August 23, 2025 • 8 mins
CoolKay and Countyfairgrounds.net pre-fair interview the Eastern Idaho State Fair 2025 with Brandon Bir - General manager. We talk about parking, restrooms and what is going on at this years event. The fair starts on August 29th, 2025
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, this is cool, Kay County Fairgrounds dot Net. I
have Brandon Bird from the Eastern Idaho State Fair on
the line with me. You've got a fair coming up.
So one of the first things I always like to
ask about when I go to one of these fairs
to think about going is how is the parking? Dear?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
It's always where your adventure begins here at the fair.
We are like most fares, and that is that the
community has grown around us over the years. We've been
around for one hundred and twenty three years, and so
as the community grew up around us. Parking is one
(00:38):
of those things that is more about your neighbor our
neighbor's yards than it is about true parking lots. But
we do have some, and those parking lots can be
found along the streets and also on the northwest side
of the fairgrounds.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Okay, is it paid parking.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
On the northwest side? Partner with youth groups to share
in it? So, yes, it is paid parking, but it's
a pretty reasonable rate.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Okay, what about handicap people? Was it easy for them
to get into the fare?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Every gate around the fairgrounds and we have eight of them,
has at least four parking handicaps spots. Some have as
many as eight, and I think we have one that
has I guess it's ten, not eight. But anyhow, so
there are around each gate options for you. Every year
when I go around the fairgrounds, I do see that
(01:34):
those parking spots are not always occupied, so it should
be something that people can find.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Okay, all right, So suppose I'm an older person I'm
coming into the fairgrounds. Do you have something to hand
me to show me where everything is?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yep. When you purchase your gate ticket at one of
our ticket booths, you're going to have there what we
call our daily schedule that you can grab gives the
details of the day, everything from entertainment to the activities
that are going on on the grounds, on free stages
and the grounds and so yes, you'll have something that'll
(02:11):
give you direction. And if you're not a fan of
the old style, hold it in your handbook, as they say,
the print print copy. We do have online versions that
you can also scan a QR code and get to
pretty quickly and easily too.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Hopefully. Okay, I suppose I'm coming in a gate with
a bunch of kids under two, alve, what would you
suggest I do first.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Get your bearings, make sure that they've got sunscreen on,
and that you've got plenty of fluids. The fairgrounds are
eighty five ish acres and so we have a walking
path that goes kind of in a full circle around
the fairgrounds. Once you start moving, I would just recommend
that you move slowly and pace yourself. The food court
(02:59):
always is the place where people start and by the
time they finish, they're back to the food court and
they've eaten even more as they've gone throughout the fairgrounds.
But we have two free stages that have entertainment on
them throughout the entire day, and some of those entertainers
are spectacular like Dan Meyer, the sword swallower who swallows swords.
(03:21):
We love to have him as he's back for his
third or fourth time with us, and he's always exciting
to watch, comedic juggling music. Acts so much on our
two free stages that people will be able to see
no additional charge. And then always the carnival is the
place where kids tend to go and have fun. Butler
(03:41):
Amusements provides our carnival to us and does a great job.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
What is your attendance approximately do you know.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
So for the past three or four years since COVID,
we've been over two hundred and fifty thousand people, which
isn't bad for a community of about fourteen thousand people.
People come from north and south and east and west
of US and maybe even five states, so we consider
ourselves quite the regional draw for eastern Idaho.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Okay. The other thing that crossed my mind, of course
as an older person, what about restrooms.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Restrooms are everywhere. That's the one thing that we do
pretty good at the fairgrounds when it comes to accessibility
and under the grandstand we have different four different restroom options,
but as you move throughout the fairgrounds, you're going to
find usually with when about one hundred to two hundred
feet there's another restroom that you will come to that
(04:39):
has accessible is accessible for all ages and all sizes.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Okay for eh stuff, Do you have four h buildings?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
We do, so we have. We're pretty proud of the
fact that when the fair started in nineteen oh two,
it was started as a stock show. And while things
different today than they were back then, we still have
our heritage of putting on lots of stock shows that
go on here and our four h is the lifeblood
of what goes on here. We're a multi county fair,
(05:12):
so many fairs throughout Eastern Idaho have their county fairs
and then come to the Eastern Idaho State Fair for
a separate competition in open shows and four eight shows,
and so we're pretty proud of that and they're going
on daily every day, those types of competitions.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Okay, all right, Well, what's your favorite fair food here?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
You know, I answer that question the same most of
the time, and that's because I'm pretty simple. But as
fair food changes, some of my tastes are starting to change.
