Union County Fairgrounds overhaul advances as crews replace aging utilities in La Grande

Crews at the Union County Fairgrounds are replacing the kind of infrastructure most fairgoers never see until it fails: old asphalt has been torn up, trenches cut, utility poles removed and new plumbing and electrical work pushed into place behind the fences in La Grande. The visible shift marks a long-delayed overhaul that county leaders say is meant to do more than improve appearance. It is designed to restore reliable water, sewer and power service to a site that helps anchor both the annual fair and Union County’s emergency response network.

The project broke ground on Nov. 14, 2025, after Union County secured $2,539,405 in Oregon Lottery bond funding through House Bill 5006 and Senate Bill 5531. County Commissioner Matt Scarfo said the fairgrounds’ septic system went down several years ago and the well is also failing, leaving the grounds unable to function normally without running water and toilets. He said the project was first quoted at $700,000 in 2019, but inflation and higher construction costs pushed the total to $4.35 million.

That cost spike helps explain why the county spent years chasing funding, including an unsuccessful $1 million request in 2023, a $250,000 county budget contribution in 2024 and continued lobbying that eventually led to the state award. The county awarded the contract to Becker Construction, with Mike Becker Construction crews now working alongside Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative as they tear out overhead lines and prepare to bury them, a change expected to reduce clutter and safety hazards across the grounds.

The work is affecting the fairgrounds building by building. County and fair association officials said only the Mt. Fanny Building and Exhibit Hall are exempt from the sewer project. The Mt. Harris Building is slated for additional upgrades, including wall removal, storage changes, restroom relocation, restroom updates and kitchen remodeling. The trickiest utility connection still ahead involves linking the fairgrounds to the City of La Grande water and sewer system by crossing Interstate 84 through the Second Street overpass, with lanes to be closed one at a time during construction.

The Union County Fair Association says the campground closed March 9 and that projects are expected to run through July, with rentals intermittently interrupted along the way. The fair’s website says water and electricity are not guaranteed for 2026 dry camping and septic services are not provided by the fair. Camping will be unavailable during the fair itself, July 20 through Aug. 3, while the 2026 Union County Fair is set for July 29 through Aug. 1, with the parade on July 26.

For Union County, the payoff goes beyond a better fairground. Officials have said the site serves as a resiliency hub and temporary evacuation center during wildfires, power outages and other emergencies. The fair also carries deep local history: the first Fair Board was established Sept. 22, 1872, in Cove, and the first county fair was held on the streets of Old La Grande on C Avenue, now the top of Fourth Street.