The Franklin County Fair Board hosted the Association of Iowa Fairs Spring North Central District meeting on Saturday at the Hampton Country Club, with representatives from 20 county fair boards in attendance.
The keynote speaker was Ian Hill, founder of the You Make a Difference Initiative. Hill outlined strategies to help fair boards build community, encourage innovation, and educate in today’s digitally driven society.
Association of Iowa Fairs Executive Director Tom Barnes says the presentation offered valuable insight into how fair boards can prepare for the future.
“It brings a different light into the county fairs. It shows fairs that there’s new ways of how to connect with people, how fairs can just stop thinking of inside the box and look outside the box,” says Barnes. “Ian Hill has brought a great initiative to us with the You Make the Difference program. It gives fairs an idea of what technology is and what the future is. Of course, we can’t predict that totally, but it kind of gives us an insight of what the future could be and how fairs can take advantage of that.”
The initiative’s mission is to help fair boards address volunteer shortages, improve financial sustainability, and prevent leadership burnout. It has provided resources to more than 2,300 fair boards nationwide.
North Central District Associate Director Jon Baltes says young people can help guide fair leaders through changing times.
“We need the young people get involved in it, to get on the boards, be volunteers and show us what they need and how they connect with people. That’s just changing the times and that’s what fair has got to do,” says Baltes. “We’ve got to change with the times and keep up, but continue to keep that base of family and good citizenship.”
The initiative following the presentation provides 30 days of online training resources for county fair staff.
More Information:
Association of Iowa Fairs – iowafairs.com
You Make the Difference Initiative – thechangingpoint.life
