From Livestock Scales to Treat Street: County Staff Support A Community Tradition

For Nevada County District 4 Supervisor Sue Hoek, the Fair is more than just the animals, food and fair rides. It’s a community tradition that carries many memories.

“I think that’s what the fair is all about. It’s all about community,” said District 4 Supervisor Sue Hoek.

More than 90,000 visitors are expected to visit this year’s Nevada County Fair, kicking off Wednesday, Aug. 12 and running through Aug. 16.

“It’s going to be a busy fair,” said District 4 Supervisor Sue Hoek. She’ll be on hand working with nonprofit organizations, visiting barns and talking with kids about their animals and projects and volunteering at the Nevada County Farm Bureau booth.

Born into a ranching and timber family with roots in Nevada County dating back to the 1800s, agriculture is in her blood. Always active in 4-H and FFA programs, she grew up raising animals, a passion she instilled in her three children and two granddaughters. An advocate for local youth, Hoek plans to attend many of the youth agriculture events at this year’s fair.

“My favorite time is the auction. It really is a culmination of the projects the kids have been working on all year long,” said Hoek. “Friday night and Sunday are the times to see the kids shine.”

The auction is an important fundraiser for college, careers and future ag projects, according to the Nevada County Fair. In 2025, the Ag Mechanics Sale & Junior Livestock Auction raised nearly $1.3 million in support of local youth exhibitors. 

The Ag Mechanics Auction takes place at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 14 followed by the Junior Livestock Auction at 9 a.m. on Sunday, August 16. Anyone can participate, Hoek says, and pre-registration is encouraged. People can partner with others to purchase an animal or if they simply want to support youth, donate cash in the form of “bump up” bids. In 2025, the community generated significantly by donating $215,029 in “bump up” bids.

“Agriculture is where our roots came from. Most people come here because they love a rural lifestyle. We have to have those folks to carry on,” said Hoek.

For District 3 Supervisor Lisa Swarthout, the Fair also brings back fond memories.

“I love the fair so much. It’s my favorite thing to do in Nevada County,” said Swarthout. It all started when she was age 14, the year her family first moved to Nevada County. She credits her lifelong passion for community service to her dad and the Grass Valley Host Lions Club. She recalls fond memories of shucking corn for the Lions’ corn on the cob booth at the fair.

She plans to attend the fair every day, beginning with Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday morning and throughout the week, tabling at booths set up by county departments – Health and Human Services, Community Development Agency and Office of Emergency Services with KNCO.

She’ll also be slinging baked potatoes with the Rough and Ready Volunteer Fire crew (now part of the Penn Valley Fire Protection District) and hot dogs with her husband at the Grass Valley Volunteer Fire Department. She loves the food and tries to sample something different every day, never missing an opportunity to buy bagels and lox from the Jewish Community Center.

Besides the food and volunteering, she enjoys making the rounds with friends to see the animals and all the exhibits and every year buys a pig at the Sunday auction.

“I just love the feel of the county fair. It really speaks to what a great place this is. There’s something for everyone at the Nevada County Fair,” said Swarthout. 

Behind the Fair

The love for the Fair extends beyond Supervisors to County staff who will be at the Fair not just as participants but as part of the community effort that helps make the event possible. Behind the scenes, County staff provide services that help make the Fair safe, fun and welcoming for everyone attending.

That work starts before opening day. In preparation for fair week, the team from the Nevada County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures was at the fairgrounds testing livestock scales that will be used to weigh steers, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens and turkeys raised by local youth and sold at auction.

“What we do seems like a very small part of the fair, but it’s very critical for the buyers and sellers. The main focus is to maintain equity in the marketplace. We want to make sure the buyers and the sellers are getting what they pay for; that’s the main reason we are testing,” said Tony Romero, Agricultural Biologist III. This is his 15th year working for Nevada County Weights and Measures.

The week before opening day, his team was on-site with a 48,000-pound heavy-capacity weight truck that holds 20 blocks weighing 1,000 pounds, used to test the accuracy of the cattle scale. The scale has the capacity to weigh animals up to 3,000 pounds.

“I love the animals. I raised animals as a kid and was in FFA all four years of high school,” said Romero, who grew up in Texas.

Throughout the year, Weights and Measures act as the watchdogs of consumer protection, testing the accuracy of scales, gas station pumps, propane dispensers and other devices throughout the county.

“I love it. The biggest thing I like about it is that I get to go out and talk to people when I do my work. People are always curious when they see us out performing inspections,” said Romero.

Besides serving in a work capacity, he also plans to attend the fair for fun, checking out FFA projects and the auction. Look for the Department of Agriculture booth in partnership with the Nevada County Resource Conservation District during the fair.

On Treat Street

The County’s Environmental Health team plays another behind-the-scenes role. For weeks, a team from Environmental Health has been busy ensuring 49 food vendors have the support they need to ensure everyone has a safe experience at the fair. Before the fair, they assist participants with applications and permits.

As the fair gets going, a team of three makes the rounds, routinely inspecting and troubleshooting handwashing stations, refrigeration, checking temperatures, food handling and the transport of food to Treat Street and the carnival. From beer and corn dogs to cotton candy and chewing gum – the team monitors it all.

“We want to make sure there are no hiccups. We’re supportive, but safety requirements are our main focus,” said Lauren Booth, Senior environmental health specialist for the consumer protection division.

Booth enjoys working with businesses and nonprofits – from Girl Scouts and Little League to Elks Lodge and United Way – educating folks about food safety. She and her team build rapport by providing food safety briefs to volunteers all week.

“It’s a constant thing. There’s definitely a lot of relationship building within the community. The goal is that everyone is successful and no one gets sick,” Booth said. After her shift ends, she looks forward to enjoying the county fair as a participant.

“There are so many faces from the community that I recognize. I love the pig races. I’ve gone every year and think the Nevada County Fair is a great family event,” she said.

Treat Street is a significant fundraiser for many community organizations, raising more than $1 million annually for local nonprofit groups and community programming.

Together, these efforts are part of the County’s broader presence at the Fair, where residents can also connect with staff from the Community Development Agency, Elections, Adult Services, Office of Emergency Services, Sheriff and more. Fair-goers can stop by County booths to subscribe to the County’s weekly email newsletter for a chance to win a YETI cooler donated by executive staff. For folks who want to avoid parking and traffic, transit services will provide a free shuttle in new, clean e-buses, from downtown Grass Valley and the McKnight and Pine Street shopping centers to the event every 30 minutes.

“It’s great to see our departments and elected offices showing up and supporting the community at the Fair,” said Supervisor Lisa Swarthout. “From our Sheriff’s deputies patrolling to free shuttles, the Fair is a part of our County tradition, just as it is for so many. This is what being part of Nevada County is all about: local youth, families, volunteers, nonprofits, businesses and neighbors coming together year after year for a time-honored Nevada County tradition.”

Learn more: https://www.nevadacountyfair.com/

Laura Petersen is a freelance writer who lives in Grass Valley. This article was written on behalf of Nevada County. Contact Laura at laurapetersenmedia@gmail.com