Benton Franklin Fair Association

What Benton Franklin Fair Association does

Benton Franklin Fair Association is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded on May 25, 1948, that produces the annual "Best Week of Summer" event — a five-day fair and rodeo held at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick, Washington. The organization's core product is the integrated fair event featuring the PRCA-sanctioned Horse Heaven Round-Up rodeo (ranked #20 nationally out of 820+ sanctioned events with $260,000 in contestant payouts), a Summer Concert Series, carnival rides (operated by Davis Shows NW), a demolition derby, agricultural exhibits, and the largest grossing youth livestock auction in Washington State ($1.5 million in 2025). The Fair draws 123,333 attendees over five days, with visitors from 41 states, and generates an estimated $20 million in annual economic impact on Benton County.

The organization's business model is multi-stream event revenue: gate admission tickets ($6-$23 by demographic), carnival wristbands ($41.50-$50), concert tickets ($23-$66 tiered), rodeo tickets ($10-$20), daily parking ($17), vendor booth rentals ($750 per 10'x10' commercial; $300-$600 for Hometown Marketplace), food vendor commissions (22% on sales plus $1,000 deposit), and corporate sponsorships. Ticketing and event management are powered by the third-party Saffire/SaffireTix platform. The Fair is supported by 189 direct employees during event production, 500+ volunteers annually, and a 100+ sponsor network. Its customer base spans general public attendees, youth agricultural exhibitors (4-H, Grange, FFA), rodeo contestants, and corporate sponsors.

Beyond entertainment, the organization runs significant youth development and community impact programs: $7,500 in annual scholarships, GALE Grants of $1,100 for first-time large animal exhibitors, a Royalty program, the Tough Enough to Wear Pink breast cancer initiative (over $212,000 donated over 15+ years enabling 2,000+ free mammograms), a 17-year Second Harvest food donation partnership (178,000 pounds donated cumulatively), and an American Red Cross blood drive. Leadership includes Executive Director Lori Lancaster, Assistant Executive Director Sara Renee, and Board President Duane Howard.

Name

Benton Franklin Fair Association

Legal name

Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo

Website

https://bentonfranklinfair.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Benton Franklin Fair Association is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1948 that produces an annual five-day fair and PRCA-ranked rodeo in Kennewick, Washington, drawing 123,000+ attendees and generating $20M in regional economic impact. It serves families, youth agricultural exhibitors, rodeo contestants, and corporate sponsors through ticket sales, vendor programs, sponsorships, and community impact initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Fair and Rodeo Events

NAICS

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH), Equestrian & Rodeo Facilities (MPAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Annual fair events
• Professional rodeo competition
• Youth livestock auction
• Carnival entertainment programs
• Agricultural exhibition services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Gate Admission Tickets: Admission tickets sold to Fair attendees across multiple price tiers including adult, senior, youth, and advance/pre-sale rates. Single-day admission for one person, ages 13+ at $17 pre-sale or $23 gate price.
2. Carnival Wristbands: Carnival ride wristbands sold at discounted pre-fair price ($41.50) and regular price ($50). Wristbands are redeemed at carnival ticket booths during Fair week for one day of rides.
3. Concert Tickets: Reserved seat and general admission tickets for Summer Concert Series performers (Skillet, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, The Art of Rap, El Jerry/Gerardo Coronel). Concert ticket purchases do not include Fair admission, which is required separately.
4. Rodeo Tickets: Horse Heaven Round-Up rodeo tickets sold as reserved seating. Prices range $10-$20. Rodeo tickets do not include Fair admission.
5. Parking: Daily parking passes sold for Main Lot access during Fair week at $17 per day.
6. Food Concession Fees: Food vendors pay a $1,000 deposit, $50 disposal fee, $100 insurance, and a 22% commission on sales. Electrical fees range $200-$500 based on amperage needs. Revenue is generated through vendor booth space rental and sales commissions.
7. Commercial Vendor Booth Fees: Commercial vendors pay $750 per 10'x10' booth location plus mandatory $100 insurance and $50 electrical fee. Hometown Marketplace local vendors pay $300-$600 for booth space plus $50 electrical. Revenue from vendor space rentals.
8. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support the Fair in exchange for marketing benefits including signage, advertising inclusion, hospitality, and brand visibility across 120,000+ attendees. Sponsorship program is customized for each partner.
9. Demolition Derby Revenue: Demolition Derby driver registration at $50 per primary driver, $30 for Powder Puff drivers, $10 per extra pit pass (limit 3). Top prize of $6,000 in large car demolition. Total prize pool exceeds $20,000.
10. Exhibitor Passes and Parking: Youth exhibitor families purchase parent passes ($35), sibling passes ($20-$35), and parking permits ($35) at discounted rates. Leader/Advisor passes also available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Benton Franklin Fair Association is a nonprofit 501c3 organization that produces an annual five-day community fair and rodeo held each August at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick, WA. The core offering centers on the Horse Heaven Round-Up PRCA-ranked professional rodeo, carnival rides, summer concert series, youth livestock exhibition and auction, demolition derby, and competitive still life exhibits, supported by ticketing, vendor booth rentals, sponsorship programs, and youth development scholarships and grants.

