WHO MAKES THE CALL? The Eau Claire County Expo Center (5330 Fairview Dr.) is perhaps best known as the home of the Eau Claire Curling Club – which played host to the Junior National Curling Championship in 2024, pictured – and host of the annual Eau Claire County Fair. On Monday, June 22, the property is on the County Parks & Forest Committee's agenda to discuss its "potential sale."

According to the agenda for the Eau Claire County Parks & Forest Committee’s next meeting, slated for 11:30am on Monday, June 22, the Eau Claire County Exposition Center (5330 Fairview Dr.) is on the table for a “potential sale.”

The Expo Center, which sits on roughly 27 acres across two parcels of land on the south side of Eau Claire, has over 12,000 square feet of combined indoor event space. That property also includes three exhibit barns, a concession stand and indoor commercial kitchen, a large picnic pavilion, among other features.

County Administrator, Jon Johnson, said the estimated property value of the Expo Center is about $3 million.

“Budgetarily, the facility is operating as a cash positive program for our department. Whether that is the best use of this property and real estate and could it be better served under different ownership, is the question that the committee will need to debate.”

JOSH PEDERSEN

EAU CLAIRE COUNTY PARKS & FOREST DIRECTOR

Longtime County Board member and Parks & Forest Committee Vice Chairperson, Tami Schraufnagel, told Volume One it is an administrative desire to only retain “facilities that are profitable.”

That said, according to County Parks & Forest Director, Josh Pedersen, the Expo Center has been financially lucrative for several years – that fact is not necessarily what is up for discussion.

“Budgetarily, the facility is operating as a cash positive program for our department,” Pedersen shared. “Whether that is the best use of this property and real estate and could it be better served under different ownership, is the question that the committee will need to debate.”

The Eau Claire County Fair (pictured) – slated this year for July 20-26 – has called the Expo Center home since 1996. Today, the annual event sees significant participation from families and local 4-H and FFA members.

Notably, both the County and City of Eau Claire faced significant budget deficits going into the 2026 fiscal year. While the county was able to balance its 2026 budget by making funding reductions across many departments – and the City continues to grapple with its multi-million dollar budget deficit – establishing longterm financial sustainability is an ongoing effort.

County Planning and Development Director, Rod Eslinger, said while he is not aware of any pending sale, the county is evaluating its properties and open to community feedback on them.

“Since Administrator Johnson (has stepped into that role), one of the things (the county) is identifying is, are we using our properties in the best interest of the community,” Eslinger said. “We're looking at all of our assets and (deciding), are we efficiently using them?”

Schraufnagel is skeptical of the potential sale of this property – noting positive relationships with Expo Center user groups, which include the Eau Claire Curling Club; Community for Outdoor Recreation, Biking, and Adventure (CORBA); Eau Claire County Fair organizers, etc. – and others which could be deemed “excess land.”

Eau Claire-based nonprofit, CORBA, also utilizes the Expo Center land and has previously held its Firecracker event there (2022 event pictured). CORBA also has plans to establish an expansive skills park near the Expo Center.

Volume One also reached out to several other county and city staff, and user groups, via phone calls and emails – including Eau Claire Area Economic Development Director, Luke Hanson; City of Eau Claire Purchasing Manager, Greg Bowe; County Board member Joe Knight, among others – without response as of this article’s publication.

Those wishing to make public comment at the June 22 meeting, held at the County Agriculture & Resource Center (227 1st St. W., Altoona), must email Josh Pedersen at least one hour prior to the meeting, at josh.pedersen@eauclairecounty.gov.

The complete agenda for the Eau Claire County Parks & Forest Committee’s upcoming June 22 meeting can be viewed online. Learn more about the Eau Claire County Expo Center (5330 Fairview Dr., Eau Claire) online.