Sandra Lee Spotlights the Washington State Fair CEO Who Found Her Calling
A last-minute leap into fair leadership led Kathy Kramer to the calling of a lifetime
Key Takeaways
- Kathy Kramer discovered her calling after stepping in to run a fair with 90 days’ notice.
- Her childhood memories of Nebraska fairs now shape how she leads in Washington.
- Kathy says the fair’s greatest magic comes from bringing families and communities together.
Kathy Kramer had just 90 days to step into a role she’d never held before. But as she dove into the whirlwind of planning a massive provincial fair, something unexpected happened as she discovered the work that would become her life’s calling.
Today, as president and CEO of the Central Washington State Fair, Kathy Kramer helps create magical memories for fairgoers. Her story is a journey that proves sometimes the most meaningful paths are the ones we never saw coming. Here, she shares her story for Woman’s World’s “Fair’est of Them All” special series with celebrity chef Sandra Lee.
How a 90-day crisis led Kathy Kramer to her life’s calling
“Kramer, I don’t know who else can jump in and do this,” said Kathy’s boss in 2012.
She was sitting in an executive meeting at Northlands, a large nonprofit agriculture society and multipurpose venue in Edmonton, Canada, where she was vice president of business operations.
The organization produced everything from horse racing and gaming to conventions—and its provincial fair, the Canadian equivalent of a state fair.
But 90 days before the fair was set to begin, the woman managing it had to step away for personal reasons. Suddenly, Kathy was being asked to jump in.
She had a background in conventions and events, but running an entire fair was something new. So she shifted her other responsibilities to her fellow directors and immersed herself in every detail of the upcoming celebration, working alongside the large team responsible for marketing, production and everything in between.
And as Kathy began to see just how many moving pieces went into creating a fair, something clicked.
There was the tradition fairgoers returned for year after year, but there was also the constant challenge of finding what could be new, fresh and exciting. It was a combination of tradition and innovation that energized her — and she quickly discovered something else that made the fair business special.
It was about the community.
Kathy Kramer’s childhood fair memories started in Nebraska
Long before Kathy ever imagined making fairs her career, she knew them simply as a fairgoer.
Growing up in Nebraska, she attended her local Lincoln County Fair with her family. The fair was smaller than the one she would eventually lead, but the traditions were familiar with the same memorable entertainment, rides, fried corn dogs and the excitement of gathering with the community.
But one fair memory Kathy will never forget is cheering on her sister, a talented seamstress, who regularly entered her creations at the fair and won prizes. When her sister was selected to do a demonstration at the state fair, the whole family made the trip to support her.
Years later, those memories would take on a new meaning.
What once felt like an ordinary part of childhood had quietly become part of Kathy’s understanding of what fairs do by bringing families together, celebrating hard work and creating memories that stay with you.
What it takes to run the Central Washington State Fair
That first experience running a fair in Canada opened Kathy’s eyes to everything happening behind the scenes.
There were thousands of details to coordinate, countless people working together, and a year-round process that culminated in just a handful of days. But the more Kathy learned about fairs, the more she loved the balance between honoring tradition and creating something new.
Every fair may have rides, food and entertainment, but no two fairs are exactly alike. Each one reflects the people, history and traditions of the community it serves.
Eventually, Kathy’s fair journey brought her to the Central Washington State Fair.
Today, she serves as president and CEO of the Central Washington Fair Association, the nonprofit organization that manages the fair. And the fair is no small community event.
Over 10 days, about 275,000 people come through the gates, making it the largest annual event in Central Washington. More than 60 food vendors help create the classic fair experience, while countless staff members, volunteers, exhibitors and community partners work throughout the year to bring everything together.
Because, despite what it may look like to fairgoers, the work doesn’t stop when the rides pack up and the vendors head home.
In fact, planning is already underway for future fairs years in advance.
Why agriculture remains at the heart of the Central Washington State Fair
At the Central Washington State Fair, agriculture isn’t simply one attraction among many. It is part of the fair’s DNA.
The fair has deep roots in Yakima Valley agriculture, dating back to the late 1800s, when Washington established Yakima as the home of the state fair. Through the decades, agriculture has remained central to the fair’s mission of education, commerce and community. Today, that tradition comes to life throughout the grounds.
Local farmers and ranchers bring livestock and create educational exhibits that allow fairgoers to see animals up close and better understand the agricultural industries that are so important to the Valley. FFA and 4-H students spend the year working on projects and displays before bringing them to the fair to showcase what they’ve learned.
And the barns fill with young exhibitors competing with the animals and projects they have poured months of hard work into—from livestock to creative exhibits.
Even the exhibits themselves tell a story.
The fair is fortunate to have nine local granges that transform the perimeter of its historic agricultural building into elaborate displays celebrating the Valley’s harvest and agriculture. Inside, visitors can also find floral displays and thousands of exhibits, each offering another glimpse into the community’s agricultural heritage.
The new family attraction helping kids discover where food comes from
This year, the Central Washington State Fair (running September 25 through October 4, 2026) is adding a new way for families to connect with that heritage with “The Farmer’s Garden.” The interactive agricultural display will give children a hands-on opportunity to discover crops grown throughout the Yakima Valley and learn where their food comes from.
It’s the kind of experience that represents what Kathy believes fairs do best to preserve traditions while finding new ways to make them meaningful for the next generation.
Decades later, Kathy is helping create unforgettable moments for families across the Yakima Valley. She sees it not simply as putting on a 10-day event, but as caring for something that belongs to an entire community.
“I don’t take lightly that responsibility and am humbled by the opportunity to lead an incredibly creative team, work with a dedicated board of directors and work with hundreds of volunteers and partners to be stewards of this great community asset to carry out our mission,” says Kathy.
“One of my most rewarding experiences each year is simply finding a place during the Fair to sit and watch the crowds as they create lifelong memories with their families, learn and have fun together, and celebrate what makes our community so special.”
Sandra Lee brings food, community and celebration to the fair
“I’m so excited to be joining everyone at the Central Washington State Fair on Saturday, September 26th. I will be spending the entire day at the fair being part of several events and helping celebrate Yakima Valley’s agriculture. There’s nothing I love more than bringing people together through food, celebration, and community—and I can’t wait to share that experience with you.”
Keep an eye out for our “Fair’est of Them All” series in Woman’s World magazine! In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Sandra Lee—chef, creator of Semi-Homemade Cooking and host of Blue Ribbon Bakeoff—is hitting the road with Woman’s World for a special cross-country journey honoring the remarkable women who bring America’s beloved state and county fairs to life. From longtime family traditions to unforgettable fairground innovations, these inspiring stories celebrate the heart, resilience and community spirit woven into fairs across the country.
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