Do the Puyallup: 125 Years of Extraordinary Stories

For more than 25 years, Susan Becker has been the friendly face behind the Fair Farm, welcoming visitors of all ages into the world of agriculture. She’s the one making sure every guest—from curious kids meeting goats for the first time to families who visit year after year—has the chance to get up close with the animals. Under Susan’s leadership, the petting area has become more than just a stop on the fairgrounds; it’s a place where memories are made, questions are answered and a love of farm life is sparked.

Susan’s favorite part has always been watching those connections unfold. She’s seen children learn where their food comes from, parents reminisce about their own 4-H days and older visitors light up as they realize it’s never too late to pet a sheep or scratch a goat’s nose.

One of her most cherished memories is bringing animals directly to guests with mobility challenges so they could still experience that same sense of wonder and joy. As she steps back from her superintendent role, Susan says she’ll deeply miss the barn crew, the 4-H families and all the visitors who stopped by the pens to say hello. But she isn’t going far, you’ll still find her with the Traveling Farm, keeping the spirit of the Fair Farm alive and helping new generations experience the magic she’s nurtured for decades.

For Randy and Mary Anderson, joining the Washington State Fair in 2012 was like getting called up to the major leagues. After years on the local county fair circuit, they made their debut at Spring Fair with Route 66 Pizza—and they haven’t stopped innovating since. What started as one pizza booth has grown into a trusted partnership that helps fuel the fun at all our signature events.

Over the years, Randy and Mary have expanded far beyond that first slice. From multiple pizza locations to smash burgers at the guest-favorite Extreme Carnival Eats, they’ve continued to bring fresh, creative flavors to the Fair. This year, they introduced Sharky’s, bringing new life to a beloved Spuds location with modern, elevated seafood options that quickly became one of the most popular new food booths at the 125^th Washington State Fair.

Mary still remembers that very first year—standing at the pizza booth, looking around in awe, and realizing they were finally part of the Fair family. Ten years of dreaming led to that extraordinary moment. Today, Randy and Mary are still serving up memories (and great food) for all of us, embodying the kind of long-term partnership that helps make the Washington State Fair Event Center a place food vendors return to year after year.

Big changes on 9th Ave SW are no longer just plans—they’re here. On November 6, we joined the City of Puyallup for a ribbon cutting to officially reopen 9th Ave SW between S. Meridian and 5th St. SW as a new “festival street,” creating a more inviting, walkable connection between the Washington State Fair Event Center and downtown Puyallup. The curb-free design, narrowed 24-foot roadway, wider sidewalks and features like benches, planters, bollards, trees and decorative lighting all work together to calm traffic and create a safer, more welcoming space.

While the street is now open to vehicles and pedestrians, a few final beautification touches are still in progress and will continue to enhance the look and feel of the area. This project has been in the making for years, and we’re excited for guests, neighbors and the community to experience this refreshed gateway between the event center and downtown—whether they’re here for a major event or just enjoying a walk through Puyallup.