NICA

NEW NEWS FROM NICA

Rey O’Day, NICA Executive

Director

Greetings: Summer is here and it feels like we are launching into the Fair Season; however, the reality is that for NICA members, and I think the Fair Industry, it has become several seasons based on geography and weather that seem to operate continually. The Pandemic, of course, interrupted those patterns, but this appears to be the year that is refreshing our patterns. That means our fairs, vendors, and associations are very busy.

In May I had the honor and pleasure to participate in the Florida Federation of Fairs convention. The event had a great energy and the attendees shared the joy of being together in real time. I presented “What is the Right Mix of Food at Your Fair”, a program Dennis Larson, retired Minnesota State Fair, and I developed. The workshop is based on defining menu sorting questions, identifying fairgrounds’ neighborhoods, and overlaying restaurant menu categories.

A panel with Gene Cassidy, CFE, CEO The Big E, representing Zone 1; Kevin McGrath II, The Best Around, on behalf of concessionaires; Nancy Smith CFE, GM South Carolina State Fair, representing Zone 2; Jay Strates, Strates Shows on behalf of carnivals, and which I moderated tackled “Tips for Surviving the Wild Swings of 2022’s Economy.”

The panel agreed that inflation, gas prices, finding labor, product sourcing, disposable income, fair hours, rising labor costs, and supply chains are consuming our time, people, and financial resources and offered some practical solutions. In summary, they recommended that no matter what choices we make regarding the wild swings of the 2022 economy, the guest experience must be our number one priority.

All of our organizations are proud of our scholarship programs. Mid-June is when NICA sends our redacted Scholarship applications to our anonymous readers to score them. The NICA Foundation announces the recipients in late summer. We are also soliciting requests for first time convention attendees who would like assistance with their travel expenses. We are committed to encouraging continuing education and delighted to assist with the success of our young people.

Together we have Survived the absence of our Fairs. Now our Fair Family is back on the road visiting their Fair Relatives. Together we are strengthening our shared purpose to serve our extended family, friends, and guests. Now that’s Thriving!!!

See you somewhere, Rey