Thank You, Becky Bailey-Findley

Thank you to Becky Bailey-Findley, Executive Director of California Fair Services Authority, for serving as the guest speaker at last night’s Fairgrounds Foundation Speaker Series.  Becky shared with local high school students a bit about her career path, as well as information about the importance of Fairgrounds to communities and the state. Thank you, Becky, for sharing your story and the Fair story with us!
Categories: Events, Nevada County Fairgrounds, and Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation.

Thank You, Andy Wirth, for Serving as Guest at Speaker Series

Thank you to Andy Wirth, CEO of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, for serving as the guest speaker at tonight’s Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation Speaker Series. As part of the series, Andy spent time with local high school students and shared leadership and business advice, including the importance of gratitude, The Law of the Ranch (you reap what you sow), caring for our land, and serving our communities (be a volunteer!). Thank you, Andy, for your time, and we’ll see you on the slopes!

Categories: Events and Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation.

Jerry Cirino Serves as Guest Speaker at Foundation’s Speaker Series

Thank you to Jerry Cirino for serving as the guest speaker at last night’s Fairgrounds Foundation Speaker Series. This monthly series provides business advice and leadership experience to local high school students, and we’re so thankful to Jerry for sharing his message about the importance of time and hard work with the students.

Categories: Events and Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation.

Fairgrounds Foundation Begins Third Season of Speaker Series

Sue Ebeler, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs at UC Davis and Professor of Viticulture and Enology, spent part of this evening talking to local high school students as part of the third season of the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series. This monthly series, which continues through May, provides business advice, tips and leadership experience to local high school students. Many thanks to Sue for sharing her time and advice with the students tonight!

Categories: Events, Nevada County Fairgrounds, and Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation.

Fairgrounds Foundation Hosts Third Season of Speaker Series

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 31, 2017

Contact: Rea Callender, CEO, Nevada County Fairgrounds
(530) 273-6217;

Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation To Offer Third Season Of Speaker Series For Youth
Sue Ebeler, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs at UC Davis, to serve as first speaker

The Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation is launching its third season of the Fairgrounds Foundation Speaker Series. Set to begin November 8, the series brings business education – through access to business leaders and real-life leadership experiences – to local high school students. At each session students have an opportunity to hear about the speaker’s career path, how goals were achieved and obstacles overcome, insight regarding areas of expertise, and ask questions.

The series will feature six speakers, one each month, and will run through May. Speaker dates are November 8, January 17, February 21, March 14, April 11 and May 9.  Each session is about an hour.

The series is open to all high school Fair exhibitors, so all high school students who exhibited at this year’s Fair are invited to attend the speaker series. Those who attend five of the six speaker dates can apply for one of the two Fairgrounds Foundation scholarships offered at the end of the school year.

Sue Ebeler, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs at UC Davis and Professor of Viticulture and Enology, will serve as the first speaker in the series.  Additional speakers include Jerry Cirino of Cirino’s at Main Street, and Becky Bailey-Findley, Executive Director of California Fair Services Authority.

For information about the Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series, email or to RSVP for the November 8 speaker email

Fairgrounds Foundation Hosts Third Season of Speaker Series

The Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation is launching its third season of the Fairgrounds Foundation Speaker Series. Set to begin November 8, the series brings business education – through access to business leaders and real-life leadership experiences – to local high school students. At each session students have an opportunity to hear about the speaker’s career path, how goals were achieved and obstacles overcome, insight regarding areas of expertise, and ask questions.

The series will feature six speakers, one each month, and will run through May. Speaker dates are November 8, January 17, February 21, March 14, April 11 and May 9.  Each session is about an hour.

The series is open to all high school Fair exhibitors, so all high school students who exhibited at this year’s Fair are invited to attend the speaker series. Those who attend five of the six speaker dates can apply for one of the two Fairgrounds Foundation scholarships offered at the end of the school year.

Sue Ebeler, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs at UC Davis and Professor of Viticulture and Enology, will serve as the first speaker in the series.  Additional speakers include Jerry Cirino of Cirino’s at Main Street, and Becky Bailey-Findley, Executive Director of California Fair Services Authority.

For information about the Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series, email or to RSVP for the November 8 speaker email

Categories: Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation.

Speaker Series: November 8

If you are a high school student and exhibited at this year’s Fair, you’re invited to attend the Fairgrounds Foundation Speaker Series beginning November 8. The series, which brings business education to high school students through access to business leaders and real-life leadership experiences, is held once a month. Each session lasts about an hour. Those who attend five of the six sessions can apply for one of two Foundation scholarships at the end of the school year.  For more information, email
Categories: Events, Nevada County Fairgrounds, and Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation.