Product overview

The Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo is a nonprofit 501c3 organization producing the annual Best Week of Summer event, one of the largest regional fairs in the Pacific Northwest. The organization operates a multi-product portfolio centered on its core annual fair event (August 25-29, 2026) which includes the Horse Heaven Round-Up professional rodeo, youth livestock exhibitions through its Fairwire registration system, a Market Stock Auction generating $1.5 million for local youth, and a competitive Still Life Exhibits program. The organization manages commercial and food vendor programs, sells tickets for gate admission, carnival wristbands (via Davis Shows NW Carnival), and concerts (Summer Concert Series featuring Skillet, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, The Art of Rap, and El Jerry/Gerardo Coronel). Additional event programs include the Demolition Derby, Grand Parade, and community initiatives including scholarship and GALE Grant programs for youth development. The Fair's ticketing and event management is powered by the Saffire platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo (Annual Fair Event) The flagship annual five-day community fair held each August in Kennewick, WA, featuring rodeo, concerts, carnival, agricultural exhibits, demolition derby, and community celebrations.
• Horse Heaven Round-Up Rodeo A PRCA-sanctioned professional rodeo event ranked #20 in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, featuring bareback riding, saddle bronc, bull riding, barrel racing, and rodeo performances broadcast on The Cowboy Channel.
• Gate Admission Tickets Single-day admission tickets to the Benton Franklin Fair available in Adult ($17 pre-sale, $23 gate), Senior ($6), and Youth ($6, ages 6-12) tiers; children 5 and under admitted free with a sharing adult.
• Carnival Wristbands Carnival ride wristbands providing one day of unlimited access to Davis Shows NW Carnival rides, with pre-fair discounted wristband pricing and one-day sale events offering $10 off regular pricing.
• Summer Concert Series Ticketed concert performances during the Fair featuring scheduled country and rock artists (Skillet, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, The Art of Rap, El Jerry/Gerardo Coronel). Reserved and general admission seats priced $23-$66 by section.
• Demolition Derby Competitive demolition derby event featuring large car, small car, and powder puff divisions with total prize money exceeding $20,000 including a $6,000 large car winner prize. Drivers register for $50 (primary), $30 (Powder Puff), and $10 per additional pit pass.
• Market Stock Auction Youth livestock auction generating funds for local 4-H, Grange, and FFA members, making it the largest grossing youth livestock auction in Washington State ($1.5 million raised in 2025).
• Youth Livestock Exhibits Program 4-H, Grange, and FFA youth livestock exhibition program featuring beef, swine, sheep, goats, horses, poultry, and rabbits with online registration through Fairwire.
• Still Life Exhibits Program Competitive exhibition program featuring arts, crafts, photography, horticulture, foods, fiber arts, and fine arts across Open Class and Youth divisions.
• Commercial Vendor Program Booth space rentals for commercial vendors at $750 per 10'x10' location, including a Hometown Marketplace program for local makers at reduced rates.
• Food Concessionaire Program Food vendor program requiring 22% commission on sales, $1,000 deposit, $50 disposal fee, $100 insurance, and electrical fees $200-$500 depending on amperage.
• Grand Parade Annual parade in downtown Kennewick featuring floats, equestrian units, car clubs, and community organizations, with equestrian staging at Keewaydin Park.
• Scholarship Program Scholarship program offering $7,500 annually in scholarships for graduating high school seniors, including fair exhibitor scholarships and Horse Heaven Round-Up rodeo participant scholarships.
• GALE Grant Program Growing Agriculture Leaders and Educators Grant providing $1,100 to first-time large animal exhibitors including beef, sheep, dairy cattle, goats, horses, and swine.
• Royalty Program Royalty program featuring Queen and Princesses who represent the Fair at rodeos and events throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Queen Ashleigh Emlaw for 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.5 million raised at 2025 Market Stock Auction for local 4-H, Grange, and FFA members - largest youth livestock auction in Washington State
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Davis Shows NW CarnivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides carnival rides and entertainment at the Fair. Operates carnival wristband sales and redemption at Fair week. Partner since at least 2022.
• Second Harvest Tri-CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHunger-relief partnership spanning 17 years. The Fair donates $2 from each adult admission ticket on opening day. Total of 178,000 pounds of food equivalent donated over the partnership.
• STCU (Sound Credit Union)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided 586 school employees with free admission to the 2024 Fair (back-to-school treat). In 2025, 746 school employees received free admission courtesy of STCU.
• Ben Franklin TransitcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided 24,214 free bus rides to and from the 2024 Fair, sponsored by CPPCo. In 2025, provided 30,641 free rides, sponsored by CPPCo and the Fair.
• CPPCo (Central Plateau Cleanup Company)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of free Ben Franklin Transit bus rides to the Fair in 2024 and 2025.
• Rotary ClubsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFried 8,336 elephant ears at the 2024 Fair, generating revenue for Rotary Club projects.
• Tri-Cities Cancer Center FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary healthcare partner for Tough Enough to Wear Pink breast cancer awareness program. Has received over $212,000 in donations over 15+ years to support free mammograms and cancer screenings.
• Prosser Memorial HospitalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner for Tough Enough to Wear Pink breast cancer program. Received donations from Fair's annual breast cancer awareness fundraising.
• Grace ClinicsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner for Tough Enough to Wear Pink breast cancer awareness program. Received donations from Fair's breast cancer fundraising.
• Columbia Ability AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to operate daily Welcome Wagon to greet vendors, providing workforce development opportunities for CAA clients to learn valuable workplace skills.
• Goodwill Industries of the ColumbiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCelebrated National Thrift Shop Day with Goodwill Industries of the Columbia at the 2024 Fair, with donations and outreach exceeding first-year expectations.
• The Cowboy ChannelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcast partner for live Horse Heaven Round-Up rodeo coverage. Distributed to 42 million households nationally. Increases PRCA rodeo visibility and attracts contestants and attendees.
• WranglercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Wrangler Girls drill team at the rodeo. Long-time sponsor of Tough Enough to Wear Pink program. Provided flag-running services using 224 ounces of glitter and 15 cans of hairspray during rodeo.
• GESA Carousel of DreamssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided tokens for carnival rides as part of anti-bullying education program. Students attending Don't Be a Bull-Y assemblies receive free Fair tickets and carousel tokens.
• Benton County FairgroundscoreOthersThe Fair is a tenant at the Benton County Fairgrounds, leasing the facility for the event. Does not own or operate the fairgrounds. The entire event is set up and torn down in a matter of weeks.
• American Red CrosssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of annual blood drive at the Fair. 2025 blood drive delivered 85 participants, exceeding goal by 10 units of blood and drawing 19 first-time donors.
• Boys & Girls Club and Big Bro Joe FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFair provided $31,250 in tickets to bring Boys & Girls Club and Big Bro Joe Foundation clients to the event through Horse Heaven Round-Up's My First Rodeo Initiative.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cheyenne Frontier Days: Premier outdoor rodeo and Western celebration in Cheyenne, WY featuring PRCA rodeo, concerts, carnival, and agricultural exhibits. Comparable for the rodeo-plus-fair product mix and nonprofit community ownership structure.
• Oregon State Fair: Large-scale regional fair in Salem, OR with concerts, livestock competitions, carnival, and agricultural exhibits. Comparable as a broader Pacific Northwest fair incumbent with similar product mix.
• National Western Stock Show: Iconic Denver-based annual livestock show, rodeo, and equestrian event with PRCA rodeo, youth livestock programs, and major community/educational impact. Comparable for the livestock exhibition, rodeo, and youth agricultural education model.
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: The world's largest livestock show and rodeo, featuring PRCA rodeo, concerts, youth livestock auction, and major community impact programs including $20M+ in youth scholarships annually. Comparable for the youth livestock auction emphasis and nonprofit community impact model.
• Washington State Fair (Puyallup): The largest annual fair in Washington State, featuring concerts, rodeo, livestock, carnival, and agricultural exhibits. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same state with a much larger footprint, providing a benchmark for the Benton Franklin Fair's scale ceiling.

