When Luke Bryan brought his Farm Tour to Castle Airport earlier this month, he didn’t just play a concert, he made history in Merced County. Dustin Downing CMA When Luke Bryan brought his Farm Tour to Castle Airport earlier this month, he didn’t just play a concert, he made history in Merced County. With more than 20,000 people in attendance and millions of dollars invested by his team, this concert became the largest event Merced has ever hosted. And, as a county supervisor, it proved what I’ve known all along: Merced County is ready for the spotlight. From a local economic perspective, the impact was undeniable. Hotels were full, restaurants were busy and small businesses had their best weekend of the year. Dozens of locals were hired to help with setup, parking and concessions. This show was an injection of energy and dollars into our community at a time when it was needed most. This wasn’t a county-run event; it was a private production that selected Merced County as a tour stop. We provided the venue, and we’re proud to have opened our doors to an event that brought so many benefits to our region. Our job as host wasn’t to criticize a company that chose to invest millions into our community, it was to support that investment and create the kind of conditions where it could thrive. What stood out most to me about this event, though, was the participation of our youth. Future Farmers of America students from across the county — including Atwater, Buhach Colony, Merced High, Livingston, Golden Valley, El Capitan and Stone Ridge Christian — stepped up and took part in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They worked alongside professionals, handled responsibilities with pride and representing Merced County with class. And Luke Bryan’s team didn’t just acknowledge their role, they invested in it: providing scholarships and recognition to help ensure agriculture remains a strong part of our future. No event of this scale is ever perfect. But the spirit of community, the strength of our young people and the overwhelming economic benefit for our region far outweighed any speed bumps we encountered along the way. We learned a lot and we’re already applying those lessons, such as identifying how Castle Airport can be better utilized for large-scale events in the future. We’re updating logistical plans, improving communication protocols and developing a playbook to help streamline operations for events of this size. We’re analyzing traffic flow patterns, designing more efficient entry and exit routes and building stronger coordination procedures with local law enforcement, the California Highway Patrol and emergency services. This experience gave us firsthand knowledge, and we’re putting it to work. Merced County showed the world that we’re capable of hosting world-class events while staying true to our agricultural roots. Let’s keep that momentum going and keep building a county that’s ready for the next big opportunity.