Huron Event Center, Huron, SD November 20-22, 2025
Click the links below for Registration Information:
Associate Member Information
Fair Festival & Event Member Information
Convention Schedule
Thursday, November 21, 2024
*Schedule subject to change
9:00 AM 12:00 PM Registration & Associate Tradeshow Booth Setup
12:00 PM 4:00 PM Associate Tradeshow Booth Setup
1:00 PM 6:00 PM Registration
1:30 PM 2:30 PM Educational Breakout Sessions
Workshop: Upgranding Your Buildings on Your Fairgrounds, When, Why and How! Rusty Volk, Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
Workshop: Grant Writing, Megan Langly, Strengthen ND
2:45 PM 3:45 PM Educational Breakout Sessions
District 1 & 2 Round Table & Review Survey Responses
District 3, 4 & 5 Round Table & Review Survey Responses
District 6, 7 & 8 Round Table & Review Survey Responses
3:30 PM 4:00 PM First Timers for Associates
4:00 PM 4:30 PM First Timers Fair Events
4:00 PM 6:00 PM Visit Associates/Tradeshow
5:00 PM 6:00 PM Social and Visit Associates - Hors d'oeuvre Served
6:00 PM 9:00 PM Welcome & Opening Session (Presidents Address, Introduce Associates, Dinner, Showcases)
9:00 PM 11:00 PM Visit Associates/Tradeshow, *NEW FOR 2024! Tradeshow Theme Party Dress in your favorite sports theme, or jersey! We are hosting a Sports Themed Party! There will be prizes given throughout the evening - come ready to participate!
Registration Open
11:00 PM Hospitality Rooms Open
Friday, November 22, 2024
6:30 AM Breakfast On Own in Hotel Continental Buffet Area
7:00 AM Past President's Breakfast - On Own in Hotel Continental Buffet Area
8:00 AM Registration Opens
8:00 AM 8:45 AM Meeting in the Collissium, MOrning Announcements and Showcases!
8:45AM 9:45 AM Keynote Speaker, Kathy Kramer, Organization Succession Planning –
Are You Ready for the Future or Will You be Another Ostrich?
10:100AM 12:00 PM Shuttle to and from the ND State Fair Center will be provided and encouraged to use, Breakouts, Tours Etc. Groups will be divided for Tours and breakout sessions and will rotate every 25 minutes.
Breakouts will be Fairgrounds Facilities Management, Fairgrounds Tour and Marketing at a State Fair Level
12:15 PM 1:45 PM Lunch, Showcases
2:00 PM 2:45 PM Visit Associates/Tradeshow
3:00 PM 3:45 PM Educational Breakout Sessions
Workshop: Care and Feeding of the Media, Kathy Kramer
3:00 PM 3:45 AM Associates Meeting, Election of Board Member
4:00 PM 5:00 PM Annual Meeting
5:00 PM 6:00 PM New Board of Directors Meeting (TBD)
5:00 PM 6:00 PM Visit Associates/Tradeshow
6:00 PM 10:00 PM Dinner, Auction, Silent Auction, Awards, Showcases
10:00 PM 11:00 PM Visit Associates/Tradeshow
11:00 PM Hospitality Rooms Open
Saturday, November 23, 2024
8:00 AM 9:45AM Breakfast Provided by the Clarion, Continental
9:00AM 9:45 AM Educatonal Sessions
Workshop: Marketing, Direction and Using Gorilla Marketing with a Small Staff On a Budget, Kathy Kramer
Round Table: Sensory Day, Brandy Heller, Upper Missouri Valley Fair
10:00 AM 10:45 AM Educational Breakout Sessions
Workshop: The Power of AI to Save Time and Money! Kyle Bittle, University of Minot
11:00AM 12:00 PM Lunch, , Final Awards, Showcases, Announcement of New Board of Directors
*** As a reminder, the schedule is subject to change as we are working on the final itenerary. There are a handful of Educational Session Leaders we are waiting on a final response from and they will be added to the schedule. Thank you!
We pay tribute to those who have given much to the fair industries in North and South Dakota. Below you will find those were honored by the respective North and South Dakota Fair Associations prior to merging to form the Heartland Association of Fairs, Festivals and Events.
Download the 'Associate of the Year' form Download the 'Event Person of the Year' Award form Download the 'Hall of Fame' Award form
Online 'Associate of the Year' Award form Online 'Event Person of the Year' Award form Online 'Hall of Fame' Award form
Brian Carlson
Neil Fleming - Pembina County and North Dakota State Fair
Edwin Schmidt - McLean County Fair
Charles 'Chuck' Meikle - Stutsman County Fair and North Dakota State Fair
Any fair, festival, event, associate or individual may become a member of the Heartland Association of Fairs, Festivals and Events! Members will be listed in the membership directory that will be handed out at our annual convention, as well as displayed on our website, allowing for additional exposure to help reach individual goals. Members will also receive a wealth of information that will help in generating new ideas to enhance future events. We invite you to apply for HAFFE membership, as well as view information on our current members.