Fairgrounds Foundation Speaker Series

If you are a high school student and exhibited at this year’s Fair, you’re invited to attend the Fairgrounds Foundation Speaker Series beginning October 11. The series, which brings business education to high school students through access to business leaders and real-life leadership experiences, is held once a month. Each session lasts about an hour. Those who attend five of the six sessions can apply for one of two Foundation scholarships at the end of the school year.  For more information, email .
Categories: Nevada County Fairgrounds and Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation.

Caroline Beteta, CEO of Visit California, Featured Speaker at Speaker Series

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE • April 21, 2017

Contact: Jim Hawkeswood, President, Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation
        (530) 273-6217, ext. 219;

Rea Callender, CEO, Nevada County Fairgrounds
        (530) 273-6217;

Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series For Youth Wraps Up Its Second Season
Featuring Caroline Beteta, CEO of Visit California and California’s Director of Tourism

Caroline Beteta – President and CEO of Visit California, and the State of California’s Director of Tourism – spent Wednesday evening with local students from Bear River and Nevada Union high schools as the final guest speaker in the second season of the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series. The series provides students an opportunity to hear about a speaker’s career path, how goals were achieved, insight regarding areas of expertise, and an opportunity for questions.

Beteta shared with students a typical “day in the life” – working with businesses, government, media and consumers – as the CEO of Visit California. She also shared words of advice, including to get involved (volunteer and take advantage of opportunities to gain experience), be persistent (it only takes one yes), never take no for an answer (you can always find another way), be authentic and true to yourself, find your strongest talents by trying a myriad of things, find a mentor, and dream big. She also reminded the students, regardless where they are in their school or career path, to “be the CEO of your own desk every day.”

In her dual capacity as CEO of Visit California and California’s Director of Tourism, Beteta is responsible for implementing Visit California’s $115 million global marketing program and serves as the lead spokesperson for California’s $126 billion travel industry.  Caroline has shepherded the growth of Visit California into a global marketing franchise, delivering millions of visitors and billions of dollars of economic growth to the state every year. She has received numerous awards for her creative work and leadership in the travel industry, including 2009 State Tourism Director of the Year, the Robert Mondavi Wine and Food Award in 2013, and the U.S Travel Hall of Leaders Award in 2016.

Caroline holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in Public Administration/Intergovernmental Affairs from the University of Southern California.  She has also completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Marketing Management Program.

Beteta and her husband, Art Whitney, are avid supporters of the Nevada County Fairgrounds and have children who were livestock exhibitors. Their generosity to the Nevada County Fairgrounds is evidenced by the naming of the livestock barn – Whitney Pavilion.

The Fairgrounds Foundation’s speaker series, which began in October, featured six speakers. The series, will start up again in October and high school students are invited to attend. 

Caroline Beteta, CEO of Visit California and the State of California’s Director of Tourism, spent Wednesday evening sharing her experience and words of advice with students from Nevada Union and Bear River. Caroline served as the final guest speaker in the second series of the Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series, which brings business education to local high school students.

Caroline Beteta, CEO of Visit California, Featured Speaker at Speaker Series

Caroline Beteta – President and CEO of Visit California, and the State of California’s Director of Tourism – spent Wednesday evening with local students from Bear River and Nevada Union high schools as the final guest speaker in the second season of the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series. The series provides students an opportunity to hear about a speaker’s career path, how goals were achieved, insight regarding areas of expertise, and an opportunity for questions.

Beteta shared with students a typical “day in the life” – working with businesses, government, media and consumers – as the CEO of Visit California. She also shared words of advice, including to get involved (volunteer and take advantage of opportunities to gain experience), be persistent (it only takes one yes), never take no for an answer (you can always find another way), be authentic and true to yourself, find your strongest talents by trying a myriad of things, find a mentor, and dream big. She also reminded the students, regardless where they are in their school or career path, to “be the CEO of your own desk every day.”

In her dual capacity as CEO of Visit California and California’s Director of Tourism, Beteta is responsible for implementing Visit California’s $115 million global marketing program and serves as the lead spokesperson for California’s $126 billion travel industry.  Caroline has shepherded the growth of Visit California into a global marketing franchise, delivering millions of visitors and billions of dollars of economic growth to the state every year. She has received numerous awards for her creative work and leadership in the travel industry, including 2009 State Tourism Director of the Year, the Robert Mondavi Wine and Food Award in 2013, and the U.S Travel Hall of Leaders Award in 2016.

Caroline holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in Public Administration/Intergovernmental Affairs from the University of Southern California.  She has also completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Marketing Management Program.

Beteta and her husband, Art Whitney, are avid supporters of the Nevada County Fairgrounds and have children who were livestock exhibitors. Their generosity to the Nevada County Fairgrounds is evidenced by the naming of the livestock barn – Whitney Pavilion.

The Fairgrounds Foundation’s speaker series, which began in October, featured six speakers. The series, will start up again in October and high school students are invited to attend. 

Categories: Nevada County Fairgrounds and Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation.