President’s Message Howdy,
As with the last twelve to eighteen months, there are a lot of directions to go with this message. But, I will choose this route, fair and event enthusiasts, THIS IS OUR TIME, THIS IS YOUR TIME! As the enjoyable TV host Mike Rowe has stated, “I’m looking forward to the future, and feeling grateful for the past”. I am not sure any industry has a more storied past within our communities than the fair business. We all remember that first carnival ride, first walk through the barns, and first funnel cake. And, we remember the first time our own kids or grandkids had that experience and so on. With that said, no matter our past, our future will be what is remembered in the next generation. For many, this last year has been a chance to re-set, revisit, and reimagine what our events can be. Change has been easier this year than ever before due to the absolute need for it to survive. We will learn in time, just like other decisions, that some were positive and will be long lasting, and others were not as successful. Sure, we are an industry that has been tough to change historically, and even a small move leads to skepticism by our patrons, volunteers, and show officials. However, Einstein let us know that “the measure of intelligence is the ability to change”. As we prepare for the future, go forward boldly, but remember where your success came from to begin with. For many fairs, that is our livestock show or agricultural heritage. And, if it has been, now is not the time to push that aside, but to embrace it! For the 2021-2022 TAFE year, our theme is Building Tomorrow’s Champions Today. This can mean different things to different people. Most notably, we are building champions in our youth events, not just by the prizes awarded, but the life lessons gained by each contestant. One of the more overlooked aspects of our events is the personal growth or the building of champions within our volunteer base. Many of these individuals achieve skills and relationships that are life changing as a result of being a part of our events. Of course, let us not forget our patrons. We are educating future leaders every time a young, or seasoned person steps on our grounds to explore our fair. So, make sure your education is valuable to your success long term! It is in all our best interests to share facts, perspectives, and experiences with our patrons that allow them to understand the need for the agricultural industry or the industry your specific event represents. I wish you all the best in the upcoming year and wish all of us a safe, fun, and prosperous year of fairs and events! Remember, we are Building Tomorrow’s Champions Today! Sincerely,
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