Bonner County Commissioners Appoint New Fair Board Member in Idaho
SANDPOINT, Idaho — The Bonner County Board of Commissioners voted 2-0 on April 28 to appoint Sarah Mitchell to one of two open seats on the county Fair Board, citing her decades of professional experience, agricultural background, and deep roots in the local fair community.
Commissioners Ron Korn and Brian Domke both named Mitchell as their top choice following a round of interviews with three candidates. Commissioner Asia Williams was absent from the meeting. The appointment will be formally finalized at a regular Tuesday meeting in the coming weeks, and the board will continue soliciting applications for the second open seat. Candidates who applied for the first position remain eligible to be considered for the vacancy.
Three Candidates Competed for the Open Seat
Three applicants interviewed for the Fair Board position: Mitchell; Kristina L. Nicholas Anderson, a frequent attendee of both BOCC and Fair Board meetings; and Zach Spohn, a former accountant and current vice president of business development at Wildwood Custom Millworks.
Mitchell stood out to commissioners for a combination of qualities that few applicants could match — a multigenerational connection to the Bonner County Fair, nearly 40 years of operational management experience at Litehouse, Inc., and nearly a decade of service on the Bonner County branch of the Idaho Farm Bureau board.
“I have done everything at Litehouse except human resources and marketing,” Mitchell said during her interview, according to reporting by the Sandpoint Reader. “I have managed every department within there. My big expertise is in cost-saving functions.”
Mitchell also brought a personal legacy to the table. Born and raised in Bonner County, she has served as a fair superintendent, volunteered across livestock and floral departments, and remains involved through her children and grandchildren.
“My mother was superintendent of flowers for 60 years, so I have a very big history in the fair,” Mitchell said. “I have kids and grandkids involved in the fair now.”
Mitchell’s Vision: Community Outreach and Cost-Effective Programming
When commissioners asked how she would work to grow attendance and community engagement, Mitchell emphasized grassroots outreach, school-based educational events, and attracting high-value, low-cost programming to the fairgrounds.
She pointed to the Idaho State Draft Horse and Mule International Show — currently held in Kootenai County — as an example of the type of event that could draw larger audiences to Bonner County.
“How do we bring the people in? You promote it. You get out and you educate the kids. You do mini fair days at the schools,” Mitchell said. “We have a new community now that didn’t grow up in this area. It didn’t grow up with the fair. They don’t realize what the fair is.”
Her background in 4-H leadership and budget management — honed over nearly four decades managing departments at Litehouse — aligned closely with the operational demands of a volunteer-driven county fair board. Commissioners Korn and Domke both cited her educational, professional, and volunteer experience as the decisive factors in their decision.
The Bonner County Fair is a cornerstone of civic life in North Idaho, drawing participants from across the region each year for livestock competitions, agricultural exhibits, and community programming. As the Idaho Farm Bureau and local media prepare to host candidate forums this election season, Mitchell’s appointment reflects a broader emphasis on placing experienced, community-invested residents in key civic roles.
What Comes Next
Commissioners are expected to finalize Mitchell’s appointment at an upcoming regular Tuesday meeting. The board will also continue accepting applications for the second open Fair Board seat, with previously interviewed candidates remaining in consideration. Residents interested in serving on the Fair Board or learning more about its functions can visit bonnercountyfair.com for additional information.
For broader context on county government activity in Bonner County, Idaho, including recent decisions affecting taxpayers and residents, visit coverage of recent county solid waste site payment upgrades and other local government developments at Bonner County News.