FALL 2023
Summer Workshop continued on page 6
Message From The President Hal Porter, Citrus County Fair Hello Everyone! The Fall Fair Season has started! I hope you have successful events, great crowds and good weather! The impact of our local fairs on each community cannot be measured in only dollars. The education of our youth & public is part of our mission. It is also very rewarding to all who have "hands on" contact with our youth. This is my favorite part of the job. I attended the State FFA Convention in Orlando and 4-H University in Gainesville. The FFF was a sponsor at both events. We were welcomed by each group and they appreciated our investment in their programs. It was impressive to see these fine young people in the spotlight. The Summer Workshop hosted by the Citrus County Fair was enjoyed by all. There was lots of education, fun and fellowship. Thank you Rita and committee for planning a great workshop. And thanks to everyone who helped including our sponsors.
Our Winter Board Meeting will be in Haines City on December 15th and 16th. (see page 25) All Chairpersons be sure to let Dan know if you plan to meet with your committee. I hope to visit many of your fairs. I always learn something and get new ideas and it is fun to see my " Fair Family." The 2024 Convention is May 16th - 18th, 2024 at the Caribe Royal in Orlando. Mark your Calendar now. Everyone stay safe and always be mindful of others who count on us!
Sincerely,
Hal
2023-24 FAIR DATES 2023 Oct 27-Nov 5 Nov 2-12 Nov 2-12 Nov 2-12 Nov 2-12 Nov 22-Dec 1
Florida Gateway Fairgrounds Lake City GR Hillsborough County Fair Sydney GR Jacksonville Ag Fair Jacksonville North Florida Fair Tallahassee Volusia County Fair DeLand Broward County Fair Hollywood
2024 Jan 11-21 Jan 12-28 Jan 26-Feb 4 Feb 2-10 Feb 2-10 Feb 7-11 Feb 8-19 Feb 9-17 Feb 9-18 Feb 17-24 Feb 19-25 Feb 29-Mar 10 Feb 22-Mar 3 Feb 23-Mar 3 Feb 29-Mar 5 Feb 29-Mar 10 Feb 29-Mar 10 Mar 1-9 Mar 5-10 Mar 8-17 Mar 12-17 Mar 14-Apr 7 Mar 21-31 Mar 22-30 Mar 15-24 Mar 25-Mar 31 Apr 4-14 Apr 5-13 Apr 5-14 Apr 10-12 TBD
Manatee County Fair South Florida Fair Charlotte County Fair DeSoto County Fair Highlands County Fair Hendry County Fair Florida State Fair Martin County Fair Osceola County Fair Hardee County Fair Pasco County Fair SW FL & Lee County Fair Southeastern Youth Fair St. Lucie County Fair Alachua County Youth Fair Central Florida Fair Florida Strawberry Festival Sumter County Fair Bradford County Fair Assoc. Indian River Cty Firefighters Okeechobee County Fair Miami-Dade County Fair Collier Ag Fair & Expo Putnam County Ag Fair Sarasota County Ag Fair Citrus County Fair Clay County Ag Fair Hernando County Fair Lake County Fair Flagler County Fair Santa Rosa County Fair
Palmetto W. Palm Beach Port Charlotte Naples Sebring Clewiston Tampa Stuart Kissimmee Wauchula Dade City N. Ft. Myers Ocala Ft. Pierce Gainesville Orlando Plant City Webster Starke Vero Beach Okeechobee Miami Naples East Palatka Sarasota Inverness Green Cove Spr Brooksville Eustis Bunnell Milton
IAFE Annual Convention Salt Lake City, Utah November 26-29 Winter Board Meeting December 15-16 Farm Bureau Day Tallahassee January 16, 2024 Annual Convention Orlando May 16-18, 2024
*Check Fair website for dates closed during this period
Check for cancellations or postponements
Florida Federation of Fairs—Fall 2023 * 3
Florida Federation of Fairs—Fall 2023 * 3
2023-24 Officers and Directors Hal Porter-President Citrus County Fair 3600 S. FLORIDA AVE INVERNESS, FL 34450 352-726-2993 hporter@floridafairs.org Fran Crone– First Vice President SW FL & Lee County Fair 239-543-8364 fcrone@leeciviccenter.com Rita Lincoln-Second Vice President South Florida Fair 561-790-3688 Rita@southfloridafair.com Eddie Cora- Secretary/Treasurer Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo 305-223-7060 ecora@fairexpo.com Terry Atchley-Immediate Past President Hardee County Fair 863-781-9402 atchleyterry@gmail.com Dan West-Executive Director PO BOX 368 PALMETTO, FL 34220 813-763-0161 dwest@floridafairs.org Cheryl Flood Florida State Fair Authority 813-621-7821 cheryl.flood@floridastatefair.com Mark Harvey North Florida Fair 850-878-3247 markharveyx50@comcast.net Suzanne Holcomb Gr Hillsborough County Fair 813-597-4682 suzanne@hillsboroughcountyfair.com Tasha Hyder Clay County Fair 904-284-1615 Tasha@claycountyfair.org
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Advertisers ............................................................................................................................... 5 Agriculture Committee ............................................................................................................ 26 Associate Members—new ...................................................................................................... 75 Associate Spotlight .........................................................................................58,61,64,65,66,67 Attorney’s Corner...................................................................................................................... 6 Awards .............................................................................................................................. 19-23 Board of Directors..................................................................................................................... 4 Board Director (new) ................................................................................................................ 8 Commissioner of Agriculture Woman of the Year.................................................................... 33 Executive Director .................................................................................................................... 5 Fair Dates................................................................................................................................. 3 Fair News .............................................................................. 10,11,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,23,32 Fair Ride Committee ............................................................................................................... 44 Fair Trip to Big E................................................................................................................ 34,35 Farm Bureau AnnualMeeting .................................................................................................. 48 Farm Bureau Tallahassee Trip ............................................................................................ 7,48 4-H .................................................................................................................................... 30,31 FFA ........................................................................................................................................ 29 FFEA ...................................................................................................................................... 42 Good News.....................................................................................................68,69,70,71,72,73 IAFE .................................................................................................................................. 46,47 IAFE Ambassador .................................................................................................................. 47 Important Dates ........................................................................................................................ 3 In Memory ......................................................................................................................... 77,78 Legislative Update .................................................................................................................. 24 Newsletter Advertising ............................................................................................................ 26 NICA ................................................................................................................................. 54,56 OABA ..................................................................................................................................... 50 President’s Message ................................................................................................................ 3 Summer Workshop ................................................................................................................ 1,6 We’ve Been Everywhere ................................................................................................... 36,37 YPI ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Zone 2 .................................................................................................................................... 49
