FLORIDA STATE FAIR RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

[NEWS RELEASE] TAMPA, FL. — December 27, 2007. The Florida State Fair received international recognition with six awards at the 117th annual International Association of Fair’s and Expositions (IAFE) Convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada in November.
The Florida State Fair won four 1st-place Hall of Honor Communications Awards and two Agricultural Awards of Excellence. The 1st place Communication Awards were received in Category 2 (Newspaper Ad-Color Print), Category 3 (Magazine Ad), Category 5 (Outdoor Promotional Advertising), and Category 13 (Media Guide/Press Kit). The Agricultural Awards were received in Category 6 (Video of a Special or Unique Event for Exhibitors of the Fairgoing Public) and Category 9 (Non-Fair Agricultural Event or Program).
Jim Tucker, President and CEO of IAFE, stated that “This is an outstanding accomplishment for the Florida State Fair when one considers that there were over 1,100 entries from around the world in these competitions.” Fairs or expositions may enter among a total of 15 Communication Award categories and 13 Agricultural Award categories, each divided into 5 divisions by attendance. The entries are evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders. The Florida State Fair can take great pride in knowing that their event has been selected for this prestigious honor. The purpose of this competition is to improve the advertising and publicity programs of fairs and expositions, and to provide recognition to the events that are doing an outstanding job.
Chuck Pesano, Executive Director of the Florida State Fair Authority, remarked that “It’s great to be acknowledged that our planning and marketing efforts for the 2007 Florida State Fair yielded high quality results. It is an honor to be recognized by the IAFE because of their prominence in the Fair industry and we look forward to additional success in the years to come.”
The top three winners were announced during the Agricultural Awards breakfast on November 27 and the Communications Awards reception held on November 28. The Agricultural Awards were sponsored by John Deere, who is an avid supporter of the Fair and Expo Industry around the world. The Agricultural Fair and Expo Industry are not only very important to rural and urban economies globally, but are also steeped in tradition that has a tremendous impact on the social well being of our rural and urban society. The Hall of Honor Communications Awards were sponsored by K & K Insurance, an internationally operating company that provides insurance to Fairs and Expos.
Plans for the 104th annual Florida State Fair (http://www.floridastatefair.com/) are in full force. The event will take place on February 7-18, 2008. The Florida State Fair – always in Tampa and always in February – is organized by the Florida State Fair Authority under the leadership of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson leads the Fair Authority, which oversees the Florida State Fairgrounds and the annual Florida State Fair.

The State Fair of Virginia Receives International Recognition

The State Fair of Virginia has received the “Best of Show” Award and seven “Best in Class” awards from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) headquartered in Springfield, MO. The Awards were presented during the 116th Annual IAFE Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on December 6 and the Agriculture Awards Breakfast on December 5.

“We are pleased that our peer Fairs have recognized the State Fair of Virginia, which honors the hard work and vision of the many Virginians who put on the Fair each Fall,” said State Fair of Virginia president Curry Roberts. The Fair worked with Siddall Advertising, Elevation Advertising and Campbell Communications on various projects that were represented in the Fair’s entry.

The State Fair of Virginia won “Best of Show” of all Fairs entered, regardless of size, in any of the Communications categories. Communications categories won include “Best in Class” for Newspaper Ad in black and white, Newspaper Ad in color, Magazine Ad, Radio Ad, Printed Newsletter and Media Guide/Press Kit. The IAFE has a membership of over 3,200 fairs from around the world.

Agriculture Awards include a “Best in Class” for Printed Material Developed and Produced to Promote Agriculture Programs and a third place award for Best Agricultural Photograph.

The IAFE Awards are the second such recognition of the season for the State Fair of Virginia, which in October was named the Virginia Agribusiness of the Year by the Virginia Agribusiness Council.

Champlain Valley Fair wins Awards, VT

The 85th annual Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction earned multiple honors, including the the John Deere Sweepstakes Award for Overall Top Agricultural Fair in all divisions from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions.

The Fair, which hosted 281,000 visitors in 2006, competed in the division for Fairs with attendance of 250,001-500,000 in attendance. Champlain Valley Exposition General Manager David F. Grimm, CFE, and Communications Director Stephen Mease accepted the awards at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions annual convention in Las Vegas, Dec. 4-7:


The list of awards Champlain Valley Fair won includes:

Sweepstakes Award for Overall Top Agricultural Fair in all five IAFE divisions.
Sponsored by John Deere.

- First Place for Non-Fair Agricultural Event of Program - Everything Equine
- First Place for Agricultural Photo - Agricultural Series photo by Stephen Mease
- First Place for Competitive Exhibits Judging with Fair Guests in Attendance
- First Place for Competitive Exhibit Display Photo Series by Stephen Mease
- Second Place for Printed Material to Promote Agricultural Programs
- Second Place for Media Commitment to Agriculture - Newspaper
- Second Place for Fair Agricultural Photo by Stephen Mease
- Second Place for Communications - Media Guide/Press Kit
- Third Place for Special Agricultural Event or Exhibit for Fairgoing Public
- Third Place for Communications - Email Newsletter

In other recognition this fall, The 2007 Champlain Valley Fair was named to the prestigious Top 100 Events in America list from the American Bus Association. It was the only Vermont event to receive the designation.

Everything Equine, sponsored by Champlain Valley Exposition and University of Vermont Extension has been named a "Top Ten Winter Event" by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, along with the Vermont Flower Show, which returns to the Robert E Miller Expo Centre on March 9-11. Everything Equine will be held April 28-29 at the Exposition.



Heavyweight pumpkin champion Kevin Companion of Huntington, VT brings one of his big pumpkins to the Champlain Valley Fair. Photo by Stephen Mease