Respected fair leader Tony Leo announces retirement

Stanislaus County Fair leaders have announced new dates and a change in leadership for the annual exposition.

The fair will change its traditional late July-early August run to a mid-July calendar in response to changes in the California State Fair scheduling. The California State Fair, which traditionally has opened in mid-August and continued through Labor Day weekend, is tentatively scheduled for July 14-Aug. 1.

The 2010 Stanislaus County Fair will be held July 16-25 – dates which the fair board concluded would have the least amount of negative impact on those involved.

“The board had to deeply examine what was in the best interest for the majority of those involved in our county fair,” said spokesperson Pennie Rorex. “With the dates set, we have already started planning for 2010 and are confident that the mid-July fair will be great fun for the entire family.”

Fair board member Bill Mattos of Newman said the county fair had to consider the availability of its carnival operator and entertainers, and took school schedules and the impact on FFA and 4-H exhibitors into consideration in determining the new dates.

“I am unhappy about moving the dates, but the state fair gave us absolutely no choice,” he commented.

The fair has also announced the pending retirement of Chief Executive Officer Tony Leo, who will retire effective Dec. 30.

Leo is a highly-regarded veteran of nearly 30 years on the county fair circuit. He served as CEO of the Stanislaus County Fair since 1998. Under his leadership, the fair has achieved financial solvency and strived to build a strong, family-friendly environment.

Leo’s county fair career began in 1980 when he was hired to lead the Merced County Spring Fair in Los Banos.  Three years later, he became CEO of the Merced County Fair in Merced, where he served for more than 14 years.