What do fairs give back?
A 2006 study of rural fairs in Eastern Oregon by an Oregon State University extension economist estimated fairs return 5 times their annual budgets in economic activity.

The Central Washington State Fair commissioned its own economic impact study in 2004, leading to the name change to State Fair Park.
The study, by a Bellevue research firm, estimated the fair's economic impact at $25 million, with each dollar spent in connection with the fair generating $2.59 in economic benefits.

A more recent effort, a 2007 study commissioned by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, projects 72 fairs of various sizes in the state contribute $214 million in economic activity. The spending is in the form of direct purchases at the fair by fairgoers, purchases from suppliers by exhibitors and spending of income by fair employees.

Total economic activity for the entire year, including both fair and nonfair events on the grounds, ballooned the benefit to more than $350 million.
Ken Duft, an agricultural economist at Washington State University, said his observation is fairs do well in years when the agricultural economy is in good shape. That should bode well for Yakima this year since all sectors of farming, from apples to hops, grapes and grain crops are having another good year.

"The county fair presents an opportunity to bridge the gap from the current modern rural lifestyle and its urban counterpart," Duft said. "I don't think county fairs have fulfilled that opportunity. It is a chance to bring younger people on the grounds and show them milk doesn't come from a bottle. Food is produced and processed in an environment they aren't familiar with."