Iowa State Fair Earns International Industry Honors

DES MOINES, IA (12/10/2024) (readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair continued to showcase its leadership in the fair industry by earning multiple awards and honors at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Annual Convention, held last week in Phoenix, Arizona.

Overall, the Iowa State Fair took home 21 awards in Communications, Competitive Exhibits, Agriculture Education and Sponsorship competitions. The Iowa State Fair was also recognized as the Division 5 winner for the Best Marketing Campaign for the 2024 theme, "Fair Fever." IAFE awards are divided into five divisions based on attendance and are judged by industry experts. The Iowa State Fair competes against other fairs and festival members with an attendance of over 1 million.

Circle of Excellence:

The Iowa State Fair Thrill Parks were designated by the OABA (Outdoor Amusement Business Association) as recipients of the prestigious Circle of Excellence. This seal of approval is given to outdoor amusements that have completed a rigorous checklist of requirements and exemplify the highest standards in safety, operation, image and customer satisfaction. To date, the Iowa State Fair is one of only two fairs in the world to have earned this designation.

Jo Reynolds, Iowa State Fair Board member and general manager of the Warren County Agricultural Association in Indianola, completed a whirlwind year as Chair of the IAFE Board of Directors. Reynolds is the sixth person affiliated with the Iowa State Fair to have served in the prestigious role of IAFE Chair. Others include A.R. Corey (1933), Lloyd Cunningham (1950), Marion Lucas (2001), Gary Slater (2012), and Jeremy Parsons (2022). A graduate of the Institute of Fair Management, Reynolds was also recognized for being certified in Sponsorship and Revenue Building and is now one of only three Grand Champion individuals who have completed all six graduate-level tracks.

Jerry Parkin, a retired board member from the Iowa State Fair, was honored with an IAFE Heritage Award. Parkin spent 20 years on the Iowa State Fair Board serving as Treasurer, Vice President and Board President. Parkin has been involved in the Iowa State Fair Queen competition since 1984 and helped jump-start the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation through his former employer, John Deere.

Leroy Perkins from the Wayne County Fair Association in Corydon was also recognized as a Heritage Award Winner. LeRoy has served as an information volunteer at the Iowa State Fair and has also conducted church services at Pioneer Hall for many years. LeRoy and his wife Pat were recognized as the Iowa State Fair Parade Marshals in 2017. Both Parkin and Perkins join a prestigious list of Iowans recognized by the IAFE for their long-standing contributions to their local and state fairs.

Iowa State Fair awards are as follows:

Hall of Honor Communications:

Television Commercial: 2nd Place

Radio: 3rd Place

Double-Sided, Multi-Page or Folded Promotional Ad: 3rd Place

Promotional/Advertising Poster: 1st Place

Miscellaneous Marketing: 2nd Place

Social Media: 1st Place

Competitive Exhibits:

New to Your Fair: 2nd Place

Competitive Exhibits Photo Series: 3rd Place

Ag Awards:

Technique/procedure/policy developed by Fair Management to correct an issue or challenge related to an agricultural issue impacting your community or Fair which can be addressed during the Fair: 2nd Place

Newly established or evolving program/exhibit at your fair that promotes agriculture or a current agricultural issue to the fair-going public: 2nd Place

Evolved program/exhibit at your fair that promotes agriculture or a current agricultural issue to the fair-going public: 1st Place

Program/event/exhibit designed to educate consumers/fair-going public on the Story of Food: 2nd Place

Any Other Agriculture Program/Exhibit: 1st Place

Agriculture Individual Photo Horticulture/Crops: 2nd Place

Agriculture Individual Photo Rodeo: 3rd Place

Agriculture Individual Photo Ag Education: 3rd Place

Agriculture Individual Photo Miscellaneous: 3rd Place

Sponsorship:

Sponsorship Innovation: 2nd Place

Sponsor Continuity: 1st Place

In-Kind/Trade Sponsor: 2nd Place

Overall Awards:

Best Marketing Campaign Overall Winner, Division Five

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Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair, located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines, is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.

About IAFE The International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), based in Springfield, Mo., is a voluntary, nonprofit corporation, serving state, provincial, regional, and county agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions, and expositions. Its associate members include state and provincial associations of fairs, non-agricultural expositions and festivals, associations, corporations, and individuals engaged in providing products and services to its members, all of whom are interested in the improvement of fairs, shows, expositions, and allied fields. For more information, visit www.fairsandexpos.com.