WEST ALLIS – Wisconsin State Fair officials are honored to announce they received 38 awards in various divisions and categories at the 2017 International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Convention.
Wisconsin State Fair is judged in Division 5, which includes all fairs, expositions and rodeos with annual attendance of more than one million (based on 2016 attendance). The four different award classifications include Agricultural Awards, Competitive Exhibits Awards, Innovation in Sponsorship and Hall of Honor Communications Awards.
Within the Agricultural Awards categories, the fair received a total of six awards, including a first place designation in Agriculture Program Area Beautification. The Agriculture Awards strive to recognize fairs that provide outstanding agricultural education to the fair-going public.
In the Competitive Exhibits Awards, Wisconsin State Fair received a total of 19 awards this year, including Supreme Champion and Best of Division, as well as nine first place awards in various categories. The Competitive Exhibits Awards Program recognizes excellence in displays and programs, and enhances the IAFE resource library with ideas and information for other fairs to utilize.
The fair was also recognized for its exemplary efforts in sponsorship, sweeping this class by winning first place in all three categories – Sponsorship Innovation, First Time Sponsorship and Sponsorship Continuity – as well as the overall division title.
Marketing and communications received nine awards in the Hall of Honor Communications Awards, including the coveted Best Marketing Campaign award. Additional highlights included first place awards for Unique Advertising Specialties, Merchandise and Souvenirs, Single Brochure/Flyer, Commemorative Poster and Newspaper Advertisement, as well as awards for Promotional Event, Electronic Newsletter and Printed Promotional Material.
“The IAFE awards programs are extremely competitive, and Division 5 includes the biggest and best fairs, expositions and rodeos not only in the U.S., but across the globe,” said Kathleen O’Leary, CEO of Wisconsin State Fair Park. “We are honored to compete against many great events, and to consistently win various awards across all categories. Awards like these encourage and motivate our staff as we plan for the 2018 Wisconsin State Fair, and are something our fairgoers, sponsors and partners can be very proud of.”
