Fair board veterans inducted into Western Fairs Hall of Fame, Munn to be recognized

Two longtime members of the Mariposa County Fair Board, Tom Williams and Lowell Munn, were inducted in January into the Western Fairs Association (wFA) Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Reno, Nev.

“This is the greatest honor of my life,” Williams said. “I have always tried to do what was best for the fairgrounds and for the people of Mariposa County.”

Munn died later that month. He had been appointed to the board by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. Williams, who has served on the board for 21 consecutive years, was appointed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“Funding has always been one of our biggest challenges,” Williams said. “The state kept cutting the money back, and then under Gov. Brown, they eliminated it.”

Williams said the fairgrounds survived by drawing on reserves and later received help from the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors. “We had to cut back and tighten everything we could,” he said. “Brian Bullis did a good job managing through that period, and the fire camps have helped us get back on stronger footing. The Friends of the Fairgrounds has also been a tremendous help, putting about $200,000 into water, sewer and other grounds improvements., and of course, we’ve received a lot of assistance from community members that cherish this long-standing Mariposa tradition as much as we do,” Williams explained.

Munn’s name has long been tied to the Mariposa County Fair, not simply because of the years he served, but because of the steady commitment he brought to the fairgrounds and the community that gathers there each Labor Day weekend.

On Sept. 4, the Mariposa County Fair will honor Munn with a special recognition of his 34 years of service to the fair board. The tribute will acknowledge a tenure that helped shape one of the county’s most enduring traditions. The current Fair Board will honor Munn by naming its board room “The James L. Munn Room.”

The dedication will take place in the fair office at 11 a.m. on Sept. 4 and the community is invited to attend and recognize Munn for over three decades of service to Mariposa County’s favorite event.

At 12 p.m., local contractor and fair supporter Bill Verley will be presented the WFA Blue Ribbon plaque on the Amigo Stage.

Munn began serving on the board of directors for the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, also known as the 35th District Agricultural Association, in 1985. Over the decades that followed, he became known as a dependable advocate for the fair, for the fairgrounds and for the generations of residents who passed through its gates as exhibitors, volunteers, competitors, performers and spectators.

His service came during years of change for county fairs throughout California, when local boards were called on to preserve agricultural traditions while adapting to new expectations from families, youth exhibitors and community partners. In Mariposa, Munn’s work on the board reflected the importance of keeping the fair rooted in local identity.

For many in Mariposa County, the fair is more than a yearly event. It is a homecoming, a showcase for youth agriculture, a place for neighbors to reconnect and a reminder of the county’s rural heritage. Munn’s 34 years on the board placed him at the center of that work, helping support the programs, facilities and traditions that have kept the fair an important part of community life.

The Sept. 4 recognition will give the local community a chance to remember Munn’s contributions and reflect on the role volunteers and board members play in sustaining this local institution. While fair board service often happens outside the spotlight, its impact can be seen in every barn prepared for exhibitors, every arena event, every community booth and every family tradition built around fair weekend.

Munn’s legacy is also part of a broader fair-industry story. He was recognized beyond Mariposa County for his long involvement in the fair community, including his participation in regional and statewide fair organizations. That recognition reflected the same qualities remembered locally: service, consistency and a lasting belief in the value of county fairs.

As the Mariposa County Fair opens its gates again, the tribute to Munn will serve as a reminder that the fair’s history has been built not only by events and exhibits, but by people who gave their time year after year. For 34 years, Lowell Munn was one of those people.