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  About Us  

Our Story

The Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds encompasses one hundred sixty (160) acres on the northwest side of the city of Helena. Our grounds and facilities are home to a wide variety of private, public and community events. Ranging from trade shows to rodeos, the Fairgrounds hosts events year-round.

The Fairgrounds has a rich history spanning 150 years. Through prosperous and lean times, the Fairgrounds endured. With over a century of public support, the Fairgrounds continues to grow thanks to the volunteers, County staff and the many Boards of Commissioners and their dedication to this community treasure.

LEWIS & CLARK COUNTY FAIR BOARD

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Fair Board meetings are held on the fourth (4th) Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m.
at the Fairgrounds office, typically in the conference room upstairs.
Immediately followed by the Fair Board Foundation meeting.
The public is always welcome to join.

Fair Board Members

The Lewis and Clark County Fair Board is an eleven member advisory board appointed by the County Commissioners for Lewis and Clark County. 

  • Board Member - Dave Duffy
  • Board Member - Marilyn Greely
  • Board Member - Kalli Kind
  • Board Member - Robert LaRue
  • Board Member - Mark Menke
  • Board Member - Greg Pace
  • Board Member - Phil Porrini
  • Board Member - Wilbur Rehmann
  • Board Member - Jay Sherley
  • Board Member - Jo Young
  • Chairperson/Board Member - Greg Pace
  • Vice Chair/Board Member - Jo Young
  • Foundation Chair/Board Member - Mark Menke
  • Foundation Vice Chair/Board Member - Jay Sherley
  • City Parks Liaison - Jerry Blythe 

Chairperson / Lewis and Clark County Commission

  • Tom Rolfe

Vice-Chairperson / Lewis and Clark County Commission

Member / Lewis and Clark County Commission

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Fair Board Minutes:

2023 Fair Board Agendas & Meeting Minutes

Click on the heading below of the file you would like to view. A PDF file will open for your review.
       

January 2023 Agenda

January 2023 Meeting Minutes

February 2023 Agenda

February 2023 Meeting Minutes

March 2023 Agenda

March 2023 Meeting Minutes

2021 Fair Board Agendas & Meeting Minutes

Click on the heading below you would like to view.  A PDF file will open for your review. 
       

January 2021 Agenda

January 2021 Meeting Minutes

February 2021 Agenda (No Meeting)

February 2021 Meeting Minutes (No Meeting)

March 2021 Agenda

March 2021 Meeting Minutes

April 2021 Agenda

April 2021 Meeting Minutes

May 2021 Agenda

May 2021 Meeting Minutes

June 2021 Agenda

June 2021 Meeting Minutes

July 2021 Agenda (No Meeting)

July 2021 Meeting Minutes (No Meeting)

August 2021 Agenda

August 2021 Meeting Minutes

September 2021 Agenda

September 2021 Meeting Minutes

October 2021 Agenda

October 2021 Meeting Minutes

November 2021 Agenda

November 2021 Meeting Minutes

December 2021 Agenda (No Meeting)

December 2021 Meeting Minutes (No Meeting)

*No Meeting

2022 Fair Board Agendas & Meeting Minutes

Click on the heading below of the file you would like to view. A PDF file will open for your review.
       

January 2022 Agenda

January 2022 Meeting Minutes

February 2022 Agenda

February 2022 Meeting Minutes

March 2022 Agenda

March 2022 Meeting Minutes

April 2022 Agenda

April 2022 Meeting Minutes 

May 2022 Agenda

May 2022 Meeting Minutes 

June 2022 Agenda

June 2022 Meeting Minutes

*No Meeting in July

Next scheduled meeting -  August 24, 2022

August 2022 Agenda

August 2022 Meeting Minutes

September 2022 Agenda

*No Meeting in September

Next scheduled meeting - Oct. 26th, 2022




2020 Fair Board Agendas & Meeting Minutes

Click on the heading below you would like to view. A PDF file will open for your review.


