The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.

Fairplex's 2022 Annual Report

Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search
Published by terriquez, 2023-04-24 13:37:07

2022 Annual Report

Fairplex's 2022 Annual Report

Keywords: Fairplex, LA County Fair

PRESENTS 2022 ANNUAL REPORT CHEERS TO YEARS


What a year 2022 was to take the reins — still in the middle of a pandemic and trying to recover financially from that, reopening the LA County Fair after two years of being closed and celebrating the LA County Fair Association’s 100th anniversary. Fairplex and the staff faced challenges, but I am proud to say we met them head-on and came through successfully. We saw the return of year-round events to our campus, the Child Development Center continued to thrive, The Learning Centers began regaining steam and the 2022 LA County Fair — our Centennial celebration — was one of the most profitable fairs ever, allowing Fairplex to finish with a positive balance sheet for the second year in a row. We embarked on the process of developing a Specific Plan to create a sustainable framework for Fairplex’s development over our second 100 years. This framework will assist us in collaborating with the City of Pomona and Los Angeles County and ensure we have a lasting and positive impact on our community. It will support our current mission on community, education and serving as an economic engine for the region — all while enhancing our primary focus on the LA County Fair. We don’t know what the future of Fairplex holds, but the Specific Plan will help envision the possibilities. The work of the team and the Board of Directors is moving the organization forward to its next 100 years. Like everything else, we will need to evolve. We are still and will remain the place to go for year-round family events. We are still and will remain a county fair. Looking forward to 2023, I see nothing but positive growth for Fairplex and the community we serve. Walter Marquez Walter Marquez, Ed.D. President & CEO WELCOME FROM WALTER MARQUEZ, PRESIDENT One of the first tasks the Board gave to President & CEO Walter Marquez at the beginning of 2022 was to get Fairplex back on track after more than two years of the campus being closed to public events due to COVID-19. The huge umbrella hanging over the organization was how to commemorate the LA County Fair’s Centennial. We could not let our 100th anniversary go without a celebration. In just four months, our team programmed a Fair that was one of our most successful. While the pandemic didn’t allow us to have the blow-out birthday party we wanted, on May 5 we opened our gates to thousands of guests who were craving fun, traditions and, of course, deep-fried Oreos. The fact that the Fair turned out to be one of our most successful speaks to the resiliency of our team and the organization. Throughout the course of 2022, we saw normalcy return to our grounds. From KABOOM! to Oktoberfest, the Reptile Show to the Harvest Festival, it was good to see guests return and enjoy themselves. We also know that we have to prepare for the future. That is why we have eagerly engaged with staff and the community in the beginning of the Specific Plan process. We now must begin planning for the next 100 years, a process that will honor our past, hold fast to the present and prepare for the future. Thank you to Walter and the Fairplex team for making 2022 a successful year. Heidi Hanson Heidi Hanson Board Chair WELCOME FROM HEIDI HANSON, CHAIR OF THE BOARD The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, represented by First District Sup. Hilda Solis, honored the LA County Fair on its 100th anniversary. Pictured are Fairplex Board Chair Heidi Hanson, Sup. Hilda Solis and Fairplex President & CEO Walter Marquez. 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 3


Fairplex is a nonprofit enterprise that serves as a place, a convener and a creator of memories to strengthen the community and economy through arts and entertainment, agriculture, education and commerce. MISSION STATEMENT We aspire to be a model community partner, economic engine and presenter of unique experiences. VISION PUBLIC BENEFIT Committed to doing good in everything we do GUEST EXPERIENCE Placing our guests at the center of what we do PARTNERSHIP We are at our best when we partner with others SUSTAINABILITY Committed to being financially healthy and environmentally friendly UNIQUELY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Celebrating the best of our community GUIDING PRINCIPLES In the late 1800s/early 1900s, the City of Pomona bustled as a giant in the citrus industry. The city was called the “Queen of the Citrus Belt” and boasted one of the highest per-capita levels of income in the United States. With that in mind, Harry LaBreque, a promoter of community celebrations for the railroad carnival Foley & Burke Shows, and Pomona City Council member and business owner Clinton B. “Jack” Afflerbaugh presented a merchants exposition in 1921 along the Southern Pacific Railway in downtown Pomona. Merchants brought their wares to wheel and deal. And people were ready to buy. The country was just a few years out from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. There was money to spend and a hunger for fun. The exposition was a success. But, Afflerbaugh thought, how could he make this a more homegrown affair, to celebrate the region’s agriculture roots as well as commerce and entertainment? The following year, 1922, the first LA County Fair was held on 43 acres of a beet and barley field, just a few miles north of downtown Pomona. Afflerbaugh and a band of fellow business owners created what became one of the largest county fairs in the United States. EVERY STORY HAS A BEGINNING 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 5


