Printer Friendly Program

Convention Kick-Off Main Stage Event

Main Stage Event

Main Stage Event & Business Session

First Friends Reception for First Timers

YP Ment-a-Minute / Mentor Social Mixer

YP Connect & Cocktails

Past IAFE Board Chairs Breakfast

Education Activities in Hall A/C

Lunch & Education Activities

Education Activities in Hall A/C

Grand Opening of the Trade Show

IAFE Trade Show

Lunch Break in Trade Show

Trade Show Treats

IAFE Trade Show

Lunch Break in Trade Show

Fair CEOs - Coffee & Connections

Prepare2Respond -Session 1 – Before the Unexpected Happens: Emergency Planning Made Practical

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Paul Kuber Speaker: Bernie O'Rourke, University of Wisconsin - Madison Speaker: Lindsey Chichester

Marketing - Coffee & Connections

More Than a Certificate: How YQCA Builds Better Exhibitors

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Erin Dorsey, YQCA (Youth for the Quality Care of Animals) Speaker: Dinah Peebles

How Healthy Are We? Board Self-Assessment

Speaker(s):

Speaker R: Bill Charney, Charney/Keyse Speaker R: Tom Keyse, Charney/Keyse

Non Fair Facility Usage - Coffee & Connections

The Snowball Effect: How Strategic Infrastructure Investment Created Explosive Growth at a Volunteer-Run Fairgrounds

Speaker(s):

Moderator: Nathan Gross, State Fair of Texas Speaker: Michael Nelson, Franklin County Fairgrounds

Building a Culture for Highly Effective Volunteers - Recruitment and Retention

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Kyle Palmer, Artists & Attractions

Prepare2Respond -Session 2 – Now What? Putting Your Emergency Plan to the Test

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Paul Kuber Speaker: Bernie O'Rourke, University of Wisconsin - Madison Speaker: Lindsey Chichester

Beyond the Handshake: Strategies for Successful Vendor Negotiations

The Value of Clean: Turning Facility Hygiene into Revenue Retention, and Risk Reduction

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Brant Insero, ISSA

Operational Innovation & Optimization

Speaker(s):

Moderator: Nathan Gross, State Fair of Texas

State & Provincial Associations - Coffee & Connections

Human Resources - Coffee & Connections

Human Resources - Coffee & Connections

Brushstrokes & Bytes: Navigating Artificial Intelligence in Art & Photo Contests

Speaker(s):

Panelist: Sara Doyle, Wyoming State Fair and Rodeo Moderator: Mary Check, Rock County 4-H Fair

Non Fair Facility Usage - Coffee & Connections

Junior and Senior Fair Board Partnerships: Making Partnership a Priority!

Speaker(s):

Panelist: Rod Arter, Hartford Independent Fair Panelist: Roger Smith, Ohio Fair Managers Association Moderator: Lisa McCutcheon, Ohio State University Extension Panelist: Adrienne Anderson, Ohio State University Extension - Licking County

Competitive Exhibits - Coffee & Connections

Entertainment - Coffee & Connections

Strategic Planning for Fair Operations - Coffee & Connections

More Than a Meal: Designing Food & Beverage Experiences That Bring Guests Back

Influencers: Letting Others Tell Your Story

Speaker(s):

Panelist: Courtney Glock, Nebraska State Fair

Marketing - Coffee & Connections

Pros and Cons: In-house Marketing vs. Hiring an Agency

Speaker(s):

Panelist: Anne-Alise Pietruska, Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) Panelist: Rachel Ungruhn, Mercer County Fairgrounds, Inc. Panelist: Chelsey Roberts, Kern County Fair Moderator: Danny Aguilar, The Delaware State Fair, Inc.

Understanding College Students: Event Engagement & the Future Workforce

Where Did All the Vendors Go - Navigating a Changing Marketplace

Speaker(s):

Moderator: Pam Simon, Minnesota State Fair

Entertainment - Coffee & Connections

Sponsorship - Coffee & Connections

Competitive Exhibits Made Easy: A practical guide for fairs of all sizes

Speaker(s):

Panelist: Jessie McLaughlin, Spokane County Interstate Fair Moderator: Mary Check, Rock County 4-H Fair

Fair to Fair: Quick Connections That Matter

Growing Sponsorships in Small Communities

Speaker(s):

Moderator: Amy Fleshman, Franklin County Fair

Commercial Exhibits & Concessions - Coffee & Connections

Safety & Security - Coffee & Connections

Commercial Exhibits & Concessions - Coffee & Connections

Animal Welfare Governance & Public Trust at Fairs and Shows

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Mark Schembri, Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, Sydney

Before the Gate: Maximizing Attendance Through Advanced Ticket Sales

Speaker(s):

Panelist: Nathan Gross, State Fair of Texas Panelist: Karli Bartz, Nebraska State Fair Moderator: Kristen Bright, Tennessee Valley Fair Panelist: Dennis Scanlon, Etix

Building a Culture of Service

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Jennifer Bray, Kentucky Derby Festival

Concessions Conundrum: Evolving the Model

Speaker(s):

Panelist: Shawn Brunk-Smith, Fair Concessions Auditing Panelist: Greg Miller, Miller & Company Panelist: Cheryl Flood, Florida State Fair Panelist: Melody Brookman, State Fair of Virginia Moderator: Rachael Lough, Ohio State Fair

