About Us

The Fairgrounds has been in existence since 1869, hosting grand fairs and known as the Montana State Fairgrounds until 1929, when the great depression affected the running and maintenance of the grounds itself until 1958, when a group of concerned citizens again endeavored to revive and bring the fairgrounds to a site that the Helena community could be proud of.

With that, a Master Plan was agreed upon and partially implemented. The first annual Last Chance Stampede rodeo came about in 1961, and every year since. It has now been 47 some years since that Master Plan was written and begun. Of course, time, several management issues and other county issues have changed the course and direction of the fairgrounds. Concerned citizens and groups created the Fairgrounds Users, Inc. (now known as the Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds Foundation) to take over management and operation of the fairgrounds in 1989, electing a board to guide the direction of the fairgrounds. Hard-working people from the community who were interested in preserving the very existence of the fairgrounds from the very beginning have handed down that interest to their children who have become the active driving force behind the continued preservation of this facility. In December 2002, the county once again took over management of the Fairgrounds.  They appointed a 7 person volunteer Fair Board to support and assist in the maintenance and reconstruction of the 160 acre Fairgrounds.  In May 2008, the Fairgrounds Foundation was established with a goal of gathering money from individuals, Families, and area businesses to help pay for some of the rebuilding and maintenance projects. 

A Long Range Plan has been drafted and is being implemented by the county with help and support of the Fair Board, Keith Hatch and the Fairgrounds staff, plus the many volunteers who work tirelessly to bring a first class facility to the Lewis and Clark County Region.