NICA

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

ROBERT HOLMES OF SPECTRUM WEATHER INSURANCE RECOGNIZED AS GRADUATE OF IAFE INSTITUTE OF FAIR MANAGEMENT

December 6, 2021 – Robert Holmes of Spectrum Weather and Specialty Insurance in Liberty, Missouri, was recognized at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Annual Convention in San Antonio, TX. as a graduate of the Institute of Fair Management.

Launched in 2007, the Institute consists of a series of courses covering the areas of core competency necessary for today’s industry professional and volunteers involved in the production of their agricultural fair. Courses include management, risk management, marketing, programming, operations and year-round facility usage.

Robert enrolled in the program in 2019 and was one of 34 graduates honored at the IAFE Convention. Currently, there are more than 208 individuals enrolled in the Institute of Fair Management from across the U.S., Canada and Australia. Robert obtained a graduate degree in atmospheric science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and completing the graduate requirements of the Institute of Fair Management provides him with essential knowledge to better match the needs of his clients with the best coverage option – or options – to meet their needs.

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.

Spectrum Weather and Specialty Insurance was established with the goal of providing rain insurance, event cancellation insurance, and other specialty insurance solutions that are simple to understand and purchase, and with the highest degree of customer service in the industry. Spectrum serves events both large and small, including fairs, festivals, concerts, and other outdoor gatherings impacted by weather. In addition to rain insurance, Spectrum provides a full suite of weather-based insurance products and event cancellation insurance options. Since its inception in 2011, Spectrum has grown to be the nation’s premier provider of these valued insurance products.

ROBERT HOLMES, PRESIDENT OF SPECTRUM WEATHER AND SPECIALTY INSURANCE, HAS BEEN NAMED ONE OF 2020’S TOP 50 SPECIALIST BROKERS BY INSURANCE BUSINESS OF AMERICA.

Nominated by his clients and colleagues, Mr. Holmes possesses unique insights and highly developed skill sets tailored to weather and event cancellation insurance applications, which he uses to help clients secure the best coverage possible. By staying abreast of trending topics and changes he ensures his clients are given the best combination of care and coverage.

Robert Holmes began his career as a meteorologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Space Science and Engineering Center, studying the weather of Antarctica. During his time there, he earned awards from the National Science Foundation and the US Navy and, in 1999, had an Antarctic geographical feature, Holmes Ridge, named in his honor by the United States Geological Survey.

After 10 years, Holmes left academia and joined a hedge-fund-owned weather derivatives trading business. In 2008, he created a weather insurance agency designed to facilitate the sale of weather-based policies. Three years later, he founded his own brokerage, Spectrum Weather and Specialty Insurance.

Since its inception, Spectrum has been all about customer service and creating innovative solutions to the issues that plague those with financial exposure to weather. “Leveraging my background as a meteorologist, along with my industry knowledge and communication skills, I knew that the insureds in this market could be better served,” Holmes says. I’m humbled to be included as one of this year’s honorees.

The AxeWomen Loggers of Maine are entering their 12th year of performing across North America!

If you haven't heard of us before, please check out our website at www.axewomen.com, or follow along with our social media accounts!

We are a team of professional timbersports athletes who travel throughout North America competing and performing at fairs, festivals and expos! The ladies who make up our team are world champions, world record holders and collegiate champions in different timbersports events... such as axe throwing, log rolling, chopping or racing with chainsaws!! Several of the ladies on our team have traveled around the world for timbersports competitions... they've competed in Germany, France, New Zealand & Australia, representing the USA Women's Team!

We are proud to say that we have the three must recently crowned STIHL Collegiate Timbersports champions on our team... as well as the only person to ever log roll across the Mississippi River!! That's right... the first & only person! This was done in September of 2019. We set off from Port Byron, Illinois and landed in Le Claire, Iowa 30 minutes later... all without ever a slip into the muddy waters of the Mississippi!

We have been performing at fairs throughout North America for 12 years now! Our shows consist of head to head competitions in modified chainsaw (or hotsaw) races, axe throwing, underhand chopping, standing block chopping, cross cut sawing and the crowd favorite... log rolling!!!

We also offer log rolling lessons to children between our shows... a safe and fun way for families to make even more great memories at your fair! We've even had families come back later in the week to log roll with an entire birthday party of 10 year old girls! They had a blast!!

We are excited to show off some of our new events and equipment throughout 2022, as well as continue with our tried & true crowd favorites!

Showmen's League Unveils New Mobile Clubhouse

On Tuesday late in the day, the Showmen's League of America unveiled their new traveling clubhouse to a large crowd. After a blessing from Rev. Mr. Paul Muller, sponsors were thanked including Midway Tents, and Chuck Wheeler. The ribbon was then cut to christen the new mobile home for the SLA.

Cindy Henning, Executive Secretary of the Showmen's League, said the clubhouse would serve as outreach for members nationwide. Instead of one office in Chicago, the mobile clubhouse can now travel the country and engage members while they are working on the road.

Henning and the board envision the clubhouse as a place to conduct training, to hold membership drives and to connect the SLA with members and prospective members throughout the country.

The clubhouse is also available to educate the public about the SLA. Inside the clubhouse, there are videos about the League along with tons of pictures from the office with historical information about the SLA going back to its founding in 1913 and “Wild Bill” Cody, the League's first President.

“People are excited about it,” said Henning. “We are receiving really positive feedback and hope we will connect the club to members all over the country.” The first delivery of the mobile clubhouse will be to Deggeller Attractions at the Clay County Fair in Florida. The rest of the route is still being determined, but Henning hopes the clubhouse will be visiting some of the largest fairs in the US. Show owners will be helping the League move the clubhouse, whenever possible, from site to site.

I ate how much?

Comedy Hypnotist Brad Matchett has been presented with the Golden Bale of Hay Award by creator Tom Umiker. They are flanked by, on the left, Tracy Thompson and, at right, Jim Ward. The presentation of this prestigious award took place at the close of the 75th Annual Pasco County Fair. Being only the 5th person to receive this award Matchett was overcome with emotion and unable to give us a statement. He can be reached at agricadabra.com or bradcomedyhypnotist.com

The College of Central Florida Announces the naming of the Educational Center in Lecanto. Florida in honor of Charles S. Dean, Sr.

Senator Dean-R District 3, Retired—Citrus County has been supportive of the Florida Federation of Fairs and sponsored legislation. Senate President Wilton Simpson-R District 10 congratulates Dean