 In January 2015, The Big Fresno Fair was awarded its third Merrill Award by the Western Fairs Association at its 92nd annual Convention & Trade Show in Reno, Nevada.The Big Fresno Fair has received all three Merrill Awards under the current leadership team of John C. Alkire, CEO; Stacy Rianda, Deputy Manager II; and Lauri King, Deputy Manager I.The Big Fresno Fair received its first award in 2007 for the Pirates in the Park attraction in the Table Mountain Rancheria Park, which was part of a multi-year capital improvements project for the Fairgrounds and its second Merrill Award in 2012 for the "Feed the Need" Community Food Drive held in collaboration with the Salvation Army and Community Food Bank.