Tim Lovett Fl Strawberry Festival 813-752-9194 Tim@flstrawberryfestival.com Bill Olson Gr Jacksonville Agricultural Fair 904-353-0535
bill@jacksonvillefair.com
Jay Spicer St. Lucie County Fair 772-631-2853 Jay@StLucieCountyFair.org Shelley Terrell Northeast Florida Fair 904-838-8134 info@neflfair.org Associate Directors Jodi Arzt Buresh Saffire Cell: 701-388.9473 jodi@saffire.com Jay Strates Strates Shows 407-855-3939 Jay@strates.com Honorary Directors Geoffrey Patterson Florida Farm Bureau 352-374-1543 Michelle Faulk FDACS 850-410-3838
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PROUD MEMBER OF:
Executive Director Dan West Hello Florida Federation Members! I trust everyone had a wonderful summer and is ready for Florida’s Fall Fairs. We have a great lineup of fairs that have or will be kicking off as this newsletter comes out. Please take time to visit some of these fairs and enjoy the comradery that makes our industry great. A big shout out to the Central Panhandle Fair in Panama City where they held their first fair in several years. Thank you to the Northeast Florida Fair for their hospitality when we visited the fair last week. Though we are several months out, the planning for the 2024 Florida Federation of Fairs Convention is underway. The FFF Board of Directors and committees are beginning to meet, and the Winter Board Meeting will take place at the FFA Leadership Training Center near Haines City on December 15 & 16. The dates for the 2024 FFF Convention are May 16-18 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando. Information for the convention will be available in mid-January. The FFF Legislative Committee will be participating again this year at the “Florida Farm Bureau Day” in Tallahassee on January 16th. This event lets our voices be heard as we meet with elected officials and educate them on what fairs mean to our communities. Anyone wishing to join us for this event please contact me regarding the registration and hotel information. The “Taste of Florida” event is held in conjunction with Farm Bureau Day, and we will be handing out fair foods to everyone attending. In late September, we had a delegation of 16 Florida Fair members travel to Massachusetts to visit the Eastern States Exposition where they were able to meet with Mr. Gene Cassidy and enjoy the wonderful fair. Some of the group also visited the Topsfield Fair and the Fryeburg Fair in Maine. Thank you to all of those who travelled and for representing the Florida Federation. The 2023 IAFE Convention will be held November 2629 in Salt Lake City, Utah. If you are planning to attend, please hurry and register. It’s always great to see our fair family at the annual meeting. By now you have received the Annual Directory as well as your membership card. Through no fault of our own these were late and that was inconvenient for some members. In the future the membership cards will be sent in advance of the directories.
Please contact the Federation Office if we can do anything for you. I hope to see you at a fair very soon. Dan Please check our website up-todate news www.floridafairs.org And our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/floridafairs
Please Patronize Our Advertisers Arnold Amusements ...................................................................... 45 Belle City Amusements .................................................................. 63 Belmont Magic ............................................................................... 43 Belmont Magic ............................................................................... 56 G.L. Berg ....................................................................................... 37 Capitol Entertainment—Sea Lion Splash ....................................... 51 CAS Governmental Services ......................................................... 24 Celero Commerce.......................................................................... 52 Mark Dobson Entertainment, LLC .................................................. 10 Dorado Graphix ............................................................................. 75 Fair Publishing House ...................................................................... 9 Florida Dairy Farmers .................................................................... 28 Gregory Talent ............................................................................... 25 Haas Wilkerson Insurance ............................................................. 22 Indiana Ticket Company .................................................................. 8 Lightning Wireless Solutions ............................................................ 2 Magic of Lance Gifford ................................................................... 27 Mills Production & Company .......................................................... 38 North American Midway Entertainment .......................................... 78 Reithoffer Shows ........................................................................... 57 Saffire ............................................................................................ 32 Scott’s Magic Shows/Future Entertainment .................................... 44 Specialty Insurance Agency ........................................................... 14 Stilt Circus ..................................................................................... 60 The Benjamin Jackson Hypnotist Show ......................................... 53 Turnaround Livestock & Exotics ..................................................... 41 Variety Attractions.......................................................................... 74
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Attorney’s Corner Dominic DeCesare
SECTION 616.07 By Dominic DeCesare, Esq. One of the most important provisions contained in Chapter 616, which governs Florida fair associations, is Section 616.07. The Board of each fair association and its management should re-familiarize themselves with it. Specifically, Section 616.07 of the Florida Statutes provides: 616.07 Members not personally liable; property of association held in trust; exempt from taxation. (1) A member, officer, director, or trustee of a fair association is not personally liable for any of the debts of the association, and money or property of a fair association may not be distributed as profits or dividends among its members, officers, directors, or trustees. (2) All money and property of the association, except that necessary for the payment of its just debts and liabilities, are public property, shall be administered by the association as trustee, and shall be used exclusively for the legitimate purpose of the association. So long as they are used for that purpose, all money and property of the association are exempt from all forms of taxation, including special assessments, and any projects, activities, events, programs, and uses authorized by this part serve an essential governmental purpose and, therefore, are not taxable and are not subject to assessments. This subsection does not apply to chapter 212. (3) Upon order of the circuit judge, any public funds or property remaining in a fair association when the association is dissolved shall be distributed by resolution of the board of directors to any county or any municipality within the county. The board may designate in the distribution resolution the public project that will benefit from the funds or the manner in which the property will be used. If property has been contributed by a municipality or county, the property shall be reconveyed to the municipality or county that gave the property to the association.
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Florida Federation of Fairs—Fall 2023 * 7
Welcome Director Tasha Hyder
Commissioner Simpson introduced by Cheryl Flood
Tasha Hyder has been elected to the Florida Federation of Florida Board of Directors. Tasha fills the vacancy left by Stacey Wade. Stacey is now Visitor Experience & Events Manager at Orange County Regional History Center. We wish you well Stacey and know that you will never be far from a Fair! Tasha has been with the Clay County Fair for 8 years and will be experiencing her 9th fair in 2024. Tasha’s background includes running special events in the Town of Orange Park where she catered to 250 vendors during her Fall Festival, she worked for Pasco County Parks and Recreation and also was the Director of Basketball Operations for the University of North Florida. Tasha graduated with her Master’s Degree from UNF in 2015 and received her IAFE Fair Management Designation in 2022. Tasha is from Tennessee but has lived in Florida for 20 years. Tasha instituted the Federation’s Awards program and is active in the YPI program. The Jacksonville Business Journal included Tasha in the 2023’s Class of 40 under 40. Tasha is also a FFEA Board Member.
