The fair is where you'll find Alexcia Jordan

Meet Alexcia Jordan, an outgoing and optimistic lady who strives to always see the best in every scenario. She is the proud mom of two, owner of too many horses, loves the beach and cannot survive without coffee. San Diego born but North Idaho raised, she reveled in the opportunity to travel with horses and learn to surf the waves (one much better than the other).

Generation:

I fall into the Gen X category. I'm blessed to have come from a hardworking family who works hard and plays even harder!

Career and Community Involvement:

I am blessed to have the most fun job on the planet, or at least I think it is! I grew up on a horse's back, traveling to fairs and rodeos across the Northwest which unknowingly prepared me for what would eventually become my career. I watched my mom work incredibly hard as the director of the Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint which gave me an inside look at an industry I have come to love. Although I didn't plan for this career path, life has its ways of putting you right where you are supposed to be. In 2015, I was offered a position here at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds and currently serve as their general manager working with an incredible group of board members, volunteers and staff to produce one of Coeur d'Alene's biggest events of the summer - the North Idaho State Fair and Gem State Stampede.

A big part of my youth was my involvement with 4-H. It is important to me to give back to a program that helped shape me so much as I grew up, so I keep extra busy as an organization leader and horse leader for the Northwoods 4-H Club in Athol. I also serve as a director for Young Professionals Initiative and sit on the non-fair facility committee and the competitive exhibits committee with the International Association of Fairs and Expos.

Parental status:

I am a proud mother of two wonderful kiddos. My son, Ryder, is 9 and Charlee, my daughter, is 6. Both think I have the coolest job ever!

1. Why did you want to become the general manager of the North Idaho State Fair?

Again, life tends to put you where you are supposed to be and I have an incredible passion for the fair industry. I wholeheartedly believe I was put in the right place at the right time to be in this dream position! To get to have even a small part in bringing an event like this to your community - where you can keep traditional roots of exhibits, teach about agriculture and how your food gets to your table while bringing world class entertainment that is not normally seen every day - is SO exciting to me!

2. Why is a community fair still an important part of our tradition?

Fairs in North America date back to the late 1800s. Those early fairs were the heart of our agricultural fairs today. The fair then, and now, brings competition for the best agricultural and domestic products our community has to offer. The NISF is an annual celebration for our community to come together, share and learn. It provides industrial exhibits, demonstrations and competitions aimed to the advancement of livestock, horticulture and agriculture with a special emphasis on educational activities like 4-H. Here you can see, hear, smell, touch and even taste the beauty and variety of what the world has to offer right here in our back yard.

3. What is your favorite fair memory?

I honestly cannot pinpoint any one memory but I can say the memories I have stockpiled in my life are those made at the fair. From when I was a kid to today, some of the best days of my life have been spent on either the Kootenai County Fairgrounds or other fairs around the country. The smell of fresh (wood) shavings evokes the fondest memories of hard work and incredible pride in what I have accomplished throughout my fair and equestrian career.

4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I am a geek when it comes to Marvel movies and I love karaoke!

5. If you could add to or enhance our fair in any way and money was no object, what would you do and why?

There are so many ideas I have to enhance our fair and facility but if I had to pick just one that would do the most good and money was no option - I would build a year-round educational center, available to schools and organizations to teach about the importance of agriculture to our everyday life. We work hard here to help educate how our food gets from the farm to your table but we could do so much more and reach a larger body of people with a facility like this. Add a birthing barn to it and not only is it educational, but it becomes a great fair time attraction too.