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Where North Idaho gathers, where tradition meets tomorrow

Couer d'Alene Press
02/06/2026

There is a place in our community where generations have gathered long before Coeur d’Alene became one of the fastest-growing communities in the country.
A place where dusty boots meet summer evenings, where handshakes still mean something and where a blue ribbon can change a kid’s life forever. It’s the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

For some, it’s the smell of cotton candy and the glow of the Ferris wheel. For others, it’s the nervous excitement of a first livestock show, the pride of a grandchild following in their grandparents’ footsteps or the quiet satisfaction of a volunteer who has returned year after year — not for recognition, but because this place feels like home.

The fairgrounds are more than a venue. They are where our community gathers. To celebrate. To compete. To learn. To remember. To grow. In a time when our community is changing faster than ever, this land remains rooted in something deeper. It connects us to agriculture, to youth development, to family traditions and to the shared belief that the best communities are built face to face, not screen to screen.

Every year, thousands of young people walk through our gates with animals they’ve raised, projects they’ve poured their hearts into and hopes that reach far beyond the show ring. They leave with more than ribbons. They leave with confidence, work ethic and the knowledge that they belong to something bigger than themselves.

This column will tell their stories.

It will tell the stories of volunteers who never miss a fair, families who have shown here for generations, businesses that quietly invest in our youth and the people who make sure the lights turn on, the gates open and the traditions continue.

It will share the history of this land, the heart behind the barns and the vision guiding us into the future — because honoring tradition and embracing tomorrow are not opposites. They are partners.

And most of all, it will remind us that in a growing and changing North Idaho, there is still a place where we gather, not just to attend an event, but to belong.
This is where North Idaho gathers.

• • • This is the first installment of monthly columns by Alexcia Jordan, general manager and CEO of the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, home of the North Idaho State Fair and Rodeo. Alexcia has dedicated her career to fairs, agriculture and community engagement and has more than 20 years of experience in leadership, marketing and event management. She is passionate about preserving tradition while building a strong future for North Idaho’s fairgrounds and the generations it serves.

See article here - https://cdapress.com/news/2026/feb/06/where-north-...