CEO of Redwood Acres Retires; New CEO Hired

Cindy Bedingfield and Ben Brown flanking the Redwood Acres logo.

Press release from Redwood Acres:

After a decade of outstanding service as CEO of the Ninth Agricultural District’s Redwood Acres, Cindy Bedingfield retired at the end of January, 2020. The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of Ben Brown as our new CEO. Cindy did a terrific job over her tenure in the face of many economic challenges. Most dramatic was the loss of operational support funding from the State Fair Board in 2011. Despite this budget shock, she successfully developed many innovative solutions to keep the Fair solvent and functional. These included converting several available buildings into incubation sites for ag-based food product start-up ventures. She will be missed, but during this transitional period, Cindy will continue to help Redwood Acres in an advisory role – including the management of this year’s Best of Humboldt Fair. Everyone at Redwood Acres Fair congratulates Cindy and is grateful for her creative vision, adaptive management skills, and determined commitment to our local communities.

Our new CEO, Mr. Ben Brown, has worked for the past eleven years at the Clarke Historical Museum. During his first five years, he was the part-time registrar/curator for the Native American wing, while simultaneously working for the Wiyot and Karuk tribes. Ben was promoted to Executive Director in 2013, and soon helped expand the Museum through strategic partnerships and reaching new audiences. Ben is most proud of his role in the development of the WWII Memorial at the regional airport. He also developed a partnership with Humboldt Made that brought the Eureka Visitor Center to Clarke Museum. Ben tackled major infrastructure issues at the facility and led the diversification of the Board and his staff, and helping to create a sustainable operation going forward.

Eighty-three years after Redwood Acres Fairgrounds opened, we remain a thriving community resource within Humboldt County, bustling with wholesome family fun, unique opportunities, events, and positive local growth. The Fair remains firmly rooted to its agricultural base and is very active in the today’s evolving business environment. As such, we support farming, livestock, fisheries, resource stewardship, and provide a valuable resource for agricultural education and activities. Redwood Acres has embarked on an adaptive path of positive renewal that will enhance and guide our fairgrounds and events facility, and thus enable our ongoing mission of community support, while remaining a safe, and enjoyable venue for our patrons.

Please come out to Redwood Acres and welcome CEO Ben Brown as he works to build upon the accomplishments made by past CEO Cindy Bedingfield, and Larry Ford before her, and enjoy some time touring our exciting community facility.