Home › Latest News › STRONG ATTENDANCE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT HIGHLIGHT 2025 CA MID-STATE FAIR
Wednesday, August 6th, 2025
The 79th annual California Mid-State Fair wrapped up 12 exciting days from July 16–27, 2025, bringing the community together to celebrate a favorite local event and summer tradition. From livestock auctions to concerts, carnival rides to rodeo thrills, this year’s Fair celebrated the spirit of agricultural traditions in a beautiful setting and experienced the coolest weather any locals can recall ever experiencing.
Overall Attendance
The 2025 Fair welcomed 366,216 guests, marking a 6.5% increase over 2024’s total of approximately 335,000.
Michelob Ultra Concert Series
Concerts in the Chumash Grandstand Arena drew 83,000 ticketed attendees. Although slightly lower than 2024’s numbers, the series delivered a diverse lineup of talent and high energy performances that thrilled audiences.
Carnival
Carnival revenue totaled $1,692,094, reflecting a 1% decrease from last year. Helm and Sons Amusements continued to delight guests, including with the popular Opening Day free ride promotion.
Food & Beverage
37 vendors operating 74 booths reported gross revenues just over $3.3 million in non-alcoholic food and beverage sales - on par with 2024. Alcoholic beverage sales were down, likely due to the cool weather.
Special Events
- Cattlemen & Farmers Day Awards BBQ sold out with 1,300 attendees
- CCWC Gold Medal Wine Tasting
- Get Crafty Mixology Contest and Tasting
Sponsorships
The Fair was again supported by over 100 sponsors, contributing more than $1.3 million in cash and in-kind support.
Volunteer Hours
Friends of the Fair members donated just over 2715 hours of their time leading up to and during the Fair.
COMPETITION RESULTS
Central Coast Wine Competition
- Best of Show/Best White: Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, 2023 Chenin Blanc
- Best Red: Opolo, 2023 Grand Rouge
- Best Rosé: Cass, 2024 Oasis Rosé
- Best Sparkling: Rava Wines, Cinsault Rosé NV
- Best Dessert: Eberle, Muscat Liqueur NV
- Winery of the Year: Le Vigne Winery
Central Coast Olive Oil Competition
- Best of Show Delicate: Olivaia’s Ola, Super Blend
- Best of Show Medium: Sunshine Olive Oil, Spanish Oaks Picual
- Best of Show Robust: Central Coast Olive Company, Mission
- Best of Show Flavored: Corto Olive Co., Calabrian Chili
- Producer of the Year: Sunshine Olive Oil
California Craft Spirits Competition
- Best of Show/Best White Spirit: Grain + Vine, Vodka
- Best Brown Spirit: Griffo, Stout Barreled Whiskey
- Best Liqueur: Griffo, Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
Get Crafty Golden Shaker Winners
- People's Choice: “In the Weeds” Granada Hotel & Bistro with Grain + Vine Distillery
- Distiller’s Choice: “Garden Eyes” Alchemist Garden with Tin City Distillery
- Mixologist & People’s Choice: “In the Weeds” Grenada Hotel & Bistro with Grain + Vine Disitllery
Home Brewing Competition
- Best of Show: Kelly Beaubien, Dark European Lager - Schwarzbier
- Reserve Best of Show: Conner Medeiros, IPA – Hazy IPA
Home Winemaking Competition
- Best of Show/Best White: Brad Bunkelman, 2021 Malvasia
- Best Dessert: Katie Hill, 2024 Pomegranate
- Best Red: Kirk Johnson, 2023 Sangiovese
- Best Rosé: Brad Bunkelman, 2023 Rosé of Grenache
San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Awards
Winemaker of the Year: Molly Bohlman
Winegrape Grower of the Year: Aron Nevarez
Industry Person of the Year: Chris Taranto
Lifetime Achievement Award: Libbie Agran
Agriculture Awards
- Agriculturalist of the Year: Marty Settevendemie
- CattleWoman of the Year: Debbie Arnold
- Cattleman of the Year: Jill Twisselman Heely
805 Country Rodeo Finals