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The Putnam County Fair had something going on every weekend this October! Annual Azaela City Cruisers Car Show, the 2nd Annual Rumble on the River Cattle Jackpot Show, the 1st Annual Cliffhangers Gun Show and the 2nd Annual Putnam County Rodeo! More improvements are coming for the 74th annual Putnam County Fair. New landscaping, a new kids zone, new food items, a pictorial scavenger hunt for our beef entries and more. Ms Renee Hough, Director of Career and Technical Education of the Putnam County School District is one of our board members and the founder and manager of the Putnam County Fairs "Ag Village." Ag Village is getting a new home in the shade on the fairgrounds with easier access for the young at heart. Ag Village will keep its soul and its Milking Cow but will come with a few new additions. Finally, the Putnam County Fair is proud to be hosting the 2024 Girl Scout Cookie Kick-Off on January 20th! The 2024 Putnam County Fair is being held March 22nd3oth. "Country Pride-County Wide." PutnamFairandExpo.com
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Collier Fair travels to Australia with the IAFE for the Agricultural Shows Australia Conference and Royal Adelaide Show. As the fair manager for the Collier Fair and a member of IAFE, I had the opportunity to travel across the world to attend both of these outstanding events. Rhonda Ward It was interesting and reassuring to hear speakers from other parts of the world discuss many of the same issues we face at our fairs in the United States. I wondered if I would be able to relate to any of the topics that would be addressed at the ASA conference and found out there was no land distance barrier to what all fairs face and even general topics like volunteers or where we go in the future with AI. All of our speakers for the 3-day event spoke on relevant issues to us all. It was a productive and very informative conference for us all. Of course, many new friendships were made along the way, and as you’ll see from the pictures some great memories were made with old ones. If you are ever afforded the opportunity to attend one of these conferences, I would definitely recommend you take advantage of it. The Royal Adelaide Show was spectacular! We enjoyed going through numerous ag facilities, unique competitive exhibit displays and competitions, a one-of-akind beard decorating contest, great food, and beautiful grounds with pristine rides and games. It was a spectacular one to two days spent touring their grounds. The hospitality goes without saying…no matter how far we travel our fair family always makes us feel like family. Marla included some fun side trips for us as well and I’ve included some fun photos from that as well. Again, be sure and take the opportunity to visit other fairs, whether in your backyard or literally 9989 miles from your home. You will never be sad you did it but might be if you knew what you missed.
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2023 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FAIR – ROOTED IN TRADITION
The 2023 Hillsborough County Fair is scheduled for November 2-12, 2023, and invites you to enjoy the 11-day celebration of community, youth competitions, arena entertainment, and fair fun for everyone! The board of directors invites you to our annual fair-themed “ROOTED IN TRADITION” to enjoy the rides, food, entertainment, and exhibits! Now and always, the health and safety of our guests, participants, and community must be our highest priority. The 2023 Fair will partner again with Dreamland Amusements of Lake Tahoe, NV to provide our carnival rides and games. Dreamland Amusements has had a reputation for quality, honesty, and good citizenship for over 30 years and the fair is honored to partner with Dreamland Amusements for the 2023 Fair. More information about our fair hours and daily schedule can be found on our website www.hillsboroughcountyfair.com or on our Facebook page! The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the annual county fair are something we wait all year to enjoy! Of course, the fair will offer fair food that will satisfy your taste buds! Including CORNDOGS, FUNNEL CAKES, COTTON CANDY, BBQ, ICE CREAM AND SO MUCH MORE! One of the highlights of each year’s fair is the youth livestock shows and sales presented by Mosaic which will be held Nov. 2-12, 2023, in our NEW 30,000 square foot Livestock Exhibition Building. The livestock committees are working diligently to provide the youth of Hillsborough County the opportunity to show in a variety of youth livestock shows including market shows for steer, swine, lamb, goat, and turkey and breeding shows for beef, dairy, sheep, goat, rabbit, and poultry. Shows and Sales will take place in the Parksdale Farm Arena and if you have any questions about the youth livestock shows you can email the Livestock Director, Serena Stratton at rena70@aol.com or the Fair Manager, Suzanne Holcomb at suzane@hillsboroughcountyfair.com. More information about shows and sale schedules can be found at www.hillsboroughcountyfair.com. We also have a new Farmer Sydney’s Barn Ag Education sponsored by Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Russell’s Western Wear Visit this all-new area to learn more about agriculture and come meet the animals! The annual fair would not be complete without our special arena events that offer action-packed fun for everyone! From our stomping good time in our newly named K.C. Coastal Arena with 3 nights of a newly produced Fair Rodeo sponsored by Boot Barn, smashing time of the Demo Derby sponsored by IHeart Media, or the 2 nights of the all-new dirt flying Truck and Tractor Pull sponsored by Florida Natives Nursery! The Fair rodeo will be held Nov 3,4 & 5, produced by Matt McGee, and filled with all the rodeo events! The Truck and Tractor pull offers 2 nights of fun on Nov 10 & 11 from antique tractors, hotrods, and the BIG BOY trucks and tractors as they come out to compete in our dirt arena! On the last day of the fair, Sunday, Nov 12 the arena events conclude with our Demolition Derby in which drivers compete for bragging rights to be the last car standing! The Harvest Queen Scholarship pageant will take place on Saturday, October 7, 2023, which is another highlight of our pre-fair events! Youth contestants from Hillsborough County grace the stage to compete in the annual scholarship pageant and compete for the title of Hillsborough County Fair Harvest Queen and Junior Harvest Queen which serve as our fair ambassadors for the 2023 Fair. If you have any questions about the scholarship pageant, you can contact the Pageant Director, Kelli Messick at 813-737-FAIR. We have much more lined up for you this year with NEW EXHIBITS AND ENTERTAINMENT, DAILY SPECIALS AND PROMOTIONS, and our traditional display of exhibits. Our family living exhibition hall will be full of arts, and crafts, educational exhibits and activities, and the Play with Giants Ag Edition hands-on experience! We will also have Farmer Sydney’s Corner back this year will all new activities and contests for the little ones! On Sunday, Nov 12, the fair will host the Super Plant Auction! We will offer FREE daily entertainment including Scott’s Future of Magic Show, A Family Thrill Circus, Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, and the educational Firefighter Show! Also, visit some exotic animals in the Cool Zoo Animal Encounter! And if you are lucky, you will catch a glance of our own Farmer Sydney as he parades around the fair greeting our guests! We offer you a stroll through our historical Hometown Hillsborough area and invite you to participate in Cowboy Camp by Les McDowell to enjoy some fun of yesteryears! Our Hillsborough County School District offers school exhibit displays in our “Little Red Schoolhouse.” Sit down and relax in our Entertainment Pavilion and enjoy the sounds and entertainment from our community stages! Watch our Facebook page as we get closer to the fair as we will be announcing some of our NEW and EXCITING entertainment acts and exhibits for the 2023 Fair! Don’t forget to visit our community stage where we will host local talent, the 2023 Harvest Idol Contest, Youth Speech Contest, Mullet/Beard/Mustache Contest, and many more events! Come listen to the Gospel Jam or listen to some Cowboy Poetry during our Front Porch Jam! The Hillsborough County Fair Board of Directors, staff, and over 250 volunteers will continue to plan for the 2023 Fair-themed ROOTED IN TRADITION, and we will update the fair’s website soon with a daily schedule and more information about the upcoming fair!