January 2020 Agenda

January 2020 Meeting Minutes

February 2020 Agenda

February 2020 Meeting Minutes

March 2020 Agenda

March 2020 Meeting Minutes

April 2020 Agenda

April 2020 Meeting Minutes

May 2020 Agenda

May 2020 Meeting Minutes

June 2020 Agenda

June 2020 Meeting Minutes 
June 2020 - Summary of June 29th Fair Board Phone Meeting

July 2020 Agenda (No Meeting)

July 2020 Meeting Minutes (No Meeting)

August 2020 Agenda

August 2020 Meeting Minutes

September 2020 Agenda

September 2020 Meeting Minutes

October 2020 Agenda

October 2020 Meeting Minutes

November 2020 Agenda (No Meeting)

November 2020 Meeting Minutes (No Meeting)

December 2020 Agenda ( No Meeting)

December 2020 Meeting Minutes (No Meeting)



FAIRGROUNDS FOUNDATION

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Our Foundation raises funds for special projects at the Fairgrounds to enhance the grounds and facilities, and the activities we host. A “Friends of the Fairgrounds” membership makes it possible for the Foundation and Fair Board members to continue improving the Fairgrounds, making it a place for our community to enjoy and take pride in.

Becoming a Friend of the Fairgrounds (Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds Foundation) is an easy way you can help support our progress. your Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds and the special projects at the Fairgrounds which would normally not get done. Being a member of the foundation is an investment in your community. Your contributions allow the Fairgrounds Foundation Board to continue improving and updating the Fairgrounds – YOUR Fairgrounds and event center.

Here are some of the projects the "Friends of the Fairgrounds" have accomplished over the years. They can only continue with your help. Make a donation, become a friend of the Fairgrounds. Know that you have helped. 

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Download our membership form below and mail in with your payment to the fairgrounds office:

Friends of the Fairgrounds

98 West Custer Ave.

Helena, MT 59602

Donations to "Friends of the Fairgrounds" are always welcome.

Thank You

Establishing the Wall of Honor annual recognition banquet. You may nominate people in our community you believe may have given to the growth of the fairgrounds. Download and fill out the forms below:

Funds raised by the Friends of the Fairground Foundation has gone to project including the landscaping of the Promenade area in front of the Exhibit Hall; Installing directional signage throughout the Fairgrounds; Adding beautiful concrete benches to the promenade; Initial remodeling and continuing upgrades of the VIP building; Memorial Picnic Table dedicatedProviding educational scholarships to Miss Last Chance Stampede Rodeo Queens, This years Queen went on to become Miss Rodeo Montana; A sprinkler system was added to the campground; With help from "Growing Friends of Helena," new trees will be planted near the campground. ; nd with some contribution from the Helena Chapter of the DAR, a flag pole at the north end of the promenade  in honor of the late Shirley Herrin. 

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Foundation Board Minutes:

2023 Fairgrounds Foundation Board Agendas & Meeting Minutes

Click on the heading below of the file you would like to view. PDF file will open for your review. 

       

January 2022 Foundation Agenda

January 2022 Foundation Meeting Minutes

February 2022 Foundation Agenda

February 2022 Foundation Meeting Minutes

March 2022 Foundation Agenda

March 2022 Foundation Meeting Minutes

April 2022 Foundation Agenda 

April 2022 Foundation Meeting Minutes 


*No Meeting in July

Last Chance Stampede & Fair

*No Meeting

FAIRGROUNDS PAST TO PRESENT

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Our Story

  