In 2022, after two years of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LA County Fair remains one of the country’s great fairs and a popular element on the well-populated landscape of Southern California entertainment. With decades of exaltations of “Meet me at the Clock Tower!” or “See you at the Fair!” the Fair has become an annual tradition for thousands of families and friends. This year, the LA County Fair Association celebrated its Centennial — 100 years of Ferris wheels and thrill rides, of community and star entertainment, of presenting the latest in wares, of ooey, gooey foods on a stick and of teaching kids about local crops and that chocolate milk does not actually come from brown cows. In 2022, we said “Cheers to 100 Years!” Over the past 10 decades, Fairplex has grown from a 43-acre pasture that housed circus tents and dirt pathways to a 500-acre mini-metropolis with permanent structures, green space, sports fields, an urban farm, a hotel and conference center and more. Fairplex has flourished far beyond what its founding fathers could have imagined. It has survived a war, cultural shifts, a population boom and embraced the changing diversity of the region. Through it all, it has remained true to its roots as a place for family and friends to make memories. It remains a convener and creator of memories, an economic engine and an organization dedicated to the community. It is time to look back at the last year, and the last 100 years, and dream about the possibilities of what comes next. Enjoy this year’s Annual Report through the themes of yesterday and today: Agriculture, LA County Fair/ Entertainment, Education and Community. Originally from Nebraska, Clinton Bertram Afflerbaugh – aka C.B. “Jack” Afflerbaugh – knew the importance of agriculture to a region. He also knew the importance of commerce. A pharmacist, he settled in Pomona in 1910, opening a shop in downtown Pomona and eventually becoming a city council member. In 1921, he worked with a popular railroad carnival to bring a merchants exposition to downtown. The expo not only garnered the interest of local folks, but brought others to the area via the Los Angeles Red Cars. Seeing an opportunity, Afflerbaugh gathered fellow business owners and brainstormed about a county fair. A local reporter with the Progress Bulletin overheard two members of the Lions Club discussing the possibility and published a story, pretty much forcing Afflerbaugh and company’s hand. In 1922, the first LA County Fair opened in October to nearly 50,000 guests. The Fair stayed true to what Afflerbaugh thought was important — promoting agriculture and commerce. Innovative wares such as the new electric washing machine were on display, as was toothpaste made from oranges, of course. Afflerbaugh became the Fair’s first paid manager, a post he held until 1960, when he died at age 72. According to his obituary in the Los Angeles Times, “…he championed the purchase in 1922 of a 43-acre beet and barley field from the original rancho of wealthy Mexican cattleman Ricardo Vejar for use as a fairground. The following year, an additional 62 acres were purchased and deeded over to the county. Afflerbaugh, a local pharmacist whose sales pitch could supposedly ‘talk the Works Progress Administration out of its gold teeth,’ was also the creator of the floats that Pomona entered in the Rose Parade every year. But his flair for dressing never quite matched his flair for design: in an era when men were considered virtually naked without a hat and suit coat, Afflerbaugh always griped when he had to don a cumbersome suit, and he stuck doggedly to casual wear. He wasn’t the type to sit behind a desk either; he could always be found repairing horse stalls, digging up flower beds, wielding a paintbrush or pouring concrete.” IN THE SPOTLIGHT JACK AFFLERBAUGH FATHER OF THE FAIR 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 7


When drafting the LA County Fair articles of incorporation in 1922, the founding fathers wrote that the Fair was created to “…advance and promote the agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, industrial and other interests of the County of Los Angeles and the State of California.” According to the Los Angeles Almanac, between 1910 and 1950, Los Angeles County ranked No. 1 among the most productive agricultural counties in the nation. At its peak during the 1920s, it produced nearly 5% of the value of all farm products sold by the nation's leading 100 agricultural counties. And with an influx of Dutch immigrants in the 1920s, dairy farms erupted along Downey, Norwalk, Artesia (the “L.A. Milk Shed”) and the Chino Valley. County fairs were the perfect vehicles for 4-H and FFA student shows; they helped educate fair visitors about agriculture as well as build competitors’ skills, selfconfidence and leadership abilities. After all, the competitors and audiences might become the next generation of farmers and ranchers. The organizers of the new LA County Fair were well aware of this in 1922. The Fair hosted tents specifically for agriculture exhibits, which it continued for many years in what became the Agriculture Hall. It also started its first dairy competition, with farmers and producers bringing their milk, cheese and butter to be measured against their neighbors’. Through the years, the Fair has hosted competitions for llamas, goats, sheep, cavies, fish, steer and even roller pigeons, where pigeons somersaulted on the ground to a finish line. As suburban development increased throughout Southern California, the agriculture industry declined. Farmers moved away, as did most dairies. The Fair continued to host agricultural competitions, even a livestock auction, through the early 2000s. But, as the trend toward local agriculture dimmed, Fair programming was adjusted; the Junior Livestock Auction and most agriculture competitions were cut. For the past 15 years, local 4-H and FFA students have looked to smaller fairs to show their animals. In 2022, through the efforts of longtime farm manager Don DeLano, animal competitions returned to the Fair barns. FFA, 4-H and individual competitors entered the show ring once again to show their sheep, llamas, goats and more. Ribbons and belt buckles were earned by the winners. Farm staff, new to the student competition program, learned from the ground up how to organize animal competitions. With assistance from sister fair the Orange County Fair, the LA County Fair presented its competition book and marketed to local FFA and 4-H clubs. Barns were refitted to meet competition regulations and the show ring was prettied to meet its former showstopper look. The first week of competitions featured the pygmy goat shows; the second week was Angora goats, breeding sheep and beef cattle competitions, with a student from Cal Poly Pomona’s Livestock Show team taking the buckle and the title of Supreme Champion; the third weekend was Boer goats, llamas, and rabbits and cavy shows; the fourth and final weekend was the youth and open double dairy goat shows. Our livestock competitions were an overwhelming success with competitors. Staff received multiple letters from competitors complimenting the Fair and stating how happy they were that the contests were restored. AGRICULTURE LAND OF PLENTY “Livestock is a way of life, and those that like competition are always looking for the next show to attend. Your set-up is ready to be utilized for new life to be brought to the Fair facilities. The spectators at the Fair were amazed and had so many questions about the goats. Please bring the facility back to its roots and let others enjoy their time at the LA County Fair like we did. We are encouraging our 4H, FFA and Open exhibitors to attend any event that takes place at The Farm at Fairplex.” - The Auge Family, Bakersfield “We participated in the 2022 Open Sheep Show in the Livestock Department, and it was so exciting to be able to finally return and share in the positive experience provided to us all. We participated in the last year you had the Open Sheep Show, and it was great to return and pick up where we left off. We enjoyed speaking with the fair guests as they would stroll through the barn area and watch the in-person competitive shows. It was a remarkably busy week.” - Greg Beard 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 9