Direct peers

• Pendleton Round-Up: Iconic Oregon rodeo and community celebration featuring PRCA rodeo, Happy Canyon pageant, and tribal heritage programming. Comparable as a regional Pacific Northwest rodeo-centric nonprofit with national draw and similar volunteer/fundraising model.
• Ellensburg Rodeo (Kittitas County Fair): PRCA-sanctioned rodeo and county fair in Ellensburg, WA, ranked among the top outdoor rodeos in the U.S. Directly comparable for its rodeo programming, Washington State location, and community nonprofit structure.
• Central Washington State Fair: Annual regional fair in Yakima, WA featuring livestock exhibits, rodeo, carnival, concerts, and youth programs. Directly comparable as a similarly-sized Pacific Northwest community fair with parallel revenue streams and audience.
• Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days: Annual fair and rodeo held in Walla Walla, WA combining frontier heritage celebration with PRCA-style rodeo, livestock exhibits, and community entertainment. Comparable as another WA nonprofit community fair with a strong rodeo component.

Others

• Saffire (SaffireTix): Ticketing and event management platform serving fairs, festivals, and rodeos across North America. Comparable as the underlying technology provider powering Benton Franklin Fair's ticketing, registration (Fairwire), and event operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BFFAIR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz33t3qPMkLO_YLv4bgV-mg?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/BFFAIR
• Instagraminstagram.com/bffair
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/benton-franklin-fair-rodeo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Benton Franklin Fair Association