Thank you!
| Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, interns and attendees for making Energize a success!
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Energize Survey
| Help make the WFA Convention and Trade Show even more successful. Participate in the WFA Convention survey. Surveys will be emailed soon and we encourage you to rate your experience.
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Speaker Presentations
| As requested, speaker presentations from Convention are posted on the Convention website, under the session title. Click Events, then Educational Programming. Filter by Past Events. Click on the session title and scroll to the bottom of the page.
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Committee Call
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Join a WFA committee and make your voice heard. Share your thoughts, ideas and expertise by serving on a WFA committee. If selected to serve, you will be notified by email. All interested members in good standing should contact WFA Meetings Manager Liz Waxstein at lizw@fairnset.org or WFA President Kent Hojem at kent@thefair.com. All requests will be reviewed by the WFA president.
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The 90th annual Western Fairs Association (WFA) Convention and Trade Show opened on January 20 at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada, for the start of a highly successful four-day run. More than 1,000 fair CEOs, directors, staff, service members and fair industry professionals attended our premier event. Highlights included:
Performances: The show officially began with great renditions of the Canadian and US national anthems by award-winning vocalist Kris Stephanian of Nevada County at Monday's Opening General Session. A total of 14 acts and attractions performed on the Showcase stage provided by WFA Service Members Speeda Sound and LB Production Center. Prize drawings, dollar beers and great performances kept the delegates entertained.
Programming: Three core sessions, Kelly McDonald's opening presentation on Mommy Marketing, Rey O'Day's Industry Best Practices report and a new session highlighting Merrill Award nominees were all well received. From Top Marketing Trends and Increasing Bucks and Butts to Animal/Human Interactions at Fairs and Second Generation Business Owners, attendees had numerous cutting-edge sessions to choose from. More than 70 attendees were treated to a tour of casino kitchen facilities and NICA/Sysco educational workshops on the potential of serving a wide variety of protein products profitably.
Awards: Karla Majewski, Pacific Animal Productions, and Elisa Hays, Let's Pretend Entertainment, took home the prestigious Barham Award, recognizing innovation, quality and leadership of service. California Exposition & State Fair CEO Rick Pickering was inducted into the WFA Hall of Fame. The Merill Award was awarded to the California Mid-State Fair, Grand National Rodeo, Monterey County Fair, San Benito County Fair, Santa Barbara County Fair and Ventura County Fair for their collaborative Central Coast Wine Competition.
Leadership: The successful Convention closed with Sandy Woods, Nevada County Fair CEO, turning the leadership gavel over to Washington State Fair CEO Kent Hojem. Pat Kress, PK Consulting, will serve as vice president and Amador County Fair CEO Troy Bowers assumed the treasurer post for the WFA board.
Plans are already underway for the 91st Western Fairs Association Convention and Trade Show, January 5-8, 2014, in Anaheim, California. Stay tuned!
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