But my go to fair favorite is what we refer
to here at the fairs scone nuggets. There are little
chunks of scones and honey butter. The Shelley Kawanas is
(05:59):
the volunteer group that sells them, and they're just my
go to favorite thing at the fair.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Okay, all right, Now, as people walk around, you have
strolling entertainers.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
We do, in fact, for the about the past since COVID,
we've tried to increase our strolling acts that move around
the fair grounds, whether that's a stilt act, a mime act,
a juggling act, some slide of hand magic will be
around this year that will be spectacular for people to
see right up close. Those strolling acts are unique to
(06:32):
Fares and it's something that we will have at the
fair and hope to continue to grow too.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Okay, all right, So there's buildings with daily entertainment in it,
right like you were talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Yep. We refer to those as our free stages and
they're outdoor stages.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Okay, okay, all right, all right, Well let's roll into
the evening with what have you got through the evening?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
So in the evening we have what are called our
night time Grandstands shows, and we start this year with
country artist Dylan Scott. Every year we have the bull
Riding Championships. On Saturday. Sunday we have the Tractor Poll
Truck and Tractor Poll Nationals, and then we move into
(07:19):
our three nights of the gem State Classic Pro Rodeo
two time award winning PRCA Rodeo. Thursday night is followed
up with our comedy Night, which is Jeff Dunham this year.
Friday night, our rock concert is Trained and we close
out on Saturday night with the always sold out Demolition Derby.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Oh that sounds like fun. Okay, Well, I don't quite
know what else to ask you. Is there anything else
you want to put in?
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Well, just say this year our theme is Saddle Up,
so we invite everyone to saddle up and take a
ride with us August twenty ninth through September sixth.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Okay, sounds like a lot of fun. Have a good fair.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Thank you, Bye bye you Brandon.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Bye
Okay, this is cool, Kay County Fairgrounds dot Net. I
have Brandon Bird from the Eastern Idaho State Fair on
the line with me. You've got a fair coming up.
So one of the first things I always like to
ask about when I go to one of these fairs
to think about going is how is the parking? Dear?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
It's always where your adventure begins here at the fair.
We are like most fares, and that is that the
community has grown around us over the years. We've been
around for one hundred and twenty three years, and so
as the community grew up around us. Parking is one
(00:38):
of those things that is more about your neighbor our
neighbor's yards than it is about true parking lots. But
we do have some, and those parking lots can be
found along the streets and also on the northwest side
of the fairgrounds.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Okay, is it paid parking.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
On the northwest side? Partner with youth groups to share
in it? So, yes, it is paid parking, but it's
a pretty reasonable rate.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Okay, what about handicap people? Was it easy for them
to get into the fare?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Every gate around the fairgrounds and we have eight of them,
has at least four parking handicaps spots. Some have as
many as eight, and I think we have one that
has I guess it's ten, not eight. But anyhow, so
there are around each gate options for you. Every year
when I go around the fairgrounds, I do see that
(01:34):
those parking spots are not always occupied, so it should
be something that people can find.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Okay, all right, So suppose I'm an older person I'm
coming into the fairgrounds. Do you have something to hand
me to show me where everything is?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yep. When you purchase your gate ticket at one of
our ticket booths, you're going to have there what we
call our daily schedule that you can grab gives the
details of the day, everything from entertainment to the activities
that are going on on the grounds, on free stages
and the grounds and so yes, you'll have something that'll
(02:11):
give you direction. And if you're not a fan of
the old style, hold it in your handbook, as they say,
the print print copy. We do have online versions that
you can also scan a QR code and get to
pretty quickly and easily too.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Hopefully. Okay, I suppose I'm coming in a gate with
a bunch of kids under two, alve, what would you
suggest I do first.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Get your bearings, make sure that they've got sunscreen on,
and that you've got plenty of fluids. The fairgrounds are
eighty five ish acres and so we have a walking
path that goes kind of in a full circle around
the fairgrounds. Once you start moving, I would just recommend
that you move slowly and pace yourself. The food court
(02:59):
always is the place where people start and by the
time they finish, they're back to the food court and
they've eaten even more as they've gone throughout the fairgrounds.