- All-Around Cowboy: Colter Negranti
- Barrel Racing: Paisley Busick Ranch
- Double Mugging: Kelly Barker, Lee Whitney
- Ladies Breakaway Roping: Josie Pereira
- Mixed Ribbon Roping: JW Brewen, Sarah Brewen Match
- Rope & Brand: Rowdy Russell, Levi Segura, Cody Sill, Zach Cobb
- Roping: Cash Filipponi, Cody Sill
- Team Penning: Amy Lewis, Tom Twisselman, Clayton Grant
BEST OF SHOW — Exhibits
ADULT
Agriculture Horticulture
- Heidi Edelman (San Miguel) – Home Poultry Eggs – Small Flocks
- Dean Harrell (Nipomo) – Red Onions
- BJ Semmes (Atascadero) – Lavender
Arts & Crafts
- Brian Harms (Templeton) – Leather Chaps
Farm Art
- Thomas Edwards (San Luis Obispo) – Lawn Flamingo
Fine Art
- David Lacaro (Templeton) – Advanced Amateur 2D Art
Home Arts
- Jo Ann Hawkins (Paso Robles) – Machine Quilted – Medium Quilts
- Suzanne Lord (San Luis Obispo) – Marmalade
- Hope Merkle (Los Osos) – Carrot Cake
- Vanessa Scheirer (Paso Robles) – Crochet
Photography
- Ron Mead (Santa Margarita) – Advanced Amateur Seascape
Floriculture
- Rob Baldwin (Paso Robles) – Cosmos (Bi-color)
- Brandi Bognuda (Templeton) – 1st , 2nd, and 3rd Show – Professional Arrangements
- Barbara Bullock (San Luis Obispo) – Dahlia – Collarette
- Linda Hicks (Templeton) – Cactus – Columnar Cacti
- Heather Jamieson (San Luis Obispo) – Dahlia – Small Informal Decorative
YOUTH
Agriculture Horticulture
• Ben Bowers – Home Poultry Eggs (Youth)
• Zephram Decater – Largest Produce – Zucchini (Youth)
• Vivi Osman – Herbs (Youth)
• Evan David – Home Poultry Eggs – Chickens (4-H)
• Sophie Pittman – Herbs (4-H)
• Colin Wiebe – Cherry Tomatoes (4-H)
Arts & Crafts
- Maddax Mendonca – Painting (Youth)
Farm Art
- Colt Barber – Birdhouse (Youth)
- Aiden Foerst – Stepping Stone (4-H)
Fine Art
- Jose Garcia – Colored Drawing (4-H)
- Michael Yanez – Colored Drawing (Youth)
Floriculture
- Kody Kilburn – Wheelbarrow Garden (Youth)
- Emmy Sherwin – Theme Wreath (Youth)
- Emmylu Gaertner – Cactus/Succulent (4-H)
- Ella Pierce – Best Use of Red Rose (FFA)
Home Arts
- Eleanor Griffith – Breads/Quick Breads (Youth)
- Kalleya Krivacsy – Quilting – Machine (Youth)
- Adelaide Quaglino – Preserved Foods – Bourbon BBQ Sauce (Youth)
- Scarlett Wicks – Sewing – Summer Top (Youth)
- Tatum Allgood – Carrot Cake Jam (4-H)
- Charlotte Dobberpuhl – Quilting – Machine (4-H)
- Emmylu Gaertner – Carrot Layer Cake (4-H)
Photography
- Mckenna Nichols – Color Prints – Wild Critters (Youth)
Special Stars Division
- Madilynn Meredith – Watercolor Painting (Junior)
- Pathpoint Group Project – Woodworking (Senior)
- Kayla Stroble – Dump Cake (Senior)
- Evan Churchill – Large Welding Project (Type II)
- Blaine Haggie – Large Woodworking Project (Type III)
- Reese Thiessen – Medium Welding Project
- Payton Shoresman – Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)
- Payton Shoresman – Manual Drafting
Industrial Education
- Evan Churchill – Large Welding Project (Type II)
- Blaine Haggie – Large Woodworking Project (Type III)
- Reese Thiessen – Medium Welding Project
- Payton Shoresman – Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)
- Payton Shoresman – Manual Drafting
AUCTION RESULTS
Livestock Auctions
The 2025 livestock auctions raised over $3.1 million (unofficial) from the sale of hundreds of animals, once again showcasing the commitment of 4-H and FFA youth and the generosity of the community.
Industrial Arts Auction
This year’s Industrial Arts Auction raised $234,900, continuing its tradition of spotlighting the incredible craftsmanship of local students.
All figures are preliminary and subject to final verification. For more information, visit www.midstatefair.com or contact publicity@midstatefair.com.
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