“I’d never been to a State Fair Board meeting.”
That humble admission started John Yingling’s 16-year run on the Wisconsin State Fair Board. He spent his final years serving as its chair. This week, Yingling shocked everyone by announcing he’s stepping away this fall. The news even stunned his protégé, Shari Black, the current CEO of the Wisconsin State Fair.
“I was shocked. He’s my mentor,” Black said. She spoke at the annual preview for the upcoming fair. This special event allows vendors and partners to showcase their offerings before the summer rush. This year, however, Yingling stole the spotlight.
Yingling’s connection to the grounds runs deep. “I had been coming to the fair since we moved across the street on 76th and Greenfield,” he recalled. Yet, his earliest childhood memories were not positive.
“I did not like coming to the fair with my mother,” Yingling explained with a laugh. “We always had to stop at the flower building first. We had to wait in line, shake Senator Bill Proxmire’s hand, and look at flowers. What does an eight-year-old kid care about flowers?”
Despite that rough start, Yingling was destined for fair leadership. As he grew, he set a strict personal goal. He never missed a single day of the fair. Outside of family visits, he found community at the Milwaukee Mile racetrack. He still brags that it is the world’s oldest operating oval. These experiences cemented his lifelong bond with the park. He just did not know he would eventually shape its future.
Let The Challenges Begin
When Yingling took over as chair, the Wisconsin State Fair Park faced severe financial trouble.
“During the late 90s and 2000s, the State Fair ran deeply into the red,” Yingling admitted. Because the fair operates under state government, it could still pay its bills. However, the deficit choked progress. The state refused to invest cash back into the park. Maintenance slipped, buildings decayed, and the guest experience suffered. Yingling knew he had to establish solid financial footing.
“Financial difficulty” puts it mildly. When Yingling took the reins, the fair generated just $16 million to $17 million in top-line revenue. That sounds substantial, but it barely covered the operational costs of a 200-acre facility.
To fix the crisis, Yingling applied his professional background. He utilized skills from his career as a strategic, financial, and operational advisor for non-profits and corporations. Together with a dedicated team, he launched a massive turnaround.
Evidence of that success sits in the historic dairy building where this year’s preview took place. Built in 1906, the structure went untouched after a 1926 renovation. In 2024, the fair finally overhauled the space. Best of all, the fair completely self-funded the project. Under Yingling’s guidance, the fair transformed into a $41 million revenue powerhouse.
Not Gone Yet
Yingling is not walking away entirely. He officially retires in October, but a glint in his eye suggests he will stay close.
He already has new projects in his sights. Currently, the fair board is planning a complete $90 million upgrade of the Ag Village. Yingling remains highly optimistic about the future and hopes state government shares his vision. He credits much of that optimism to the leadership team he helped build, specifically CEO Shari Black.
“Leadership starts at the top,” Yingling gushed. “If you want a well-run organization, you need passion and dedication. We found that in Shari Black.”
The Wisconsin State Fair, presented by T-Mobile, returns to West Allis this August. And just like every year before, John Yingling will be there every single day.