Even though he was born 30 years after the first fair, Don DeLano can tell you where everything was originally situated on the 500 acres of land that would become one of Southern California’s favorite event spaces. The original 43 acres consisted of fields of sugar beets. “This area was a flood plain, so it was good for growing beets,” DeLano said. Where the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel now sits, a grove of orange trees perfumed the breeze with the scent of citrus. “The Fair was started with both agriculture and innovation in mind, evident of the direction the City of Pomona was going,” DeLano said. “There was a packing house across White Avenue. General Electric was in the city. General Dynamics was eventually here.” DeLano spent more than 30 years working at Fairplex, starting in landscape and retiring in 2022 as the manager of The Farm, Fairplex’s five-acre urban farm that is home to more than 150 California specialty crops. A history aficionado, DeLano has lovingly done extensive research on Fairplex’s 100 years of agriculture and general operation. Besides being an employee, DeLano is a huge fan of the Fair. In his youth he entered his tropical fish in Fair competitions. DeLano remembers the agriculture exhibits that cities from the region displayed in the ag hall, like Upland with its lemons, Oxnard with its strawberries and Artesia with its dairy products. Agriculture was represented at every corner of the Fair. “In the 1940s, the Big Red Barn had a show ring for beef and the lower barns had rows and rows of cattle, with 50 to 100 cattle in each row,” he recalled. “Pigs were shown, then went to market. It was quite an experience for a competitor and a spectator.” The Fair saw a reduction in agriculture programming in the early 2000s. But urban agriculture is making a comeback. DeLano was instrumental in helping the LA County Fair dive into urban ag with The Farm at Fairplex. With each fruit or vegetable, DeLano could tell you the origin, how to use it in a recipe or the medicinal purposes recognized by various cultures. He loved to have guests and field trips of students to The Farm, offering tastes of the white strawberries grown on vertical vines, or introducing them to finger limes or a Buddha’s Hand, a citrus that is delicious when candied. DeLano also spearheaded the return of livestock competitions to the Fair in 2022. “I had done some polling among my contacts, and there was big interest in having the competitions back,” he said. The livestock staff started small, with nearly 400 animals entering competitions in 2022, but expect to see those numbers double in 2023. “Ag competitions are still going strong, especially in the Midwest. But the LA County Fair certainly has momentum to rebuild a robust program. After all, agriculture is part of our mission.” IN THE SPOTLIGHT DON DELANO RENAISSANCE FARMER 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 11


Abraham Lincoln once said, “Upon the subject of education…I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.” That is a sentiment shared by Art and Sarah Ludwick. Their involvement with education is unquestionably a huge part of their lives and one to which they are firmly committed. “Sarah and I have spent our lives supporting schools and educational programs,” Mr. Ludwick said. “We just want to see kids get educated.” The Ludwicks’ involvement with Fairplex began in 1991. Mrs. Ludwick was volunteering at the University of La Verne’s child development center, which needed to find a new location. Just about that time the child development center at Fairplex was rebuilding, thanks to a grant. Quite simply, Fairplex had a facility that could house the children that ULV needed to find a home for. The philosophies complemented each other and the Fairplex/ULV Child Development Center was born. Mrs. Ludwick said that the coupling of the centers has provided a wonderful home for both the children that it serves and the young educators that work at the center. Mrs. Ludwick is a lifelong proponent of community service and has dedicated many years to service organizations and community groups, including as a board member of the Fairplex Child Development Center. Mr. Ludwick joined the Los Angeles County Fair Association in 1999 and was named a director in 2002. He served as Chair from 2012 to 2013. A longtime resident of the San Gabriel Valley, Mr. Ludwick has devoted tremendous time and energy to educational, medical and recreational endeavors in the community. His service to others is also a long and impressive list. The Ludwicks have been involved with the annual auction at the CDC since it began in 1991. Mr. Ludwick even served as the auctioneer for several years. The Ludwicks have been instrumental donors for both the Fairplex Child Development Center and The Learning Centers at Fairplex; their generosity has helped to educate thousands of children throughout this region. Mr. Ludwick is fond of saying that he and Sarah have a love affair with the Fair, and for that we are very grateful. EDUCATION WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT The LA County Fair’s founding fathers were sure to include the promotion of agriculture, industry and other interests of the region as part of the LA County Fair’s mission. While not specifically stated in 1922, that included education. Education was the underlining foundation of the Fair — whether it was students learning to show their prized pigs or adults learning about the latest in technology, home appliances and automobiles. As the Fair grew, so did its educational offerings. From livestock and agriculture competitions to art shows and culinary pursuits, Fairplex has grown into a learning center, where guests are not only educated while entertained at the Fair, but are provided hands-on learning experiences throughout the year. In 2022, The Learning Centers at Fairplex (TLC) and the Child Development Center (CDC) continued to provide the community with much-needed resources. After operating online during the pandemic, TLC’s Career and Technical Education Center returned to in-person classes with 35 high school students enrolled in spring, 45 in summer and 87 in fall. Courses offered included automotive technology, welding and urban agriculture. The Farm at Fairplex also began hosting field trips once again, with students learning about urban farming, hydroponics, nutrition and small livestock care. In February 2022, TLC celebrated the 100th birthday of Alex Xydias, one the namesakes of the Alex Xydias and Pete Chapouris Center for Automotive Arts (AXC). Alex Xydias is a renowned hot rod legend and award-winning figure in the automotive customizing industry, and in honor of his centennial, Fairplex established the Alex Xydias Centennial Endowment Fund, with a donation of $25,000. The goal was to raise $100,000 for Alex’s 100th birthday, which was surpassed by the end of 2022. In March 2022, TLC also hired a new Executive Director, Roberto Viramontes, who carries years of experience in education as a former teacher, education policy advocate and program director. Under new leadership, TLC aims to add educational programs and expand the instructional and programmatic staff. In 2022, the Child Development Center retained full enrollment of 225 children (infants, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten students) throughout the year, with a long waiting list. The Center is preparing for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) 2023 accreditation process, which signals that CDC offers a high-quality early learning program. In 2022, exploratory conversations were completed to determine if TLC and the CDC could be unified to operate as a single, educational nonprofit under one Board of Directors. Executive Director Roberto Viramontes said this could eliminate confusion between the two and brings clarity and efficiency to their operations. He said it will also help ensure a cradle-to-career mission under one umbrella organization. IN THE SPOTLIGHT ART AND SARAH LUDWICK EDUCATION ADVOCATES 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 13


