The Salinas Valley Fair Heritage Foundation was formed in 2001 by a group of men and women from up and down the Salinas Valley who are dedicated to supporting and improving the Salinas Valley Fair in King City. By March 27, 2002, the Heritage Foundation became a 501(c) 3 and had more than 140 members. Today, the Salinas Valley Fair Heritage Foundation has grown to more than 300 members, from the Salinas Valley and beyond.
The mission of the Heritage Foundation is...“to preserve and enrich the heritage of the Salinas Valley Fair and showcase agricultural industries to the community. It will offer support to the 4-H and FFA programs, create agricultural education opportunities, promote public awareness and support for ongoing projects sponsored by the Salinas Valley Fair in maintaining and improving the current facility to further service the needs of the community…”
Since the beginning, the Foundation Board of Directors, volunteers, and supporters have been hardworking and focused on bringing improvements to the Salinas Valley Fair, through capital improvements and fundraising. In late 2002, the Heritage Foundation and Salinas Valley Fair embarked on their first project and began raising the funds necessary to demolish the wooden, antiquated livestock buildings and build two modern, clear span buildings, totaling nearly 120,000 square feet. Those building came to be known as The Rava Equestrian Center and the Topo Events Center. The barns are now landmarks on Highway 101 and have forever changed the landscape of the of the fairgrounds. After the barn project was completed and paid off, the Heritage Foundation completed several other projects including the Shelley Watts Entry Office, the Teague Memorial Patio, and the revitalization of the much used, Orradre Building.
The Heritage Foundation Board, volunteers, and donors will continue their work throughout the fairgrounds, bringing improvements big and small. If you would like to learn more about joining the Heritage Foundation or donating, please download the
application or call the Salinas Valley Fair offices at 831-385-3243.