The Kentucky State Fair Board, newly restructured by Gov. Andy Beshear, has fired Kentucky Venues President and CEO David Beck. Kentucky Venues operates the Kentucky Exposition Center and the International Convention Center. The move came less than one week after the Kentucky Supreme Court restored the governor’s authority to appoint a majority of the State Fair Board members.
On June 25, the court reversed a 2021 law passed by the Republican-led General Assembly that shifted that appointment power from Beshear, a Democrat, to the Agriculture Commissioner, now Jonathan Shell, a Republican. The court, in a 4-3 vote, declared the law unconstitutional.
Beshear quickly appointed a new board, and its first action Wednesday was to terminate Beck, who had led Kentucky Venues since 2018. Beck’s new contract, approved by the previous board, was set to begin today.
“I support the action they took yesterday,” said Beshear during his regular weekly news conference. “What we got from the Supreme Court is a decision saying that I ultimately am accountable for what the Fair Board and these other boards the legislature tried to make independent do. The buck has got to stop somewhere in the executive branch, and it stops with the governor.
“If I'm going to be accountable, then the person who heads that board and runs that operation has to be willing to be accountable to me and work with me.”
In an interview with Kentucky Today, Shell, who is also a Fair Board member, said he believes Beshear’s action is illegal because Supreme Court rulings normally do not become final for 20 days to allow time to petition for a rehearing. The governor replaced the board within that time frame.
“The most concerning for me is that we're working with an illegally constituted board that is making decisions,” said Shell.
In a statement, Senate Majority spokesperson Angela Billings said she is “troubled” by Beck’s removal.
“While the Board appears to have taken that formal action, important questions remain regarding the process that led to yesterday’s vote. In question is the legal authority relied upon, whether all statutory and contractual requirements were satisfied and the role the Governor’s recent reconstitution of the Board may have played.”
Shell said he is consulting with both the Attorney General’s office and Agriculture Department attorneys about possible legal action.
Shell said Beck did not deserve to be terminated because his leadership has resulted in record growth. Kentucky Venues hosted 260 events in 2024-25 and generated more $430 million in estimated economic impact.
“Mr. Beck put on five flawless state fairs and many other shows, including world class events like Bourbon and Beyond, and Louder Than Life. It concerns me that, with a facility that's important to the state, that politics has been brought into it.”
Beck was also overseeing a multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation of the Exposition Center.
House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, acknowledged Beck's accomplishments while criticizing both Beshear and the Supreme Court.
“The reorganization sends a clear message that the governor does not care about a board’s record of success, but rather how many political allies he can stack on it," said Osborne.
“The greater issue is that the state’s Supreme Court continues to act as the governor’s chief accomplice, striking down legislation enacted by the General Assembly that expanded oversight and accountability..."
Shell said relations between Beshear and Beck had “deteriorated” since the legislature shifted control of the board. He said Beck got caught in the middle of a political battle.
“I think that there was a political fight that was being had and scores that wanted to be settled. I think that essentially is what happened,” said Shell.
Beshear acknowledged a strained relationship with Beck, though he did not mention him by name.
“If I'm going to be accountable, then the person who heads that board and runs that operation has to be willing to be accountable to me and work with me and the various board members,” said Beshear. “The individual that is no longer there led a charge to prevent any form of accountability from a governor, was not willing to work with me and made that pretty clear.”
Mike Berry, who previously served as Secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet under Beshear, has been named interim president and CEO of Kentucky Venues. Berry is also the former president and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
“He's the right person to lead us forward and, for me, this is about moving forward,” said Beshear.
Shell said Berry has “the adequate skills and ability” to do the job and added that his department will give him as much support as it can.
“The main concern that I have is making sure we have the best State Fair that we could have, celebrating America’s 250th birthday, and ensuring that we keep agriculture as the main focus of that facility,” Shell said.
There has been no public comment from Beck.
Republished in partnership with Kentucky Today