LA COUNTY FAIR CHEERS TO 100 YEARS: RETURN OF THE FAIR AND YEAR-ROUND EVENTS It was a Tuesday. Oct. 17, 1922 — opening day of the inaugural LA County Fair. One immense tent held booths hawking wares ranging from toothpaste made from oranges to the new Ford Model T, with a whopping $300 price tag. One hundred automobiles were on display. Chevrolet even used the new Fair to unveil its latest four-wheeled star — the Superior Chevrolet. Eight smaller tents housed livestock and other goods. The exhibit of “fine high-grade, blooded cattle” was, according to the local community newspaper, “worth any man’s time going miles to see.” There were Holsteins, Jerseys, Guernseys, Ayreshire and more. Special features included a big eastern carnival with a side show, “and it is hoped there will be no objectionable features,” according to a preview in the newspaper. The Charles Gay Lion Farm from Los Angeles brought 30 lions to exhibit, including a lioness with her five cubs. The Pomona Municipal Band offered musical entertainment, as did bands from Venice, Long Beach and other towns. And the ladies who had exhibits of needlework, fruit and vegetables were asked to be sure to fill out an entry form. Fast-forward 100 years. It’s Thursday, May 5, 2022. An hour before the gates open, and staff is making a mad scramble to ensure every detail of the 100th Anniversary LA County Fair is just right. Goats and sheep in the petting zoo are brushed. The smell of barbecue is around every corner. Lumberjacks are rolling logs in the lagoon. After nearly three years of its doors being shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, operating with a much smaller staff than ever before and adopting a new season for opening the Fair — it almost feels like the first Fair. The Centennial celebration of the LA County Fair, held during its new spring dates in May, was the most financially successful Fair ever. The weather was perfect. Guests were excited to return and indulge in their Fair favorites — whether it was food or thrill rides, petting barn animals or entering a prized recipe in the culinary competitions. The Fair’s arrival after having to close for only the second time in its history (World War II being the first) was a triumph of spirit and tradition. More than 800,000 guests visited during May 5–30. The Fair gave guests a chance to reconnect as they recreated memories of Fairs past and made new ones. Nostalgia and tradition connected at every corner. The Millard Sheets Art Center featured an intimate look at Fair memorabilia. The Flower & Garden Pavilion, themed “Cheers to 100 Years,” offered vignettes that honored various decades of the Fair’s history. Ray Cammack Shows carnival returned for its 38th year at the Fair, with more than 60 rides and games, including nostalgic favorites Tilt-a-Whirl and Dodgem bumper cars, whose mechanical ancestors were present at the Fair in the 1920s. Cal Poly Pomona continued as a partner, supplying the animals to the Big Red Barn and expanding its management of the barns. Much like the 1922 Fair, the Centennial Fair was put together in four months. County and state pandemic guidelines on the allowance of large public events were not known until the last minute. The Founding Fathers had to put a Fair together from scratch; it felt nearly the same in 2022. Surveys indicated that guests were extremely satisfied with programming and loved the new spring dates. The LA County Fair opened its gates to a new season in 2022, permanently moving its dates to May. After much deliberation, the decision to move from the end of summer to spring proved to be a good one. With the Fair being canceled in 2020 and ’21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, management had the opportunity to consider options for how the Fair should move forward for its next 100 years. During the last few Septembers, the Fair experienced triple-digit heat that challenged Fairgoers, vendors and partners. If a decision to change dates was on the table, this was the perfect time to make the move. While some traditionalists missed the September time period, the majority of guests expressed their approval. With most of May’s weather being in the low 80s, temperatures were perfect. The original Fair time frame of September/October was set to celebrate the harvest. But with California’s climate, harvesting is carried out all year long. “It was a good run — not many can say they were able to host a successful, iconic community event during the same time frame for nearly 100 years,” said President & CEO Walter Marquez. “But this will be like a rebirth, a renaissance for the LA County Fair. The one positive thing to come out of the pandemic is that it allowed us to rethink how we want to present the Fair so that it offers maximum enjoyment for everyone.” NEW SEASON FOR THE FAIR 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 15


FOOD BY THE NUMBERS FROM CHICKEN CHARLIE FROM THE MIDWAY GOURMET DOMINIC PALMIERI HERE’S A LOOK AT WHAT WAS EATEN AT THE FAIR IN 2022 Deep-fried Oreos invented by Charlie “Chicken Charlie” Boghosian 2001 Funnel Cakes – Pennsylvania Dutch created a similar dessert in the 19th century but Funnel Cakes became popular at the Fair in the ‘50s 1950s Hot Dog on a Stick makes its first appearance, becomes most popular fair food 1940s Most Popular Foods: Hamburgers Hot Dogs Popcorn Soft Serve Ice Cream Cones 1922 “My favorite part of creating something new is seeing people’s faces when they first find out about it. But the best part is when you actually eat it and love it.” MacPherson’s Ice Cream returned for its 100th year at the 2022 LA County Fair, having started with a small food stand at the first Fair in 1922. Schuyler MacPherson, the greatgrandson of original vendor Roy “Scotty” MacPherson of Long Beach, continues the family business. His best seller? “Even after all these years, it’s the ice cream bar with nuts. Still.” 10,000 FROG LEGS FOR DEEP-FRIED FROG LEGS 7,000 EARS OF CORN ON THE COB ONE TRUCKLOAD OF OIL 3,000 GALLONS OF KOOL-AID 100,000 OREOS FOR DEEPFRIED OREOS 10,000 POUNDS OF CHICKEN 20,000 LBS POTATOES TURKEY LEGS 800 LBS CHOPPED GARLIC FOR GARLIC FRIES 10,000 LBS SUGAR POPCORN ONE FIELD OF CORN ORCHARD OF APPLES (FOR CARAMEL AND CANDY APPLES) TRUCKLOAD OF FRIES TRUCKLOAD OF CRUNCHY FLAMIN’ HOT CHEETOS 4.5 MILES OF SAUSAGE 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 17


Fairplex welcomed back year-round events in 2022. The campus buzzed with myriad activities as it began to restore its annual calendar of events. However, 2022 still wasn’t business as usual. The pandemic caused many promoters to cut back on events or even cancel them altogether, even in 2022. As we saw with many vendors at the LA County Fair, the disruption dealt a crippling blow to many long-time partners. Still, we helped partners bring back the Asian American Expo, Pomona Swap Meet and Classic Car Show, Harvest Festival and more. With the lessons of the pandemic, Fairplex is prepared to cultivate even more partnerships in 2023. As a sense of normalcy returned to the event world, Fairplex embarked on continuing its self-produced events. We partnered with Unity Day L.A. to bring celebrity boxing to Fairplex as part of KABOOM!, our annual July 4th celebration. Oktoberfest was celebrated on the weekends during October, with a traditional Oom Pah Pah band and steins of brew. En Memoria, the Day of the Dead lowrider car show, enjoyed renewed interest, with more cars on display and a partnership with Molcajete Dominguero, a Latinx pop-up arts and crafts fair. 2022 Oktoberfest 2022 Pomona Swap Meet and Classic Car Show FAIRPLEX 365 FAIRPLEX PRESENTS 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 19