SAVE THE DATES and we look forward to seeing you at the 2023 Fair! Florida Federation of Fairs—Fall 2023 * 16
The Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show and Osceola County Fair was held in Feb 2023. The Board of Directors was happy to have brought on their new General Manager, Joel Rose, who is a 20-year Air Force Veteran. Joel’s predecessor, Larry Berry retired and moved on to concentrate on his public speaking endeavors.
The 2023 KVLS & Osceola County Fair was a tremendous success and were pleased to have continued working with Strates Shows as they started out their fair season celebrating their 100th year. The KVLS & Osceola County Fair was held Feb 10-19th 2023. We are excited to announce that for the 2023 season, the fair had a record year regarding fair attendance. In addition, the Osceola County Fair brought back a demolition derby, last seen more than 7 years ago, and it was a huge success providing all the crashes, speed, and excitement to cure one’s appetite for seeing and hearing metal crashing. The demolition derby will now be part of the regular schedule moving forward for the foreseeable future. Secondly, for the first time in the Fairs history, Osceola Idol debuted and as one can imagine, it brought a standing-room-only packed house. Witnessing those brave talented singers showcase their awesome voices was a blast!! Osceola Idol had 3 prizes consisting of 3rd/500 cash; 2nd/100 cash; and first prize consisting of a 2695.00 scholarship to attend Launch Showcase in Chicago. Again, Osceola Idol will be returning for its 2nd season and the 2024 contest will feature last year’s winner as the show’s opening act!! Let’s not forget about the daily news media, Positively Osceola, interviewing the General Manager daily while highlighting a midway ride live on the air. Keith Ronan from Positively Osceola and Joel Rose the Fair GM for better or worse gave great information each day on the daily activities for the fair. Lastly, the Livestock portion of the fair was able to achieve a record number of attendance and raised through the market sales a whomping 948,000 thus having a turnout like no other showcasing all the Cattle, Hogs, Lambs, Goats’ Rabbits, Chickens, and of course the Citrus trees. All in all, the 2023 KVLS and Osceola County Fair can claim a victory in record attendance and have been part of making wonderful memories by all our visitors who attended the Fair. We are the number 1 attended annual event in Osceola County and are proud to be part of the Florida Federation of Fairs.
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Citrus County Fair Past Presidents Doris Graska, at left, and Lee Earl Stokes, at right, and Hal Porter, Fair Manager visit with Citrus County FFA Members in Orlando. Second from left is Evan Leturno and second from right is Will Ward.
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What a great year YPI has planned for the Florida Federation! Available now is the Rising Star Award presented by YPI. The goal of this award is to recognize the leadership and industry contributions of Florida Federation members, age 40 and younger. Nominees not selected will need to be resubmitted each year to be considered. The deadline for nomination will be April 1, 2024. Nominees shall be associated as an employee, volunteer, or board member of a member fair, show, exposition, or exhibition in good standing with the Florida Federation of Fair & Livestock Shows. Nominees shall not have reached their 41st birthday prior to the first day of the Florida Federation of Fairs Convention. Our Charity for the 2024 Convention will be the Florida FFA Foundation and the Florida 4-H Foundation! Just like many of you, we were raised around the love of Agriculture that these two youth organizations foster and many of us have them to thank today for becoming who we are. The Florida FFA Foundation and Florida 4-H Foundation are responsible for molding our leaders of tomorrow! Please encourage and challenge your staff, Board members, and Volunteers to donate this year, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out. If you have any questions or want to chat about YPI please reach out to Jacki at Jacki@centralfloridafair.com!
