John Morrison has been involved with the Clark County Fair for several decades as a volunteer, board member, and leader and has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington State Fairs Association.
John Morrison’s passion for fairs began early in his life. He spent his youth as an active 4-H member, showing beef and swine and exhibiting garden vegetables at the Monroe County Fair in upstate New York. Later he earned a bachelor’s degree in social science and economics at Chapman College, and a master’s in educational administration at Pepperdine University.
Morrison spent 28 years in the US Air Force reaching the rank of Colonel. Along the way, he met and married his wife Mary Ann, and raised a family. At the age of 48, he retired and moved to Battle Ground, Washington. Needing a hobby, he got into beekeeping at the Clark County Fair and was a volunteer before being named to the Fair Board. He was then voted in as Vice-Chair and eventually, Fair Board Chairman.
He was Chairman of the Fair Board for six years and in 2009 became the Fair Manager and CEO of the Clark County Fair and Event Center.
Under his leadership as Fair Manager and CEO, the Clark County Fair broke attendance records and was named twice as a Top Ten Fair in America.
In 2011 He was voted into a position on the Washington State Fairs Association (WFSA) Board, and he was elected president of WSFA in 2015, serving as President 2015-2016. The Washington State Fairs Association is a federation created for the mutual benefit of agricultural fairs and youth agricultural fairs and shows conducted in the State of Washington.
