big Fresno Fair’s Food, Family & Fun!
We’d like to thank our wonderful community for their continued support over the past 139 years. We can’t wait to continue the tradition at the 2023 Big Fresno Fair, October 4 – 15! To see the full list of awards and for full release, click here.
It’s National Feed the Birds Day! Did you know that each year at The Big Fresno Fair, fairgoers have the chance to feed lorikeets at the Lorikeet Encounter in the Greenhouse? Have you checked out this fun and adorable exhibit? 🦜
In honor of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to the Fresno Police Department who continue to help keep The Big Fresno Fair one of the safest events in the Central Valley!
We look forward to working with you again at the 2023 Big Fresno Fair!
Happy Old Rock Day! Have you checked out the Gem & Mineral exhibit while visiting The Big Fresno Fair? Each year, there are approximately 100 variations of gems and minerals on display where you can learn many of the unique and interesting facts about special gems & minerals such as agate, obsidian, amethyst, jade, plus more! Have you checked out the Gem & Mineral exhibit on your visit to the Fair?
