Over the past four years, Nevada Republican Governor Joe Lombardo has quietly racked up one of the most successful governing records in the country, prioritizing bipartisan wins and common-sense legislation in what has become a perennial battleground state. The return of the Nevada State Fair this weekend following a 16-year hiatus is yet another noteworthy achievement – just one of many victories that don’t garner national headlines but are sure to carry weight with Nevada voters.
While Las Vegas is by far the dominant population center in the Silver State, Reno is the historic home of the state fair, an event which dates back to 1874. But due to financial issues, the fair hasn’t been held since 2010.
That changes this year thanks to Assembly Bill 333, which Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director J.J. Goicoechea helped spearhead and get to Lombardo’s desk for signature last August. As an NDA press release explains, the legislation “requires the NDA Director to reestablish the Nevada State Fairgrounds and restores authority of the property to the NDA.” As a result, the fair will return to the “Biggest Little City in the World” this June 11-13.
Lombardo is scheduled to be in attendance at the fair on June 13 and participate in the “Governor’s Livestock Sale of Champions.” He also signed a proclamation commemorating June as Agricultural Heritage Month, which highlights the fair and the famed Reno Rodeo.
“Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Nevada’s economy and identity,” Lombardo said in the proclamation. “Agricultural Heritage Month is an opportunity to recognize the farmers, ranchers, and producers who work every day to feed our communities, support rural economies, and preserve a way of life that has defined Nevada for generations.”
While most Americans likely picture Las Vegas and empty deserts when they think of Nevada, the Silver State has a long and storied history of agriculture and ranching – an important legacy that the state fair honors. According to the most recent census data, there are nearly six million acres of active farmland in Nevada which produce more than $440 million worth of products. Ranching operations produce an additional $519 million for the state’s economy.
It would be easy for critics to dismiss the return of the Nevada State Fair as a trivial matter or a distraction from more important issues. But good governance is not always measured by cable-news soundbites or partisan showdowns. Often, it is found in the unglamorous work of restoring institutions, supporting local economies, and reviving traditions that bind communities together.
For Reno and northern Nevada, the fair’s return is more than a nostalgic weekend outing. It is an economic opportunity for small businesses, farmers, ranchers, vendors, hotels, restaurants, and families who benefit when people gather, spend money, and celebrate what makes their state unique. In a state where Las Vegas understandably dominates the spotlight, the revival of the fair is also a reminder that Nevada’s identity extends far beyond the Strip. The Silver State was built by miners, ranchers, farmers, pioneers, and entrepreneurs, and the state fair gives that heritage the recognition it deserves.
That matters even more as America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary. At a time when so many national institutions feel distant or broken, state fairs remain one of the most familiar expressions of American civic life. They are places where families come together, children learn where their food comes from, local businesses are showcased, and communities remember who they are.
Lombardo deserves real credit for making it happen. The fair had been gone for more than a decade. Multiple administrations failed to bring it back. Lombardo got the job done, and he did it the same way he has governed from the beginning – by working across the aisle, focusing on practical results, and refusing to let partisan gridlock stand in the way of progress.
The return of the Nevada State Fair fits Lombardo’s approach perfectly. It is the same approach that secured the Athletics’ move to Las Vegas, helped build record savings in the state’s rainy-day fund, led strong employment growth, enacted more effective school discipline policies, and reduced violent crime.
These are the things that actually improve the lives of everyday people – and an example that politicians in both parties nationwide should follow.
Shane Harris is the Editor-in-Chief of AMAC Newsline. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.