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Capitol Update: Greetings from TallahasseeWe hope you all are having a great summer! It was an absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to interact with many of you during the Federation’s Annual Conference in Orlando! It has been an absolute privilege to represent the Federation in Tallahassee and, we believe there are truly bright days ahead for every Florida Fair and Exposition! For the first time we are aware, we have several Legislators whom serve or have recently served on their local fair boards and we have a Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson who serve on the Pasco County fair board including a stint as President of the board. Commissioner Simpson continues to be an advocate for fairs and expositions and we look forward to a continued strong working relationship with the Commissioner and his staff as we blaze a broader path forward for the Federation and its members The 2023 Legislative Session was relatively uneventful, inasmuch as, the Republicans have a super majority in the Senate and the House and, all four elected cabinet positions are held by Republicans. Legislators delivered on pretty significant “red-meat” issues ranging from school choice to immigration and gender issues and school curricula. The Legislature also stuck their toe in the water on the 2nd Amendment, specifically expanded the universe of individuals whom can carry concealed weapons legally. During the Federation’s annual conference, we participated in a lunch discussion around the new gun law and the potential implication to federation members. While there were several great take-aways from the luncheon, it seems most important to note, the new law does not expanded nor contract the locations where you may legally carry. Federation members who previously could not prohibit an individual with a concealed carry permit from entering; still cannot prohibit them from entering. The challenge in implementing the new law is the universe of people who can legally carry “individuals whom have a concealed carry permit as well as those individuals who otherwise meet the
criteria to qualify for a concealed carry permit”, creates the potential for the universe of individuals carrying a gun legally to increase dramatically. While the Federation is focusing on potential long term solutions, realistically a solution of this type will not realistically occur before fair season begins. To this end, we strongly encourage all members to reach out to their legal counsel to determine the best protocol you can implement at your show. At the drafting on this update, the Governor has yet to receive the proposed state budget. Thus, numbers listed below are still subject to potential veto when the Governor ultimately signs the 2023-24 state budget. One specific grant program which many of our members apply and receive assistance from is the Agricultural Promotion and Education Facilities Grant program through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. As passed by the Legislature, there were 19 individual projects funded totaling $18,079,071. We certainly appreciate the importance of these grants to all federation members, and we strongly encourage all members to apply for funding when appropriate. Again, we cannot thank you enough for the trust you place in our firm to be your eyes and ears, your voice in Tallahassee. We look forward to continuing working with the Federation and its members to make everyday in Florida an amazingly “Fair Day”! Respectfully, The CAS Governmental Services Team Connie, Jim, Dale
2024 REGULAR SESSION DATES January 9, 2024 Regular Session convenes (Article III, section 3(b), State Constitution) 12:00 noon, deadline for
filing bills for introduction (Senate Rule 3.7(1)) February 24, 2024 Motion to reconsider made and considered the same day (Senate Rule 6.4(4)) All bills are immediately certified (Senate Rule 6.8) February 27, 2024 50th day – last day for regularly scheduled committee meetings (Senate Rule 2.9(2)) March 8, 2024 60th day – last day of Regular Session (Article III, section 3(d), State Constitution)
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Ag Committee Suzanne Holcomb, Chair
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The Florida Federation of Fairs trip this year was to the Big E in Springfield MA. We originally had about 25 Florida Federation members from fairs around the state but due to some different situations, 17 of us went which included Rhonda Ward and her group of 8 from the Collier County Fair, and Fran & Randy Crone from the Southwest FL/Lee County Fair. Rhonda & Fran’s groups went up early and enjoyed some fairs other than the Big E. Then there was our group Jay Spicer from St Lucie County Fair, Lane Wetherington from Florida Strawberry Festival, Tyler Trussell from The Greater Hillsborough County Fair, Bill Olsen with Christine Mahr & Michael Guillion from The Greater Jacksonville Fair, and myself. Our group flew into Hartford CT. on Thursday afternoon met at the hotel and decided to head on out to the fair that evening. We arrived to beautiful fall weather with a little chill in the air but very nice. We met with the Staff from the Big E and they welcomed us with open arms. Knowing that we would be coming back to the fair on Friday & Saturday the game plan was to spend a few hours there on Thursday night. We figured we would head out of the office and turn right towards the Avenue of States. What is the Avenue of States you ask? The Avenue of States is the road that showcases each house from all six New England states. The Eastern States Exposition founder Joshua L. Brooks wanted state buildings at the fair that would
“unite the agriculture and industrial parts of the exposition and showcase traditional and new products and attractions that make each New England state unique.” The States that are represented are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island & Vermont. Something that we learned while we were there is that in order to have a booth in one of the replica state houses you must contact the state that you wish to have a booth in and your product must be made and represent that state. We also learned from Gene Cassidy, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Big E that each of the state houses sits on the property owned by that state, so you are walking through 6 states in a matter of minutes depending on how fast or slow you are walking. We continued our journey around the grounds seeing the Budweiser Clydesdales along with other teams of horses pulling carriages, realizing that we were in time to see the evening parade that travels through the grounds. We also enjoyed seeing some of the Florida Federation of Fairs Associate members who play the Big E, Joe Potilo was on one of the floats in the parade, and Dan “The Pirate Man” was also in the parade. We ran into Vinnie Valentino “Valentino’s London Broil” who was there helping with the concerts, Russ Harrison was in his Pizza stand and treated the
With Russ Harrison of Rudy’s Pizza & Slush
With Kelly Myers Florida Federation of Fairs—Fall 2023 * 34
group to pizza and drinks (Thanks Russ). I can honestly say that Jay ate his way through the fairgrounds and each time we asked him how it was there was never a complaint. There were several other Concessionaires that we saw along the way who were excited to see us even though they were not currently members of the Federation. When we returned on Friday after a quick trip to Costco
for much-needed rain gear (It rained all day Friday and was cold, but the Big E patrons still came out in droves. The building that houses the 4H and FFA exhibits was fantastic words won’t do it justice so I’m going to ask our photographer from the group Christine to share some of them. Saturday morning, we got a picture with Kelly Myers (Barb Wilson Enterprises II Ice cream, Pizza & Potato) who was also gracious and fed us (Jay) lol. We were finally able to get Gene rounded up for a photo with us then later we got one of him with the Collier County group. We ran into the Alaska State Fair group on Friday and hung out with them for a little while in the Big E board room. They invited us to the Alaska State Fair next year and said that they would try to come to Florida in late February or early March for posPirate Man Dan sibly the State Fair or Strawberry Festival. The Big E is a must for anyone who wants to go to a State Fair. On Saturday afternoon we traveled to Plymouth Rock and went by the Plymouth Colony replica on the way there. We enjoyed a tour of the Mayflower II taking lots of pictures along with the Rock (Plymouth Rock). We had planned to head to Boston, but it was alWith the Alaska State Fair Group ready 4:30 so we decided to eat at Tavern on the Wharf which was very good and yes even I was able to get something to eat with having shellfish allergies (I had a burger) lol even though Bill offered me some lobster. We headed back to Springfield after dinner to get ready for our early flights home Sunday morning. I can truly say that we missed those who were supposed to go with us but really enjoyed those that did go and made some new friendships and strengthened those that we already had.
Florida Federation members meet with Gene Cassidy Eugene (Gene) Cassidy is President & CEO of Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield and The Big E,
the 7th largest fair in North America. Florida Federation of Fairs—Fall 2023 * 35
Rhonda Ward at the Agricultural Shows Australia 2023 Conference with Lynelle Smith and ladies from the Sydney Royal Easter Show
Shelly Terrell, Dan Ward, Keith Wingate, Jim Ward
Jim & Dan with Paulette Kirkland
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Jim & Dan with Harlan Bast, Hildebrand Rides
Rhonda Ward, Collier Fair Manager, a tended the IAFE 2023 Safety and Security Boot Camp. South Carolina State Fair—September 21, 2023
Rhonda Ward and Pat Cookson from the Collier Fair visited with Gene Cassidy, CEO of the Big E, on the Avenue of States.