But we have two free stages that have entertainment on
them throughout the entire day, and some of those entertainers
are spectacular like Dan Meyer, the sword swallower who swallows swords.
(03:21):
We love to have him as he's back for his
third or fourth time with us, and he's always exciting
to watch, comedic juggling music. Acts so much on our
two free stages that people will be able to see
no additional charge. And then always the carnival is the
place where kids tend to go and have fun. Butler
(03:41):
Amusements provides our carnival to us and does a great job.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
What is your attendance approximately do you know.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
So for the past three or four years since COVID,
we've been over two hundred and fifty thousand people, which
isn't bad for a community of about fourteen thousand people.
People come from north and south and east and west
of US and maybe even five states, so we consider
ourselves quite the regional draw for eastern Idaho.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Okay. The other thing that crossed my mind, of course
as an older person, what about restrooms.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Restrooms are everywhere. That's the one thing that we do
pretty good at the fairgrounds when it comes to accessibility
and under the grandstand we have different four different restroom options,
but as you move throughout the fairgrounds, you're going to
find usually with when about one hundred to two hundred
feet there's another restroom that you will come to that
(04:39):
has accessible is accessible for all ages and all sizes.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Okay for eh stuff, Do you have four h buildings?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
We do, so we have. We're pretty proud of the
fact that when the fair started in nineteen oh two,
it was started as a stock show. And while things
different today than they were back then, we still have
our heritage of putting on lots of stock shows that
go on here and our four h is the lifeblood
of what goes on here. We're a multi county fair,
(05:12):
so many fairs throughout Eastern Idaho have their county fairs
and then come to the Eastern Idaho State Fair for
a separate competition in open shows and four eight shows,
and so we're pretty proud of that and they're going
on daily every day, those types of competitions.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Okay, all right, Well, what's your favorite fair food here?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
You know, I answer that question the same most of
the time, and that's because I'm pretty simple. But as
fair food changes, some of my tastes are starting to change.
But my go to fair favorite is what we refer
to here at the fairs scone nuggets. There are little
chunks of scones and honey butter. The Shelley Kawanas is
(05:59):
the volunteer group that sells them, and they're just my
go to favorite thing at the fair.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Okay, all right, Now, as people walk around, you have
strolling entertainers.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
We do, in fact, for the about the past since COVID,
we've tried to increase our strolling acts that move around
the fair grounds, whether that's a stilt act, a mime act,
a juggling act, some slide of hand magic will be
around this year that will be spectacular for people to
see right up close. Those strolling acts are unique to
(06:32):
Fares and it's something that we will have at the
fair and hope to continue to grow too.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Okay, all right, So there's buildings with daily entertainment in it,
right like you were talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Yep. We refer to those as our free stages and
they're outdoor stages.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Okay, okay, all right, all right, Well let's roll into
the evening with what have you got through the evening?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
So in the evening we have what are called our
night time Grandstands shows, and we start this year with
country artist Dylan Scott. Every year we have the bull
Riding Championships. On Saturday. Sunday we have the Tractor Poll
Truck and Tractor Poll Nationals, and then we move into
(07:19):
our three nights of the gem State Classic Pro Rodeo
two time award winning PRCA Rodeo. Thursday night is followed
up with our comedy Night, which is Jeff Dunham this year.
Friday night, our rock concert is Trained and we close
out on Saturday night with the always sold out Demolition Derby.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Oh that sounds like fun. Okay, Well, I don't quite
know what else to ask you. Is there anything else
you want to put in?
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Well, just say this year our theme is Saddle Up,
so we invite everyone to saddle up and take a
ride with us August twenty ninth through September sixth.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Okay, sounds like a lot of fun. Have a good fair.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Thank you, Bye bye you Brandon.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Bye
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.