“My very first memory of (the Fair) was that there were two great big tents. They had to hold them up with telephone poles. The thing that I remember about that was so funny is they wrapped them with colored tissue papers. They thought that was so pretty, but then it rained! They had a parade throughout the fairgrounds. The 12 guys (in the parade) had to have a float. Daddy's was a flatbed truck divided in half with a black curtain. In the back was my aunt scrubbing on a washboard. Oh, she was working so hard. On the other side was my mother in a rocking chair, enjoying a book. I was sitting beside her on the floor. On her side is a great big so new electric washing machine with wringers. Wherever you are, don't miss the opportunity to come to the LA County Fair.” Taken from an oral history with Happi Moore. Happi was born in Pomona in 1918 and attended the first Fair with her father, Cyrus Jones, who owned Pomona Fixtures and Wiring Co. and was part of the group that contributed the funds to launch the fair. Happi never missed a Fair up through 2015. She was grand marshal of the Fair’s 2012 opening day parade. She passed away in 2017. REMEMBERING HAPPI MOORE Steve Manzanares missed the very first LA County Fair, but it wasn’t his fault. He wasn’t born until five years later. Even so, he still had a connection to it. His father and grandfather worked at the first Fair in 1922. And by 1941, Steve was working there, too. “I was 13. I went to work with Charlie King, picking up beer bottles and taking them to be repacked,” recalled the now 95 year old. “My dad started at the first fair, using his pick-up truck to haul dirt and granite. They would hire anyone with a pick-up. There was my dad hauling with his Model T truck.” Steve went on to work for the Los Angeles County Fair Association for 42 years. Equally impressive, he is the Fair’s biggest fan, having not missed a Fair since 1928. “I had so much fun here. I love it here,” he said. His daughter, DeeDee, added fondly, “It was his life.” The entire Manzanares family seemingly made Fairplex their lives. Steve’s father owned a cement business in Pomona, Manzanares and Sons. When his father wasn’t hauling dirt at the fairgrounds, he was building rock fences. Steve’s sons and daughters also worked at Fairplex. Steve eventually became known as “Mr. Fairgrounds.” Fair founder Jack Afflerbaugh took a liking to Steve. He worked at Afflerbaugh’s home during off hours. “Mr. Afflerbaugh would test out all the carnival rides himself. When DeeDee was a little girl, she’d come out and test the rides with him,” Steve said. Eventually becoming the grounds foreman, Steve did a little bit of everything. He helped build the old gold mine and the Flower & Garden Pavilion. His team built concrete slabs and rails across the parking lot when the historic train museum on grounds acquired the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 engine; even that sturdy construction wasn’t up to handling the weight of the massive engine. If you visit the Fair today, outside the Carnation barn in the farm rests an old rusted-out fair truck. That’s “Old Maude.” Steve drove Old Maude in and out of the barns in the 1950s. As a stunt, Steve flew a hot air balloon from Brackett Field to the fairgrounds. He remembers that the original Fair trams came from the 1939 San Francisco World’s Fair. A Ferris wheel from Coney Island was acquired; one of the original wood benches from it resides in Steve’s front yard to this day. He poured the cement for the Fair’s monorail in 1962. Steve retired in 1992, with a party held at Anthony’s at the Fair, now known as Avalon. “Everybody (in the community) worked here. It was the place to come and work.” Indeed, Steve is Mr. Fairgrounds. IN THE SPOTLIGHT STEVE MANZANARES EMPLOYEE AND FAIR FAN 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 21


COMMUNITY OUR MISSION The sense of community that surrounded the LA County Fair hasn’t wavered since 1922; in fact, it has grown to the point where Community Benefit is now written in the Fair Association’s mission. In all that it does, community remains a foundation of the Association. In 2022, Fairplex gave philanthropic support to 96 nonprofits, including the Pomona Public Library Foundation, Pomona Kiwanis, Rotary Club of Claremont, God's Pantry and Pomona Pride Center, among others. In-kind donations were given via event sponsorships, Fair tickets, wine and rental space. Fairplex continued its support of its two educational nonprofits, The Learning Centers and Child Development Center. Approximately $1.35 million in cash and in-kind giving benefited the regional community. Fairplex continued to partner with Los Angeles County by providing space for a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site. Perhaps nowhere was the community deemed more important than when Fairplex kicked off its Specific Plan project with the City of Pomona. In seeking a Specific Plan, Fairplex is planning for future development standards and implementation measures for the campus. “We have to consider the importance of building a sustainable organization,” said Walter Marquez, President & CEO. Two factors are involved: economic stability and community impact. “A Specific Plan does not deviate from what we do as an organization, it is not a plan to take the LA County Fair away,” Marquez said. “It will enhance the Fair.” Throughout this first-year process, Fairplex looked to the community for perspectives and feedback, seeking input from neighbors, partners, stakeholders and elected officials. Community members loved the idea of open space and greenways, but were unsure of tentative ideas for housing on the campus. Those plans will continue to evolve as more information — and community perspectives — are gathered. “We don’t know what the future will hold for Fairplex, which is why we need to begin preparing now,” Marquez said. “We have to evolve, that we know. The current economic status will not sustain us. With the community input we receive, we will react, adjust and prepare for the Fairplex of the future.” LA Opera's Aida simulcast at Fairplex 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 23