Lane Wetherington and Brian Shepherd from the Florida Strawberry Festival visited Nancy Smith, CFE Manager of the South Carolina State Fair.
Steven Lombardo and daughter Katie at the Trop Florida Federation of Fairs—Fall 2023 * 37
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Tasha Hyder
Executive Director Clay County Agricultural Fair
Salt Lake City, here we come! Looking forward to seeing everyone in Utah. If you need anything while at conference please let me know and I will be happy to help you. We will be hosting another Swag Swap on Monday, November 27th so make sure to bring some things to swap. There will be two parts this year, a classic shopping experience where you
grab a bag and go shopping and a game version where we will play a game to win some cool swag. Clean out those closets! We will also be hosting a IAFE Benefits Overview on Sunday, November 26 th from 2:30-3:30pm and a First Friends Reception for First Timers from 4:00-5:00pm.
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4-H State Officers Taylor, Lizzie, Laura, Amelia are with Work Ready Florida Program Jim Ward, FFF Past President-Pasco County Fair, Kaylee Poppell, Executive Director Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, Dan West, Executive Director Florida Federation of Fairs
Jim and Dan with Dallas Hull, Volusia County
Jim and Dan with Courtney Dakin Florida Ag Experience Florida Federation of Fairs—Fall 2023 *48
Jim and Dan with Pam Pylar, Osceola County
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Associate Spotlight
is a new member of the Florida Federation of Fairs and brings a fresh approach to your fair. Think of having this show at your fair as more of a partnership with that fair to bring a quality and unique new show to fairgoers. Typical shows will include 6 to 8 performers and 8 to 10 horses and offer two arena options for both full arenas already on-site Austin is a third-generation showman and horse trainer. or a smaller space-saver size. With experience in Rodeo, Wild West Shows, Fairs, Circus, A bi-product of this show as well as Austin's involvement in TV Film, and live show production. TV and Film is a smaller show dubbed: Hollywood Horses. A A member of the Screen Actors Guild / SAG and fun look at trick horse training and includes some of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association / PRCA actual horses Austin has used on set, shows like Fear the He grew up on a ranch and worked on his parents' show Walking Dead, Sleepy Hollow & NCIS N. Orleans. This show the famed Texas White Horse Troupe show. That show was was a huge hit at the South Florida Fair in 2022 a full 90-minute grandstand-type show. Training horses and A full filmography on Austin can be seen on his IMDB page performing at many of the country’s biggest Fairs, Rodeos, or website www.texastrickriders.com and Equine events across the US and Canada. Awards: Some of the shows include the Fort Worth Stock Show, 2002 PRCA Dress Act of the Year Finalist Denver Stock Show, San Antonio Stock Show, Houston 2007 Reserve men's Champion Trick Rider Stock Show, Calgary Stamped, American Royal Stock Show, 2007 Team Trick Riding Champions Equine Affair, The Big E, Dixie Stamped/ Original cast& 2007 Extreme Cowboy Race Champion crew, Circus World theme park, Worlds of fun theme 2008 Dressage at Devon Entertainment selection park .... and so many more! 2011 Walnut Hill Driving Competitions Entertainment In 1993 he began working as a stuntman and has Selection appeared in several TV and Movie projects as a stuntman 2015 Men's Champion Trick Rider and stunt double and eventually started supplying specialty and cast horses to the industry. films like "The Alamo" "Secondhand Lions" and "Harold and Kumar" all feature Austin's horses. He still enjoys occasional opportunities on set working both in front of and behind the cameras. In 2004 his own show The Texas Trick Riders was created to fill the needs of the VA State Fair, to offer a fast-paced action-filled show that featured all the best of the Wild West inside of a 30-minute time frame to allow quick turnarounds that fairs desire. The show has enjoyed great success at all venues it played such as the CNE in Toronto, Minnesota State Fair, Silver Dollar City, Kansas State Fair, Stockyards of FT Worth TX, and California State Fair just to name a few. The show currently plays a summer season at a real Old West theme park, 4 years running now, Memorial Day through Labor Day. With the theme park schedule, the focus on Fairs has turned to more winter and springtime dates. with a vast majority of those being in Florida Austin
Austin Anderson Presents The Texas Trick Riders Show
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Associate Spotlight Virtual Ticket Solution Virtual Ticket Solution is a ticketing company with an emphasis on audit control. Giving the fair the ability to track all cash and credit transactions from online/gate sales to beer and any transaction that involves revenue. We allow for unlimited ticket-type sales so that one can track not only sales at the gate but also sales for various venues such as a tractor pull or the rodeo. VTS has gone a step forward in providing marketing ideas to sell package deals to increase price points. A new offering of VIP packages is one surefire way to generate big profits for the fair or the 4-H club. VTS provides a turnkey VIP package. VTS provides VIP Tape to cordon off the VIP section which is sponsored by a local bank or Merchant, VIP custom badges, and lanyards to give that VIP experience that customers love. VTS creates the experience while the fair provides the HOST/Hostess, beer, and water, and some even offer private bars and clean restrooms. We have seen ticket prices sell for hundreds of dollars with costs under $5.00 per person. This also allows the sponsor to hang banners, branding the event for the entire community to see!! Virtual Ticket also offers many types of tickets, badges, auction paddles, and sponsor hand fans offering more and more opportunities to generate even more revenue with branding opportunities. “VTS has been a great attribute to our continuously evolving fair. They have given us the ability to collect data across all 5 days of our fair all the way down to the minutes. This helps us better understand who is coming to our grounds, whether they are volunteers, vendors, or attendees. We have expanded into our food and beer sales as a POS system. Mike and Bill with VTS have done a great job stepping up our fair from the beginning and helping us evolve to fit our current setting. They have given good tips to better improve our process and we can't thank them enough. We look forward to several more fairs to come! Thanks again! Kelsey Flynn, Lincoln County Fair, Troy, MO
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Associate Spotlight Greg Frisbee By Greg Frisbee - The Rubber Chicken Show & Roving Ice Cream Cycle www.GregFrisbee.com *Rolling Laughter: The Sweet Rewards of Having More Grounds Entertainment at Our Fairs* Hey there, folks! It's Greg Frisbee here, rolling into your world with the inside scoop on why it's time to embrace having more roving grounds entertainment at our fairs. Picture this: the sun is shining, cotton candy clouds are forming, and the laughter of young and old mingles with the joyous hum of your fair. But wait, what's