  • In 1868 and 1869, a group called the Helena Valley Organizers rented land northwest of town and held an exposition promoting goods and services available in the area.
  • The first territorial fair was held in 1870 after a new group, the Montana Agricultural Mineral and Mechanical Associated (MAMMA), raised money, purchased land at the current fairgrounds location and erected the first buildings.
  • Helena citizens bought the land and buildings from MAMMA for $10,000 and turned the property over to the Montana State Legislature. The Legislature reorganized the fairgrounds and named it Montana State Fair. In 1903, the gates opened to 20,000 enthusiastic visitors.
  • In 1911, 25,000 people from all over Montana came to witness the first airplane flight over the Rocky Mountains, by a 19-year-old named Cromwell Dixon. He took off from the fairgrounds, landed atop the Rockies and returned to the roar of the crowd.
  • The Montana State Fair was at its zenith in 1915. Exhibits swelled to 15,000 and attendance rose to 50,000. The Montana State Fair had become an agricultural extravaganza.
  • During the next 17 years, falling agriculture prices, the Depression, and drought caused attendance to decline. In 1932, the final State Fair was held in Helena.
  • The October 1935 earthquakes damaged buildings and water mains and destroyed the new horticultural building. For the next 20 years, much of the fairgrounds closed and the State Fair moved to Great Falls.
  • The late 1950’s began a new era at the Fairgrounds with the construction of the 20,000 square foot, dirt floor Multi-purpose building. In 1959, the Lewis & Clark Fairgrounds Association formed to open all of the 160 acres to public use.
  • The first Last Chance Stampede was held in 1961 and in 1969, the Lewis & Clark County Fair was added to annual events on the last weekend in July.
  • 1961, Kitty Ann Quigley (Taaler) was awarded the very first Miss Last Chance Stampede crown. Read about the history of the MLCS Queens 1961-1996. (Thanks to Gail Williams Hatch)
  • Funded in part by the Johnson Administration’s “War on Poverty” programs and other resources, the Fairgrounds made major improvements including a children’s park, picnic areas, parking lots and recreational vehicle campground.
  • Eventually, a new non-profit Users Group formed to manage the Fairgrounds. The three-person Board of Lewis and Clark County Commissioners used public funds to keep the Fairgrounds open and add improvements. Looking for a way forward, the Commission funded a Fairgrounds reconstruction plan, though plan’s cost was viewed by most as too expensive for county residents.
  • An engineering report in 2000 condemned the historic grandstand as unsafe for public use. Replaced by a temporary 1,800-seat grandstand and a volunteer-built temporary rodeo arena, the Fairgrounds continued to hold the annual Last Chance Stampede.
  • Helena citizens bought the land and buildings from MAMMA for $10,000 and turned the property over to the Montana State Legislature. The Legislature reorganized the fairgrounds and named it Montana State Fair. In 1903, the gates opened to 20,000 enthusiastic visitors.
  • The Users Group asked the County Commission to take back operational responsibility for the Fairgrounds in 2002. The Commission named a Fairgrounds Supervisor and created a community volunteer board of seven (7) members to serve three-year terms and act as an advisory group to the Commission and fairgrounds staff.
  • In 2003, the staff and Fair Board created a business plan for the Fairgrounds’ future. The plan included construction of a new grandstand and outdoor performance arena connected by an entry hall to a new 36,000 square foot Exhibit Hall. The expected cost exceeded $6 million. The only way to pay for the new construction was to ask the people of Lewis and Clark County to support an 8.18 mill, ten-year levy along with a 2.91 mill permanent levy for maintenance and capital equipment replacement. In June 2004, the public supported the mill levy vote to improve and maintain the fairgrounds, with construction of the new facilities beginning in 2007.

The Fairgrounds Foundation - "Friends of the Fairgrounds" -  was established in May 2008 with the goal of raising money from individuals, families and area businesses to help pay for improvements and maintenance outside of the fairgrounds regular maintenance program. Their funding and manpower only so far...

  • The Exhibit Hall and Entry Hall opened for public use in November 2008. In July 2009, the new grandstands and outdoor performance arena opened for the 49th annual Last Chance Stampede and Fair.
  • In 2013 Fairgrounds staff and the Fair Board began a yearlong planning process aimed at improving existing, older buildings and laying out the growth of the Fairgrounds for the next 30 years and longer. Click to view One Possible Future.
  • 2021’s Last Chance Stampede and Fair had record-breaking attendance with sold-out Friday and Saturday night PRCA rodeo performances.
  • On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 - Long time board member and true "Friends of the Fairgrounds" and to the Helena Community, Robert "Bob" Fusie was remembered. Bob's wife Loretta, several friends, fairgrounds staff, former and current board members dedicated a permanent picnic table to Bob Fuse near the entrance of the Entry Hall. 
  • On Sunday, October 8th 2023, two outstanding people a giving organization were celebrated by a room full of people during the Sixth Annual "Wall of Honor Banquet."   

In 2022, the Foundation along with some financial help from  

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