CHEERS TO 100 YEARS THE FIRST LA COUNTY FAIR A board set out to start the first LA County Fair. The City of Pomona purchased a 43-acre beet and barley field for use as a fairground. The fair was incorporated as the Los Angeles County Fair Association, organized “primarily for the promotion of the agricultural, horticultural and animal husbandry interests of the great Southwest.” A half-mile racetrack and a 4,000-seat grandstand were constructed. Two cattle barns, two livestock buildings, a livestock barn and an administration building were also built. Circus tents were purchased to house the agricultural and horticultural displays. The inaugural LA County Fair opened Oct. 17, 1922, and ran through Oct. 21. Attendance reached 49,461. It cost promoters $63,000 to present. 1922 ATTENDANCE TOPPED 100K Fair attendance passed 100,000 for the first time (102,991). It also marked the first time the Fair was held in September instead of October. 1925 46 ACRES OF LAND The Los Angeles County Fair Association transferred 46 acres of land and buildings to the County of Los Angeles. On Dec. 14, three U.S. Army regiments occupied the grounds as first units arrived for war duty. 1941 FIRST HORSE BETTING Pari-mutuel wagering was legalized in California, and the Fair meeting became the first in Southern California to allow fans to bet on horse racing. Attendance leapt to 334,759 that year. The Fair inaugurated its wine competition. 1933-35 CONTINUING TO BUILD The government’s Works Progress Administration aided construction of various buildings. 1937 ON PAUSE World War II brought a halt to the Fair for six years with the U.S. Army taking over the grounds. The grounds were converted into a motor base. An Assembly Center held 5,428 Japanese Americans in 420 pre-fabricated temporary buildings before they were relocated to other parts of the country. The grounds were used as a German and Italian prisoner of war camp. 1942-48 THUMMER THE PIG The Fair reopened after the war with a $2 million construction and reconditioning program. Thummer the Pig was introduced as the Fair’s official mascot. Attendance topped the 1 million mark for the first time. 1948 NHRA HOLDS INAUGURAL WINTERNATIONALS The National Hot Rod Association held its inaugural Winternationals at Pomona Raceway in February with the largest single-day audience in the brief history of drag racing. 1961 CLOCK TOWER WAS BUILT The ornate flower and garden building was constructed. The landmark Clock Tower was built. The Fair’s Mexican Village was constructed. 1952 THE FRISBEE A Fair exhibitor, Fred Morrison, sold flying discs at the 1955 Fair. Two college friends, Richard Knerr and Arthur Melin, were impressed by the item and negotiated the rights to manufacture it for their small mail-order company, Wham-O. The Pluto Platter was introduced in 1957 before being renamed the Frisbee. 1955 CHEERS TO 100 YEARS LARGEST EXHIBIT BUILDING IN THE WORLD “The largest exhibit building in the world” was completed at a cost of $250,000. A permanent 10,000-seat grandstand was built. Attendance reached 265,213. The fairgrounds, owned by the City of Pomona, and the buildings, owned by the Fair Association, were deeded to the County of Los Angeles. 1930-32


1962 MILE-LONG MONORAIL A mile-long monorail circling the core of the grounds began operation with 14 24-seat electronically operated passenger cars. 1977 BICENTENNIAL The Fair celebrated America’s bicentennial with the theme America’s Fair. EXPANDED BULLRING Horse racing’s old half-mile bullring was expanded to five-eighths of a mile. A single-day record attendance of 177,612 people visited the Fair on Sept. 21. 1985 NEW NAME INTRODUCED The name of the fairgrounds was changed to Fairplex to encourage year-round use as a show and exposition complex. Pomona Raceway hosted the NHRA Winston Select Finals for the first time. 1984 SHERATON OPENS The 244-suite Sheraton Suites Fairplex hotel opened in June. 1992 75TH ANNIVERSARY The Fair celebrated its 75th anniversary with a 75-cent opening day admission price, attracting more than 90,000 people. 1997 CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARIES The Flower & Garden Pavilion, Clock Tower and Plaza de las Américas all celebrated 50th anniversaries. 2002 $250K DONATED TO 9/11 VICTIMS The Fair closed for a day on Sept. 11 with the terrorist attack on the United States. On Sept. 14, Fair attendees were asked to donate $1 in lieu of regular Fair admission, raising $250,000 for the Red Cross Disaster Fund for 9/11 victims and families. 2001 FIRST EVENT HELD AT CONFERENCE CENTER The new Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center hosted its first event in January. The LA County Fair celebrated its 90th anniversary. 2012 SPORTS FIELD BUILT A sports field was built on the Fairplex Park infield last used for horse racing in 2014. Fairplex unveiled a plaque near the Administration building to honor Japanese Americans detained at the fairgrounds during WWII. 2016 BITE-SIZED FAIR Fairplex continued serving as a COVID-19 testing site. In May, Fairplex contracted with the U.S. federal government to serve as an emergency shelter for unaccompanied migrant children. In June, Fairplex announced that the annual LA County Fair would move its dates to May beginning in 2022. The LA County Fair was again canceled, but a smaller version of the Fair was held in September, called Bite-Sized Fair. 2021 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION The 100th anniversary of the LA County Fair was held on its new dates of May 5–30. The Flower & Garden Pavilion was themed Cheers to 100 Years. The Los Angeles International Dairy Competition celebrated its 100th anniversary. Year-round events restarted. 2020 GLOBAL PANDEMIC HALTED OPERATIONS 2022 Normal operations were halted at the end of March due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. More than 60 percent of full-time staff were laid off. All public events were canceled, including the LA County Fair, the first time since WWII. Fairplex turned to community benefit service: drive-thru food drives with Sowing Seeds of Love, housing COVID-19 patients at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel, COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in partnership with Los Angeles County; and free childcare for first responders at the Child Development Center. 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 29


How many fairs can say that a world-renowned artist coordinated its fine arts program and that it now operates a gallery dedicated to said artist? Not many, if any, besides the LA County Fair. Millard Sheets served as superintendent of the Fair’s art department for 25 years, from 1932 to 1957. Directing the Fair’s fine arts was his destiny. A Pomona native, at age 15 he entered the Fair’s first fine arts competition in 1922, walking away with a ribbon. Soon after he went to work for Theodore Modra, the Fair’s fine arts director. Sheets became a renowned painter in his own right, receiving national recognition as a prominent American artist in the early 1930s. He became part of the California Scene Painting art movement, along with many artists from the Pomona Valley. His contemporaries included John Edward Svenson and Betty Davenport Ford, both of whom created artwork for the Fair’s permanent collection. Painting was just one of his passions; he was an architect, illustrator and muralist. He created the famous mosaic murals at Home Savings banks in Southern California and the Word of Life mural, commonly known as Touchdown Jesus, at the University of Notre Dame. He also designed the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology at The Webb Schools in Claremont. It is the only nationally accredited museum on a high school campus in the U.S. Today, on the campus of the LA County Fair, the Millard Sheets Art Center serves as a space to educate and entertain the diverse guests who visit the Fair about art and the life of artists. MILLARD SHEETS 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 31


