Faircracker
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SPRING 2022
NEW NEWS FROM NICA Rey O’Day, NICA Executive Director
Greetings from NICA Happy New Year Florida Two years ago, our industry felt a Hard Stop…we all wondered if we would survive…and NOW, Together we are proud and relieved to report…Our Fairs and Vendors have Survived. In fact, we have done more than Survive…we are THRIVING! In an act of hope, NICA rolled out its National Goodyear Tire benefit the end of last year. Everything our members own is on tires and we believed those tires would be back on the road again… and they are. Not only have our members bought commercial and consumer tires at fleet rates, but they have used road service and had a dealer come to a fairgrounds to evaluate tires and replace tires onsite. The South Florida Fair in West Palm foretells that Florida Week is coming: Gibtown, Florida State Fair, NICA Business EXPO, OABA Annual Meeting and Fare Foods Food Show and more. We are all in the business of making memories and having fun. The 2022 NICA Business EXPO and Fair Foods Show, themed Thriving While Surviving was another successful collaboration. Monday and Tuesday featured workshops where fairs and concession members talked about topics that mattered to both: The Financial Power of Serving Beverages, Expectations of Vendors and Fairs, Multigenerational Family Businesses, Trends That are Here to Stay, Tipping Procedures, Fair Hours, DOT Updates, and Vendor Safety to name a few. Fare Foods led the way in Using New Products for Media Attention. Workshops were moderator by NICA leaders, and Panels included Fair management and NICA members. A special Thank you to Jeremy Parsons, IAFE Chair and CEO of Clay County Fair, Iowa for inspiring us to move our engagement to commitment and Kate Turner, IAFE Director of Meetings, for acknowledging our collaborations and pointing us towards the future. After a Pandemic pause, NICA and Hummel Group reintroduced an updated Health Plan for our members. On Wednesday, both the NICA Board of Directors led by Daryl Whicheloe CCE, Southern Oregon Food and Beverage Company, and the NICA Foundation Board of Trustees led by Audrey Poole, Fair Foods held their Annual Meetings and installed their officers and directors. The following Gala Dinner and Celebration featured the induction of Past President, Thomas Hodson of The Hodson Company into the NICA Hall of Fame, honored the generous growth of funding for the NICA Scholarship program, introduced recipient Olivia Owens and her mother Beth and admired the successful opening of past recipient Isabella Barona’s Pickle Palace stand. The silent and live auction capped off the evening. WE all have plans for 2022. Watch in this publication and others for upcoming announcements from all of us. 2022 is a year about THRIVING. Let’s enjoy it TOGETHER! Most Sincerely, Rey O’Day NICA Executive Director
Kathy Ross, Past President NICA Present IAFE Board of Directors