Sponsorship Ideas Ready for Immediate Use

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Charlene Reynoso, San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc. Speaker: Shari Bazydola, Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair

Ticketing & Technology - Coffee & Connections

Triple Crown Service Training

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Jennifer Hagan, Kentucky Derby Museum Speaker: Katie Cadena, Kentucky Derby Museum

IAFE Associates Board Selection Credentialing Meeting & IAFE Update

Competitive Exhibits - Coffee & Connections

Mid-West Fairs Association Meeting (Members Only)

Technology - Coffee & Connections

Safety & Security Ask the Experts: Lessons Learned – After the Gates Open

Speaker(s):

Panelist: Rick Larkin, Minnesota State Fair Moderator: Bryan Schulz, Kansas State Fair Panelist: Jeff Cotner, State Fair of Texas Panelist: Matt LaSchuma, South Carolina State Fair

Board Members - Coffee & Connections

State & Provincial Association of Fairs Workshop

Beyond the Gate: Craft a High-Performance Culture That’s Truly "A Story Worth Telling"

Speaker(s):

Speaker C: BC Johnson, The BCJ Group Speaker: Ray Allison, Indiana State Fair

Board Members - Coffee & Connections

County Fairs - Coffee & Connections

The Next Chapter: Stay, Grow or Go?

Agriculture - Coffee & Connections

The Great American Midway - Stories of Carnivals and the Families Behind Them

Beyond the Banner: Partnering for the Future: How the showring fuels the future of real-world agriculture

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Jennifer Shike, Farm Journal's PORK

Every Fair Has a Story Worth Investing In – Friend Raising and Fundraising Basics

Speaker(s):

Speaker R: Mark Shanda, University of Kentucky

Harvesting Generosity, Expanding a Culture of Giving in Support of Your Fair

Speaker(s):

Speaker R: Mark Shanda, University of Kentucky

Registration

Registration

Registration

Registration

Registration

Safety & Security - Coffee & Connections

IAFE FAIR Solutions Lab

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Chris Pickering, Pickering Events LLC

Fairs are Fun; Fairs Are Our Business: What Is Affecting Fairgoers’ Decisions

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Rey O'Day, National Independent Concessionaires Association (NICA)

The Fair is For Everyone: Building an Entertainment Mix That Welcomes Every Audience

County Fairs - Coffee & Connections

Grow Your Show: Community Engagement Strategies for Competitive Exhibits

Speaker(s):

Panelist: Rhonda Ward, Collier Fair Panelist: Jenny Hesse, Kenosha County Fair Panelist: Kourtney Lingeman, Nebraska State Fair Moderator: Mary Check, Rock County 4-H Fair

2027 IAFE Program Committee Meeting

Agriculture - Coffee & Connections

Navigating Positive Drug Test Results - Disciplinary Frameworks & Risk Mitigation for Livestock Shows

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Mark Schembri, Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, Sydney

Sponsorship - Coffee & Connections

From Barn to Show Time: Safely Producing Livestock & Equine Entertainment

Unmanned Aerial Systems – Protection Strategies and Resources for Outdoor Venues

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Max Fenn, DHS-Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency

Agricultural Programming — Education to the Public (IFM #129)

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Laura Kwilos, Erie County Fair

Board Governance (IFM #104)

Speaker(s):

Speaker R: Bill Charney, Charney/Keyse Speaker R: Tom Keyse, Charney/Keyse

Information Technology (IFM #106)

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Kyle Gustafson, South Carolina State Fair

CFE/CVFM Info Session

Assistant Manager - Coffee & Connections

CPP E. coli Workshop (IFM #111)

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Jessica Underberg, Erie County Fair Speaker: Stephen Neel, Technical Solutions International

Crisis Media Training

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Carolyn McLean, PR Ninja, LLC

Facility Sales & Marketing (IFM #302)

Speaker(s):

Speaker: Kathy Kramer, Central Washington State Fair

OABA Advisory Board Meeting

Closing Celebration

Grandstand Sessions

Grandstand Sessions

Coffee & Connections

Workshops

Century Club Lounge

Workshops

Workshops

Workshops

Networking

Raisin’ for a Reason Wagons & Whiskey VIP Event & Foundation Fundraiser

Coffee & Connections

Century Club Lounge

Zone 1 Meeting

Zone 2 Meeting

Zone 3 Meeting

Zone 4 Meeting

Zone 5 Meeting

Zone 6 Meeting

Zone 7 Meeting

Zone 8 Meeting

Grandstand Sessions

Grandstand Sessions

Hall of Fame Reception

Telling the Story Reception

Coffee & Connections

Workshops

Century Club Lounge

CFE & CVFM Reception

IAFE Board of Directors Reunion

Coffee & Connections

Workshops

Century Club Lounge

Education Activities in Hall A/C

Workshops

Education Activities in Hall A/C

Workshops

Experience Option

Fair CEOs - Coffee & Connections

Grandstand Sessions

Grandstand Sessions

Institute of Fair Management Onboarding Session

Grandstand Sessions

Grandstand Sessions

Stages, Seating & More - Touring Century Industries

Learning in the KFC Yum! Center

Lexington Experience - EQUIAS Labs & Keeneland Racetrack