missing, you ask? Well, my friends, it may be the magical allure of having roving, interactive entertainment on your grounds, those pop-up experiences that make a lasting impression and help create an overall festive atmosphere along with your fairgoers seeing the possibility of something magic and unusual at any given turn. You see, roving entertainment isn't just about adding some flavor to the fair; it's about creating an unforgettable experience that leaves everyone talking about it and craving for more. At its core, roving entertainment is all about spreading smiles, one step and one stop at a time. It's the joy of witnessing a juggling act on the move, a stilt walker towering above the crowd, or, in my case, my vintage ice cream bicycle pedaling into the scene with 3 scoops of fun and ice-cream-themed magic tricks and practical jokes. It's the kind of laughter that can sweep across the fairgrounds. One of the best things about roving entertainment is its adaptability and offering entertainment options that cater to almost every taste. You can customize the entertainment to suit your fair's theme and audience. The possibilities are as limitless as ice cream toppings
County and State Fairs are about crafting memories that last a lifetime. Sure, the Ferris Wheel is fantastic, and those funnel cakes are a sugary dream, but what about those unique things you can offer and those unexpected, delightful moments that roving entertainment can deliver? It's about the kids who can't stop talking about the magician they saw who pulled a card out of their hat or the friends who still chuckle at the sight of being potentially pranked upon by roving tricksters. These are memories that will last your fairgoers a lifetime and have them come back for more. Hiring roving entertainment isn't just an added expense; it's an investment in your fairgoers and their happiness. The smiles, laughter, and magical moments your grounds entertainers bring are priceless. They create a positive atmosphere that lingers long after the fair is over, benefiting patrons and your fair for bringing great experiences. Fairs are all about community, nostalgia, education, and of course, having a good time. By incorporating more grounds entertainment, you're not just adding a cherry on top; you're creating a fair experience that's sweeter and more memorable for everyone. So, fair organizers, take a scoop of this advice and serve up a bit of extra fun with your grounds acts at your next fair – you won't regret it, and your attendees will thank you with smiles as big as an ice cream cone! In conclusion, my friends, our Fairs are about sharing joy and savoring the sweet moments. By embracing having more roving entertainment, you're creating an experience that's sweeter, more memorable, and positively extraordinary for everyone. So let the magic of roving entertainment, roll into your next fair. Trust me; it'll be the sweetest decision you've ever made!
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Associate Spotlight JAY MATTIOLI Electrifying Magic For nearly 30 years, Jay Mattioli has been creating spectacular magic presentations to entertain virtually any venue. His magic has crisscrossed the globe, appearing in over 20 different countries and as the host of Asia's largest magic variety show, in the first public magic show in Kuwait, and as a Quarter Finalist on NBC's #1 show "America's Got Talent." Jay recently wowed the harsh NYC audience on FOX’s reboot of “SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO” hosted by Steve Harvey. And now for the past several years, Jay has been proud to bring his “Electrifying Magic” and illusion show to fairs across the U.S. Jay lives in Gainesville, VA with his wife Flor, and two children, Nicholas and Maximo. Jay got started performing magic for birthday parties and scouting events at 12 years old and eventually moved on to headlining larger festivals, college shows, and dozens of cruise ships across the world. He is also one of the few magicians in HISTORY to receive 1st Prize in Adult Stage Magic from BOTH the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Society of American Magicians's "International Contests of Magic". Jay creates many of his signature magic effects from the ground up. Jay has even released some of his original magic creations to fellow performers globally, who now incorporate Jay's magic in their own shows. Jay has a lot of pride and passion in performing for the fair and festival industry and believes it's the most challenging yet rewarding experience of his career. "Audiences at fairs are from all walks of life and may have their hands full with turkey legs, funnel cakes, and cotton candy when they come to watch the shows. But most importantly, they come with their family and friends to have good wholesome fun and for 25-30 minutes they're watching me, and the "fun" time they are hoping to have is my responsibility. That's a big deal".
Jay's hair dryer "Malfunctions" at The Dallas County Fair, IA
Jay all set to perform his Electrifying Magic show at The Cleveland County Fair, in NC Jay Levitates ala "Jedi" at The State Fair Meadowlands" in NJ
Standing ovation... from one boy, during Jay's show. Jay appearing on "America's Got Talent"
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Associate Spotlight
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James E. “Jimmy” Strates, 3rd generation Strates Shows owner, visits a historical display honoring his family’s outdoor amusement business during Opening Day of the New York State Fair.
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Good News
The Osceola County Fair held a reception to honor Dawn Rowe for her induction into the FFF Hall of Fame. From left: Joel Rose, Osceola County Fair Manager, Dawn, Dan West, FFF, Larry Berry former Osceola County Fair Manager
A J & Carolyn Ross (center) of Ross Concessions received awards for Best Décor and Best New Fair Food Item at the Carolina Classic Fair —October 2023
Libby Kent and Grayson Matchett helping a very good customer.
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Good News COLUMBIA SC (WOLO) – With the South Carolina State Fair in full swing, it means it is time for The Manmade Gourmet to get a visit from Eddie Porcelli, aka “Spaghetti Eddie.” Spaghetti and his family operate the concession stand that bears his name at fairs all over twenty fairs each year, including the one right here in Columbia. Spaghetti and his family have been in the event food business for nearly forty years, and a stop in Columbia has been on the list of stops for much of them. Spaghetti says that each season, he tries to create new fan favorites. He points out that a few years ago, he began the “pizza on a stick” craze, and this year there is a new tradition. Spaghetti decided to take his signature pie, lather it up with his secret ranch sauce, and slap dill pickles on it…and WHALLLA The Dill Pickle Pizza Pie was born. According to the pizza man, people have been loving the concoction, and it has become one his best sellers. If you are wanting to try the new classic at home, Spaghetti suggests: A good dough rounded into a nice shell, Ranch sauce with parmesan cheese, Lots of mozzarella cheese, Deli dill pickles Once the pizza is baked, shake dill weed on top, and you can enjoy your own Spaghetti Eddie Dill Pickle Pizza Pie.
