2024 ANNUAL CONVENTION!
Thank You Sponsors!
Join us at The Clarion, Minot, ND November 21-23, 2024
If you have educational session and break out topic ideas, please email those to Tera at secretary@heartlandassociationffe.com! Thank you in advance!
Future Convention Dates
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
Aegean Room: Workshop Upgranding Your Buildings on Your Fairgrounds, When, Why and How! Rusty Volk, Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
Ionian Room: Workshop Grant Writing, Megan Langly, Strengthen ND
2:00 PM 2:30 PM Forum Room: First Timers for Associates
2:45 PM 3:45 PM Educational Breakout Sessions
Aegean Room: District 1 & 2 Round Table & Review Survey Responses
Forum Room: District 3, 4 & 5 Round Table & Review Survey Responses
Ionian Room: District 6, 7 & 8 Round Table & Review Survey Responses
4:00 PM 4:30 PM Aegean Room: First Timers Fair Events
4:00 PM 6:00 PM Exhibition Room: Visit Associates/Tradeshow
5:00 PM 6:00 PM Exhibition Hall: Social and Visit Associates/Tradeshow - Hors d'oeuvre Served
6:00 PM 9:00 PM Welcome & Opening Session (Presidents Address, Introduce Associates, Dinner, Showcases)
Emcee: Mark Gramm, Romeo Entertainment Group
National Anthem: Lizzy Hofer
Presentation of the Flags: Minot Air Force Base Honor Guard
Dignitary: Mayor of Minot, ND Tom Ross
Invocation: Frank Klein, Stark County Fair
Associate of the Year Award
Showcases:Creative Community Promotions Video Showcase
Blind Joe, Carlson Talent
The Johnnie Bubar Show, Johnnie Bubar
Splat Inflatables Zip Line Video Showcase
Julia Neville, Artists & Attractions
9:00 PM 11:00 PM Exhibition Hall: 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
7:00 AM The Pavilion: Continental Breakfast provided by The Clarion
7:00 AM The Pavilion: Past President's Breakfast, on own
7:30 AM Registration Opens
8:00 AM 8:45 AM The Colisiem, Morning Announcements and Showcases!
Emcee: Robert Holmes, Spectrum Weather & Specialty Insurance
Showcases: Bubble You Bubble Tower Video Showcase
Sixties Mania, DC Entertainment
8:45AM 9:45 AM Keynote Speaker, Kathy Kramer, Organization Succession Planning –
Are You Ready for the Future or Will You be Another Ostrich?
You will attend all three educational sessions presented by ND State Fair Staff. An experience you will not want to miss! Everyone is encouraged to attend as these are your breakout sessions for Friday Morning!
12:15 PM 1:45 PM The Colisiem: Lunch, Showcases
Emcee: Johnnie Bubar
Invocation: Amy Meyer, etix
Showcases: Montana Premier Foam Party Video Showcase
Rock Creek Revival, Rock Creek Revival
DownTown Events Video Showcase
Gordie & Debbie Show, Gordie & Debbie
2:00 PM 2:45 PM Exhbition Hall: Visit Associates/Tradeshow
3:00 PM 3:45 PM Educational Breakout Sessions
Aegean Room: Workshop Care & Feeding of the Media, Kathy Kramer
Ionian Room: Workshop Let's Talk Livestock, Tiffany Weigem, Mercer County Fair and Darrin Erdmann, TexKota
Panel and Gate
3:00 PM 3:45 AM Forum Room: Associates Meeting, Election of Board Member
4:00 PM 5:00 PM Aegean Room: Annual Meeting
5:00 PM 6:00 PM Exhibition Hall: Visit Associates/Tradeshow
6:00 PM 10:00 PM The Coliseum: Dinner, Auction, Silent Auction, Awards, Showcases
Emcee: Keith Raymond, The Magic of Keith Raymond
Invocation: Rick Bauman, Mercer County Fair
Silent & Live Auctions
Showcases: That 60's Band, Dakota Red/That 60's Show
Danielle Nowell, Daniell Nowell
Branded Heart, Liz Gregory Talent
Montana Premier Stunt Jump Video Showcase
Kat Perkins, DownTown Events
Jarrod Turner & Chad Brock, Creative Community Promotions
10:00 PM 11:00 PM Exhibition Hall: Visit Associates/Tradeshow
11:00 PM Hospitality Rooms Open
Dakota Talent Jam Room #715
Saturday, November 23, 2024
7:00 AM 8:45AM The Pavilion: Continental Breakfast Provided by The Clarion
9:00AM 9:45 AM Educational Sessions
Aegean Room: Workshop Marketing, Direction and Using Gorilla Marketing with a Small Staff On a Budget, Kathy Kramer
Ionian Room: Round Table/Workshop Band Bookings, Contracts & Negotiations, Garrett Kropp, Booz-N-Tuna
Forum Room: Round Table Sensory Day, Brandy Heller, Upper Missouri Valley Fair
10:00 AM 10:45 AM Educational Sessions
Aegean Room: Workshop The Power of AI to Save Time and Energy! Kyle Bittle, Minot State University
Ionian Room: Workshop North Dakota Tourism! Mike Jensen, Tourism Outdoor Recreation Manager
Forum Room: Round Table Open Discussion Last chance round table discussion.
11:00AM 12:00 PM The Coliseum: Lunch, Announcement of New Board of Directors
Emcee: Brad Brummond, Heartland Association President
Invocation: Don Jelsing - Pierce County Fair
Final Awards
*** 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.
Award Nomination Forms
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
Event Person of the Year
Associate of the Year
Hall of Fame
IAFE Heritage Award Winners
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
Members
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.