SETTING THE GOLD STANDARD THE LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS For decades the Los Angeles International Competitions have bestowed gold medals to the best wines, spirits, olive oils and dairy products from around the globe, showcasing the winners at the LA County Fair. In fact, the Dairy Competition celebrated its centennial anniversary along with the Fair itself in 2022. Now in its 87th year, the Los Angeles International Wine Competition has showcased the finest domestic and international vintages through a wine-tasting event that is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious in the United States. An esteemed panel of judges uses a blind-tasting method, maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism that have remained the competition’s foundation. Sixty years after the wine competition’s conception, the addition of the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition was a perfect fit. The extra virgin olive oil competition celebrates its 23rd anniversary in 2022. The marriage of extra virgin olive oil and wine was natural. Both require a distinguished palate, both have distinctive varietals, both are important to serving the perfect meal. At its inception, the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition enlisted an impressive list of judges to taste the finest domestic extra virgin olive oils. The competition was eventually opened to international oils, with oils coming from the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Since introducing a spirits category in 2007, the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition has set the standard for judging distilled beverages. Judges award medals to the best spirits from around the world. The competitions are the foundation for an extensive education program that’s available to thousands of visitors to the LA County Fair. Public wine tasting began in 1968; in 1998 a wine education center opened, complete with consumer-driven classes, tastings and a display of the award-winning wines. Extra virgin olive oils, spirits and dairy products add to the consumer experience. The Los Angeles International Competitions are committed to educating the public, featuring industry experts with extensive knowledge about selection, tasting and food pairings. Spreti Valente was named Chairwoman of the Los Angeles International Wine Competition in 2022. Valente — a certified sommelier, professional wine judge, and consultant — is the first woman and first Latino to be awarded the distinction of Chair for the 87-year-old competition. “I am thrilled to share my expertise with the Los Angeles International Wine Competition and to help it grow in prestige and in entries,” said Valente, who is a long-time judge for the competition. “My goal is to not only encourage wineries to enter a wine competition that brings them remarkable marketing opportunities but also to showcase diversity in the wine world. There are segments of the market out there that have been relatively untouched; I want them to join in the conversation to be an active part of the conversation going forward. The wine world for decades has been focused on traditional wineries and winemakers. My goal is to broaden the focus to show the complexities in the modern wine world, and to highlight their efforts.” Valente’s experience as a professional wine judge includes work with prestigious wine competitions in the U.S. and Europe. In 2017, Valente was named the chief judge for the Pacific Rim Wine Competition. As a consultant, Valente assists clients in developing their wine marketing programs and producing widely attended wine events. She also works as an educator, teaching wine classes to public and university audiences. Valente’s consulting work has been published in Spanish and English, in the U.S. and abroad. “I want wineries and producers to feel compelled to enter the Los Angeles International Competition because we offer an excellent panel of expert judges, an amazing history and opportunities to market their wines that they cannot get anywhere else,” Valente said. “They can’t afford not to enter.” IN THE SPOTLIGHT SPRETI VALENTE FIRST WOMAN NAMED AS CHAIR OF THE WINE COMPETITION 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 33


2022 FINANCIALS FAIRPLEX FINANCIALS THE LEARNING CENTERS AT FAIRPLEX FINANCIALS Audited For the year ending June 30, 2022 CDC Audited NET OPERATING INCOME $106,753 OPERATING EXPENSES $3,368,934 OPERATING REVENUES $3,475,687 TLC Unaudited NET OPERATING INCOME $1,695,830 OPERATING EXPENSES $1,416,593 OPERATING REVENUES $3,112,423 BUSINESS UNIT OPERATING REVENUES OPERATING EXPENSES NET OPERATING INCOME LA County Fair & Events $56,800,810 $39,093,291 $17,707,519 Sheraton $16,818,111 $16,814,763 $3,348 Related Enterprises $1,215,836 $51,240 $1,164,596 Total $74,834,757 $55,959,294 $18,875,463 *The non-operating activity takes into consideration non-operating revenues and expenses such as depreciation, investment income, and interest expenses Non-Operating Act. ($1,679,347) Increase in Net Assets $17,196,116 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 35


2022 BOARDS 2022 LOS ANGELES COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION THE LEARNING CENTERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT FAIRPLEX BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022 OFFICERS 2022 DIRECTORS Mike Beckman, Chair David Prenovost, Treasurer Chris Dennis, Secretary Kathy Banuelos Bernie Bernstein (CDC Board Rep) Brian Bustamante Jessica Clague DeHart Reyna Del Haro Mike Driebe Heidi Gallegos * Peter Hidalgo * Margarita Luna Todd Wagner Ben Wong * Fiscal Year ending June 2022 Bernie Bernstein, Chair Chuck Cable, Vice Chair Avo Kechichian (ULV), Treasurer LeeAnn Paddock, Secretary Mike Beckman (TLC Board Rep) Leticia Casillas-Sanchez Sandy Christensen Cindy Giaimo-Ballard (ULV) Carol Hersch Richard Martinez (Fairplex Board Rep) Trudy Mendez Tami Miller Hector Rodriguez Dr. Denise (Dee) Schilling Dr. Kimberly White-Smith (ULV) Chara Swodeck Heidi Hanson Chair of the Board John Landherr Vice Chair of the Board Linda Bosserman Secretary of the Board Walter Marquez, Ed.D. Chief Executive Officer Cielo Castro Chief of Staff, Fairplex Evelyn Garcia de la Cadena Assistant Secretary to the Board Chair of the Board Heidi Hanson Finance & Administrative Manager Rain Bird International Vice Chair of the Board John Landherr President A-Z Bus Sales Inc. Secretary of the Board Linda Bosserman, M.D. Clinical Assistant Professor & Medical Oncologist Medical Director of Value Based Care and Center for International Medicine City of Hope Medical Group Inc. Michael Driebe Foundation President USC Arcadia Hospital Heidi Gallegos President Aligned Insight Consulting Retired, President & CEO Brea Chamber of Commerce Peter Hidalgo Director, Government Affairs Charter Communications Gilbert Ivey Retired Assistant General Manager & Chief Administrative Officer Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Devorah Lieberman, Ph.D. President University of La Verne Richard Martinez Retired, Superintendent Pomona Unified School District Tami Omoto-Frias Budget Deputy Los Angeles County First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis Ciriaco “Cid” Pinedo, Ed.D. President & CEO Mexican American Opportunity Foundation John Solomon Chief Sales Officer International Clase Azul Spirits Kiana Webb Chief Operations Officer Webb Family Enterprises Margarita Luna Senior Program Manager The California Endowment 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 37