Congratulations! Lady Houdini’s 3000th Water Torture Cell happened at the Coastal Carolina Fair! October 26, 2023 Ladson, South Carolina
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Good News
Josh Knotts and Mike Huckabee
https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=r1jy_3EU96k
Having a blast with Chief Meteorologist and all around fun Lanie Pope from WXII at the Carolina Classic Fair
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Good News
Florida Federation of Fairs Members at the Greater Gulf State Fair Mobile, Alabama October 27—November 5
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Welcome New Members Ice Kreme Mill Paul Anselmo, President 1977 OLD BEECH HILL RD RIDGEVILLE, SC 29472 Phone: 843-819-6731 E-mail: paulanselmo22@gmail.com Category: Concessions/Food/Beverages Business: The best ice cream operator on the East Coast
Broadway Beach Entertainment Lori Baxter 4561 PHILADELPHIA CIRCLE KISSIMMEE, FL 34746 Phone: 712-389-5831 E-mail: lori@bbeshows.com Category: Booking Agencies/Show Production/Management Business: Live Music/Live Entertainment
T & J Apparel Jim Ward 37328 CHURCH AVENUE DADE CITY, FL 33525 Phone: 813-714-1393 E-mail: tandjapparel@aol.com Website: www.sportswearcollection.com Category: Supplies/Services Business: Quality apparel decorated at a fair price. (Embroidery, Digital Fusion, Silk Screening) L&P Concessions dba A&M Concessions Margaret Lucio 4299 SR 6 WEST JASPER, FL 32052 Phone: 352-440-0512 E-mail: bluerunner2003@msn.com Business: Traditional Mexican Food and Drinks
https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/ Recreation-and-Leisure/Fairs-and-Livestock-Showsin-Florida
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In loving memory of those who cared to make a difference . . Richard E. Herriman 1-20-1939-9-17-2023 Born in Jasper, Michigan he moved to Palmetto in 1980. He was active in his church. Mr. Herriman worked for the Manatee County Fair for several years in the Exhibit Hall. He was a dedicated person who loved the fair and enjoyed meeting and talking with fairgoers. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Rose Ann, two sons: Neil and Paul, daughter Ann Marie, ten grand children, and eleven great grandchildren.
Veronica L. “Ronnie” Meyer 1947-9-14-2023 Veronica and her husband came to Citrus County in 1979 from Largo, FL. Veronica was full of life and love and never feared any challenges and did everything with that beautiful laugh & smile. She had to be busy and had to serve others, she truly had a servant's heart. She was a member of the Floral City PTO, a soccer mom, 4-H Club leader, Superintendent of Rabbits & Poultry for the Citrus County Fair Association. She is survived by her husband Ernest V and son Ernest VI and his wife Amanda.
Mike Dixon 8-1-1949-9-26-2023 It is with great sadness that I have to share the news of the passing of Mike Dixon, my partner of over 40 years. He and I founded Harmony Artists together in 1975 and together we were able to build the company to what it is today. He had a wonderfully fulfilling career managing and representing talent and working as a talent buyer for major venues. He retired in 2016 after leaving a significant impact on the industry. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend, and partner.—Jerry Ross
Marshall “Rex” Burk 7-3-1946-10-12-2023 Born in Marks, Mississippi, he lived the past 53 years in Webster, Florida. Mr. Burk was a retired director of the Sumter Fair Association Board of Directors. He was a dedicated and passionate man who loved the youth of the county. He was awarded a Lifetime Membership on his retirement from the Fair Board. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann, daughters Connie Mitchell and Frances Upshaw and five grandchildren.
Please help us honor and recognize our friends in the Fair industry who pass away during the year by sending their names and Fair affiliation to the Federation for inclusion in the Resolutions passed at each year’s convention and also be included in the next issue of the newsletter. Please include the person’s affiliation with your Fair or company and years of service. Send to: floridafairs@gmail.com and Resolutions Chairman Tim Lovett at tim@flstrawberryfestival.com
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In loving memory of those who cared to make a difference . . Cindy Lane White 6-17-1971-8-26-2023 Cindy was a past director of the Sumter County Fair Association. She was the pageant director of the Sumter County Queens Pageant. She and her husband helped extensively with the livestock program while their daughters participated. She is survived by her husband Dusty, daughters Brittani and Cheyanne, her mother Sharon, and brother Troy.
Ellen Meade 11-4-1952-8-27-2023 Ellen was born in Manatee County. In 1973 she won the title of Miss Florida and was a talent recipient at the Miss America Pageant. She established Ellen Meade Studios in Bradenton, which has a legacy spanning five decades. For years she produced the Manatee County pageants for Miss Florida and the Manatee County Fair. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Craig Thomas, her mother Audrey Meade, brother Bruce, his wife Ellen, and their children Bryce and Blake.
Wylene Rickly 1938-9-2023 Wylene became involved with the Manatee County Fair starting in 1978 and became “a fixture.” Her husband, the late Bill Rickly was a director and three time manager of the Manatee County Fair. Many in the fair industry know her by her nickname of “Pig.” Mrs. Rickly loved the Manatee County Fair and she will be dearly missed.
Charles Raymond Roddenberry 1944-10-21-2023
An Army Veteran and lifelong resident of Citrus County. He was an active 4-H leader for many years and was also involved in FFA. His leadership in the Citrus County Fair Association’s Heifer program as well as the dairy goat and dairy cow program was beneficial to scores of Citrus County Youth. He is survived by his wife Nadine, and four children: Carolyn Quintanilla, Rhonda Berg, Charlie Roddenberry, and Margaret Roddenberry who is a Director of the Citrus County Fair Association and cochairman of the Livestock Committee. Please help us honor and recognize our friends in the Fair industry who pass away during the year by sending their names and Fair affiliation to the Federation for inclusion in the Resolutions passed at each year’s convention and also be included in the next issue of the newsletter. Please include the person’s affiliation with your Fair or company and years of service. Send to: floridafairs@gmail.com and Resolutions Chairman Tim Lovett at tim@flstrawberryfestival.com
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THE FAIRCRACKER Florida Federation of Fairs & Livestock Shows, Inc. P.O. Box 368 Palmetto, FL 34220-0368 www.floridafairs.org
IT’S ALWAYS A FAIR DAY IN FLORIDA!
FLORIDA FEDERATION OF FAIRS & LIVESTOCK SHOWS, INC. Mission Statement: Increase the overall quality of Florida’s Agricultural Fairs, Provide the members the support and guidance needed to enlighten our youth and educate Fairgoers on agriculture, trade, entertainment and the heritage of Florida.