Conkle named new Lake County Fair CEO
- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Fair Board of Directors has named Courtny Conkle the fair’s new chief executive officer.
Conkle officially stepped into her new role on Nov. 1.
She succeeded Debbie Strickler, who has served as fair CEO since October 2014. Altogether Strickler worked 13 years for the Lake County Fair.
Born into a fair family of her own, Conkle spent the early years of her life working concessions with her father who still runs Conkle’s Concessions today.
By the age of 16, Conkle had attended more than 300 fairs in 20 different states.
As a young adult, she managed fair admissions for the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa and exhibits for the Sonoma-Marin Fair held in Petaluma.
More recently she proved her strong acumen for leadership as the interim chief executive officer and fair manager for the Sonoma-Marin Fair.
“It has been a dream of mine to work as chief executive officer for a district agricultural association since I was 12 years old,” said Conkle. “It is truly a privilege to have this opportunity in my own hometown.”
She added, “I am confident that my passion for the fair industry and deep love for Lake County will guide me in our mission to enhance the fairgrounds and to expand the Fair’s education programs for the greater good of the community.”
Conkle’s résumé of achievements is long and varied.
She has been a member of the Western Fairs Association Board of Directors, Service Member Board of Directors first vice chair, International Association of Fairs and Expositions Young Professionals Initiative Zone 8 chair, organizing incoming chairperson and Western Fairs Association Blue Ribbon Foundation board liaison.
The 49th District Agricultural Association now spans 34 acres and is home to the largest covered multipurpose building in Lake County. The fairgrounds host year-round events, however, the largest is the Lake County Fair held at the end of summer.
Save the date for the 2018 Lake County Fair, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, when this year’s theme will be The Grape Escape to the Lake County Fair.
For more information about the Lake County Fairgrounds and Fair, please visit www.lakecountyfair.com.