Kentucky Fair Leadership Shake-Up | Lexington News

Lexington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 8, 2026 · 1m

Kentucky’s State Fair Board just pulled off a high-stakes leadership shuffle, installing Mike Berry as interim president and CEO — a $440K, two-year role triggered by a Supreme Court ruling that shifted control from the ag commissioner to the governor. Berry replaces David Beck, ousted just days after the court’s decision. While Democrats on the contract review committee endorse the move as lawful, Republicans are pushing back, demanding transparency and feeling sidelined — especially as the review is delayed until right before the fair opens. With the governor backing Beck’s removal and the…