State Fair of WV and S.J. Neathawk Celebrate 3rd Year for Youth Leadership Council
LEWISBURG, WV (12/17/2012)(readMedia)– The State Fair of West Virginia in partnership with S.J. Neathawk Lumber is excited to celebrate the third year of their partnership with the Youth Leadership Council. According to State Fair Special Events Concessions manager, Randi Nikolas, “We’ve truly enjoyed working with the participants from the past two years and are pleased that S.J. Neathawk Lumber has continued their support in this very important effort. Our goal is to further engage our state’s youth in the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment and education while broadening their leadership and organizational skills. S.J. Neathawk is a family run company that has a strong history of supporting youth and this is their way of ensuring strong youth leaders for the future.”
Council members are expected to complete a minimum number of volunteer hours that tie into the preparation and execution of the annual fair, develop programs and events that promote the State Fair Endowment as well as to challenge their leadership and organizational skills. Youth Council members will also have opportunities to be involved in promotional events that support the fair throughout the year. The 2012 Fair, saw Youth Council members supporting the State Fair Endowment by serving in the WV Building as they sold freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Plans are in place to grow the program and to further engage Youth Council members.
The Youth Leadership Council is open to youth ages 16 through 21 and members are selected through an application and interview process. There are six available seats that serve a one-year term. Applications can be found at statefairofwv.com or by phoning the State Fair at 304-645-1090. The application deadline for 2013 is January 18th.
The State Fair of West Virginia, with an $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the State of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com.
State Fair Receives International Recognition
LEWISBURG, WV (12/07/2012)(readMedia)– The State Fair of West Virginia has received three top awards in the IAFE’s annual industry wide communications awards contest, the purpose of which is to improve the advertising and publicity programs of fairs and to provide recognition for those fairs doing an outstanding job. Awards were received in the following categories:
- First Place – Poster (Artwork created by local graphic artist Matt Landers)
- First Place – Best Promotional Event (The State Fair’s Fun First Endowment Fundraiser)
- First Place – Innovative and Best Executed Sponsorship (For the Hometown RV Village)
“This is a very important competition and to leave the convention with three First Place awards was a great feeling! Budget constraints mean we have to be extremely resourceful with our marketing budget and creativity is the name of the game!” stated Marlene Pierson-Jolliffe, CEO. There are a total of twenty-six award categories for the Communications Awards, each divided into 5 divisions by attendance, that a Fair or Expo can enter. The entries are evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders. These individuals are selected from the membership of International Association of Fairs and Expositions, which has over 1,200 members from around the globe. The awards were presented during the Awards Reception on November 28, 2012, during the 122nd annual IAFE Convention held in Las
Vegas, Nevada. These awards are sponsored by KK Insurance.
The State Fair of West Virginia, with an $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the State of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com.
State Fair Flea Market Moving Indoors
LEWISBURG, WV (11/05/2012)(readMedia)– The fairgrounds flea market is moving inside the heated West Virginia building for the winter season. The first indoor market will be Saturday, November 17, 2012 with markets scheduled every Tuesday and Saturday until late March.
The indoor flea market provides shoppers an opportunity to “treasure hunt” and local vendors an affordable indoor retail location through the cold winter months! Look for a variety of antiques, collectibles, gently worn clothing, electronics and more. Weekly markets are open 7 am to 1 pm and a food concession is available.
Vendors interested in participating may phone 304-645-1090 or visit statefairofwv.com to download a vendor application and rules. Applications may also be obtained in the State Fair office, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 4 pm. Discounts are offered to vendors for long-term space rental.
The State Fair Event Center is a 175 acre multi-purpose meeting and exposition facility providing a wide variety of event rental opportunities.
State Fairgrounds Christmas Barn Decorating Contest Underway Soon!
LEWISBURG, WV (11/02/2012)(readMedia)– Local civic groups and businesses are invited to participate in the Christmas Barn Decorating Contest at the State Fairgrounds in Fairlea. Participants will have the opportunity to decorate one of ten harness racing barns that face Rt. 219 North. Marlene Pierson-Jolliffe, CEO, stated “We revived this program during last year’s Christmas season and had an overwhelming response from the community. Everywhere I went people commented on how happy they were to see the barns decorated again during the holidays.” The winning entry receives $300, with second and third place receiving $200 and $100 respectivley. Only the east end of the barns will be decorated and work must be completed by Monday, December 3rd, 2012. Phone 304-645-1090 or visit the State
Fair office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:00 pm to get an entry form and details. Entry forms can can also be emailed or found on the fair’s web site at www.statefairofwv.com.
The State Fair of West Virginia, with an $13.8 million dollar statewide economic impact, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. The 2013 fair is themed “Feel the Magic” and is scheduled August 9-17. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com.
2012 State Fair of West Virginia a Success
LEWISBURG, WV (08/29/2012)(readMedia)– The 88th annual State Fair of West Virginia, themed “Memories that Grow…Year After Year,” proved to be a success, while providing thousands of great memories for fairgoers! “I think people needed to exhale and have fun!” stated Chief Executive Officer, Marlene Jolliffe. “It was a long challenging summer and we are grateful that people decided to celebrate the end of summer by visiting the fair. Good weather combined with a strong free entertainment program, and a popular grandstand concert series proved to be a winning combination.”
Final audited gate attendance is not available, however, attendance is projected between 185,000 and 190,000. Ticketed grandstand events drew over 25,000 with one sellout and one “near” sellout. Fairgoers boosted food sales by 3% setting another food gross record and the Reithoffer carnival midway saw a 1% increase in carnival revenue despite rain on opening day.
Several of the fair’s livestock competitions saw an increase in participation with cool temperatures making for pleasant conditions in the livestock facilities. The Junior 4-H and FFA livestock show featured over 420 exhibitors and over 1,000 head of livestock exhibits. The open show saw much of the same success with around 500 exhibitors and over 2,500 head of livestock. In the popular Dairy Birthing Center, 22 calves were born, giving fairgoers several opportunities to catch a live birth. Despite approximately 4,000 competitive exhibits that entered and displayed in the Home, Arts and Garden competitions, the dryer than normal summer lead to a decrease in horticulture exhibits.
Jolliffe states “The return of the circus was a huge hit with families. This family entertainment element combined with thousands of “teachable moments” about the story of agriculture make the State Fair relevant and magical! We are looking ahead to the 89th edition August 9-17, 2013 and to the many events and activities that will take place at our facility between now and next August.”
The State Fair of West Virginia, with an $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the State of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com.
88th Annual State Fair of West Friday Opens Friday, August 10th
LEWISBURG, WV (08/06/2012)(readMedia)– The 88th Annual State Fair of West Virginia opens this Friday in Fairlea. “We are anxious to open Friday and see our fairgoers enjoy what we’ve worked all year to create”, stated CEO, Marlene Pierson-Jolliffe. “This summer has been especially challenging due to the effects of the late June storm, however, when we open the gates Friday we will deliver the best showcase of agriculture, education and family entertainment found anywhere in West Virginia.”
The 2012 State Fair concert series opens Friday night with Trace Adkins at 8 p.m. Fairgoers can enjoy a circus, lumberjack show, and a variety of music on the Ntelos Center Stage. Carnival enthusiasts will have 52 rides to choose from on the Reithoffer carnival midway and thousands of livestock will be on display and in competition!
Tickets for available for all concerts with details found at www.statefairofwv.com or by phoning 304-645-1090.
The 2012 State Fair is themed “Memories that grow…year after year” and is scheduled for August 10-18, 2012. The State Fair of West Virginia has a $13.8 million annual economic impact on the state of West Virginia and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com or follow the fair on Facebook or Twitter.
