Spokane County Fair & Expo Center Director Rich Hartzell retires

After 13 years, eight of those as director, and success increasing fair attendance and entertainment, Rich Hartzell, 70, retired Feb.28. He is moving home to Monroe, northeast of Seattle, to revive the family’s dairy business, Skyhart Farms, with his sons.

Section:Gallery

Mon., March 4, 2019

At a retirement party for Rich Hartzell, the director of the Spokane County Fair and Expo Gerry Gemmill, CEO of Spokane County, left, gives Hartzell a goodbye hug, Thurs., Feb 21, 2019, at the Spokane County Fair and Expo.

Colin Mulvany The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
The Spokane County Interstate Fair's last night on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 saw sales of 40,980 tickets, which is a 15-year high, according to Rich Hartzell, director of the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.This year, 205,997 tickets were sold over the course of the 10-day fair.

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Comedian Jeff Foxworthy keeps the crowd in stitches with his folky stories about his family and friends Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018 at the Spokane County Interstate Fair.

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The daredevil-attracting ride, The Zipper, is seen during the Spokane County Interstate Fair's last night on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. This year, 205,997 tickets were sold over the course of the 10-day fair, with 40,980 of the tickets purchased on the last Saturday of the event a 15-year high, said Rich Hartzell, director of the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
The age-old ring/bottle game is played during the Spokane County Interstate Fair's last night on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. This year, 205,997 tickets were sold over the course of the 10-day fair, with 40,980 of the tickets purchased on the last Saturday of the event a 15-year high, said Rich Hartzell, director of the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
The popular chair-swinging ride, The Yo-Yo, operates during the Spokane County Interstate Fair's last night on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. This year, 205,997 tickets were sold over the course of the 10-day fair, with 40,980 of the tickets purchased on the last Saturday of the event a 15-year high, said Rich Hartzell, director of the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Wesley Wood rides The Yo-Yo during the Spokane County Interstate Fair's last night on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. This year, 205,997 tickets were sold over the course of the 10-day fair, with 40,980 of the tickets purchased on the last Saturday of the event a 15-year high, said Rich Hartzell, director of the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Long rows of entries are seen on display at the Spokane County Interstate Fair on Sept. 11. The vegetable exhibits are judged with the Danish system, which places value on each exhibit for what it is, rather than having entries compete against one another.

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Kayla Wiggins, 12, displays her Grand Champion and First Place ribbons she won at the llama costume contest, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, at the Spokane County Interstate Fair.

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Nancy Ice's exhibit in the market basket category is seen on display at the Spokane County Interstate Fair on Sept. 11. Ice's exhibit placed third in the category.

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Quinn Folwell, 8, uses a hose to wash Skinny Tulip the cow during the morning of Sept. 14, 2018 at the Spokane County Interstate Fair. Skinny Tulip is from Medical Lake, Wash.

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Bringing home the bacon: the All-Alaskan racing pigs compete against one another at the Spokane County Interstate Fair on Sept. 13, 2018. The pigs are a special breed known as Gloucestershire Old Spots.

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Classes of children on field trip to the Spokane County Interstate Fair cheer after the pig assigned to their section won the grand champion race on Sept. 13, 2018. The pigs are a special breed known as Gloucestershire Old Spots.

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Fair-goers kick up their heels as they join the zany dance group, The Red Hot Mamas, for a musical routine, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at the Spokane County Interstate Fair.

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Cody Kiser of Carson City, Nevada stretches before the start of bareback riding at the Spokane County Interstate Fair PRCA Rodeo action Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.

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A large crowd watches rodeo events Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 at the grandstand at the Spokane County Interstate Fair.

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Clay Stone, from Blackfoot, Idaho completes his ride but works at extricating his right hand from the rigging in order to get off his bareback bronc Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. Stone was participating in the PRCA Rodeo program at the Spokane County Interstate Fair.

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