Ray Adamyk President Spectra Company Rachel Barbosa Independent Consultant Mike Beckman CAS Properties, LLC Jon Blickenstaff* Retired Educator Ron Bolding President Pilgrim Place Laura Bollinger Community Volunteer Charles Cable* Retired President and CEO Hillcrest Peter Clifford President National Hot Rod Association Soraya Coley, Ph.D. President California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Reyna Del Haro Director of Public Affairs and Brand Communications Kaiser Permanente Scott Dilley President Sanders Towing & Lock & Key, Inc. Matt Donovan Sr. Procurement Manager Anjinomoto Foods North America Beverly Guidry Senior VP, University Student Affairs Western University of Health Sciences Jimmy Espinoza Managing Member Inland Investment Partners, LLC Jeffrey Fairley Owner, Doctor of Physical Therapy The Body Center Gerald Freeny Past President Tournament of Roses Jimmy Gutierrez Retired Chino City Attorney Bernie Bernstein Certified Public Accountant Yoss, Allen, Bernstein, LLP Richard Crean Partner California Financial Planners Robert Dukes Retired Superior Court Judge Juan Gamboa Realtor Coldwell Banker Susan Hyland Owner/CEO The Claremont Club Linda Keagle Owner & Vice President C & C Organization Arthur Ludwick Retired Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President Rain Bird Corporation Stephen Morgan, Ed.D. Retired President University of La Verne & University of the West J. Michael Ortiz, Ph.D. President Emeritus California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Janet Paulson Retired Vice President of Nursing Services Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center James Piatt Retired Superior Court Judge Larry Rinehart Retired President & CEO PFF Bank & Trust Jil Stark Retired College Educator Ronald Vera Attorney at Law Vera & Barbosa Reginald Webb President Indian Hill Management Co. 2022 DIRECTORS EMERITI 2022 ASSOCIATION MEMBERS Glenn Gritzner Partner Actum LLC Roger Hanawalt, D.D.S. Dentist Thomas “Tom” Hsieh President Northern Pacific Airlines Len Jessup, Ph.D. President Claremont Graduate School Gorden Kao Director CCYP Media Group Don Kendrick Owner Don Kendrick Real Estate Patrick Leier Retired Superintendent Pomona and Lynwood Unified School Districts Felice Loverso, Ph.D. President and CEO Casa Colina, Inc. Dan Manning Retired, Group Vice President Coca-Cola USA Robert Mendez Attorney & Adjunct Professor Whittier College Iris Patronite Assessment/Academic Affairs Keck Graduate Institute Enriquez “Rick” Rodriguez CEO La Princesita Tortilleria, Inc. Rodri Rodriguez President and CEO Rodri Entertainment Group Lupita Sanchez-Cornejo Regional Director, External Affairs AT&T Alfreda Smith Human Resources Director Homeboy Industries Royce Stutzman* Chairman Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman Joshua Swodeck Owner Brand Storyteller Emmett Terrell Retired Deputy Superintendent of Personnel Services Pomona Unified School District Ed Tessier Vice President Arteco Partners Gary Thomas* Retired Facility Director HCC Industries Sharon Tomkins Vice President, Strategy & Engagement Sempra Utilities Ron Vander Molen Owner Vander Molen Fine Art Mark Warren Owner BMR Rentals * Association life member 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 39


2013 Jil Stark LACFA Member and Director 2022 Chuck Keagle Los Angeles International Wine Competition Judge Don Galleano LACFA Member and Los Angeles International Wine Competition Judge Don Kendrick LACFA Member Alex Xydias Founding Partner and Namesake for Automotive Programming at Fairplex Reggie Webb LACFA Member and Director Juan Gamboa LACFA Member and Director Noemi Figueroa LA County Fair Volunteer Carol Hersch, Trudy Mendez & Alice Piatt Child Development Center Volunteers * Indicates Posthumous LOS ANGELES COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME 2001 Ray Arbuthnot* LACFA Member and Chairman E. Burdette Boileau LACFA Member and Director 2002 Jay S. Ambrose* LACFA Member and Director James R. Kostoff LACFA Member and Director 2005 Donald R. DesCombes LACFA Member and Director Molly A. Johnson LACFA Member and Director Thomas F. Nuss LACFA Member and Director G. Grenville Whyte* LACFA Chairman & CEO 2006 Charles T. Richardson* LACFA Member and Director The Founders of the LA County Fair: L. E. Sheets* LACFA First President Fred Reynolds* LACFA Director C. B. (Jack) Afflerbaugh* LACFA Director, Manager, President Fred E. Whyte* LACFA Director Charles P. Curran* LACFA Director, President William A. Kennedy* LACFA Director George W. Cobb* LACFA Director, Secretary 2007 Fred W. Freehling LACFA Member and Director Robert B. Lewis* LACFA Member Clyde E. Houston* LACFA Director, President 2008 Sarah Ludwick Director, Child Development Center Board Millard Sheets* Director of Fine Arts Wally Parks* Founder of the NHRA and Museum 2009 Ralph Hinds* General Manager, President & CEO Guy and Charlene Leavitt LACF partner — Ray Camack Shows 2012 Ruth Hersch* Director of the University of La Verne Child Development Center 2022 Fairplex Annual Report | 41


1101 W McKinley Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768 | Phone: 909.623.3111


Click to View FlipBook Version