Convention Information

The 2021 Heartland Association of Fairs, Festivals and Events Convention will be held November 18-20, 2021, at the Best Western Ramkota in Aberdeen, SD.

Fair, Festival & Event Members CLICK HERE for Convention Registration

Associate Members CLICK HERE for Convention Registration

2021 Together Towards Tomorrow

Thursday, November 18th

9:00am-12:00pm: Registration Open & Associate Booth Set-up

12:00pm-4:00pm: Associate Booth Set-up

1:00pm-6:00pm: Registration Open

1:30pm-2:30pm: Educational Sessions

• Financial Operations, Renae Korslien (ND State Fair)           Round Table • Dakota Room E

• Revenue Generating Ideas for Your Fairgrounds on the Off Season, Emily Grunewald

                        (Red River Valley Fair),Mike Schmitz (701 Food Trucks)        Workshop • Dakota Room D

• Raising Funds for Handicap Accessibility on your Grounds, Brian Carlson (Carlson Talent)  Workshop • Dakota Room B

2:45pm-3:45pm: Educational Sessions

• Engaging the Next Generation, Kara Fladstol (Weston County Fair)  Round Table • Dakota Room E

• The Good the Bad and the Ugly of Renting/Sharing Buildings and Facilities, Brad Brummond (Walsh County Fair)  Round Table • Dakota Room B

3:30pm-4:00pm: First Timers for Associates
• Theater

4:00pm-4:30pm: First Timers for Fair Members
• Theater

4:00pm-5:00pm: Visit Associates/Tradeshow

5:00pm-6:00pm: Social Hour/Visit Associates • Hor D’oeuvres Served in Concourse

6:00pm-10:00pm: Introduce Associates, Dinner, Presidents Welcome: Corey Heiser

District I & II Awards, Showcases  • Convention Hall

Emcee: Keith Raymond  •  Invocation: Marty Davis

Showcases include:

Creative Community Promotions Video Showcase             

Madd Hoss Jackson (Variety Attractions)

The String Showdown (GL Berg)

Sherwin Linton (Sherwin Linton Entertainment) 

Twinkle & Friends (Creative Community Promotions)

10:00pm -11:00pm: Visit Associates, Registration Open

10:00pm - Hospitality Rooms Open

Friday, November 19th*

6:00am: Continental Breakfast Buffet Open • Minerva’s Restaurant

8:00am: Registration Opens

8:30am: Opening Ceremony • Convention Hall

Emcee: Tim Stevens

Flag Presentation

Pledge of Allegiance

National Anthem: Theresa Edgar

Mayor’s Welcome: Mayor Travis Schaunaman

Showcases

Showcases include:

JK Fire Video Showcase (JK Fire)

BubbleYou® Bubble Tower Video (Bill Coleman)

9:15am-10:00am: Keynote Speaker, Bill Ogg

10:15am-12:00pm: Visit Associates/Tradeshow • Refreshments & Snacks in Concourse   Courtesy of the Best Western, Aberdeen

11:00am-12:00pm: Educational Sessions

• Carpe Diem - Seize the Day. Bill will share his experiences over the years in management! Come with questions! Bill Ogg (Nebraska State Fair) Round Table • Dakota Room E

• A Guide to Booking Your Midway John Hanschen (Thomas Carnival), Corey Heiser (Games Galore)  Workshop • Dakota Room D

   • Gate Operations & Check In Procedures, Suzanne Moen (Brown County Fair), Round Table • Dakota Room B

12:15pm-1:45pm:  Lunch, District V Award and Showcases • Convention Hall

Emcee: Freddie Prez  •  Invocation: Sherwin Linton

Showcases include:

 Messy Mania and Mini Ninjas Video (Holly Wade)

TC Hatter & Marcianne (TC Hatter)

Cale Moon Country Entertainer (Cale Moon)

2:00pm-2:45pm: Educational Sessions

• Staffing & Volunteers: What Are You Doing to Make It Work? Corey Heiser (Games Galore), Round Table • Dakota Room E

• Social Media. Dana Matthies (Turner County Fair), Workshop • Dakota Room D

• Benefits and Logistics of Creating a Kids Zone at Your Fair, Holly Wade (Miss Bows), Mark Landa (Greater Grand Forks Fair), Workshop • Dakota Room B

3:00pm-3:45pm: Educational Sessions

• How to Recruit Younger Adults to the Fair Board, Kara Fladstol (Weston County Fair), Brad Brummond (Walsh County Fair), Round Table • Dakota Room E

• Understanding the Evolving Ticketing Landscape of Your Fair (Etix), Workshop • Dakota Room D    

• Vendors/Commercial Exhibitors (SD State Fair) and Don Merkens (Norman County Fair), Round Table • Dakota Room B

3:00pm-3:45pm: Associates Meeting, Associate Board Member Election • Theater

4:00pm-5:00pm:  Annual Meeting  • Convention Hall

5:00pm-6:00pm: Visit Associates/Tradeshow

• Refreshments & Snacks in Concourse,   Courtesy of the Hotel Alliance, Aberdeen

6:00pm-10:00pm: Dinner, Silent & Live Auction, District VII Award & Showcases• Convention Hall

Emcee: Joey Barnette  •  Invocation: Cale Moon

Auctioneer: Delbert Hinkeman (Big Iron Auctions)

Showcases include:

Crazy Contests from Freddie Prez Video (Freddie Prez)

Jessica Lynn Witty (Liz Gregory Talent)

Just Duet! Dueling Piano Show

Magic Norm (Carlson Talent Agency),

The Best of MoTown (Creative Community Promotions)

The Devon Worley Band (Downtown Events)     

10:00pm -11:00pm: Visit Associates/Tradeshow

Hospitality Rooms Open

Saturday, November 20th*

6:00am: Continental Breakfast Buffet Opens • Minerva’s Restaurant

9:00am-9:45am: Educational Sessions

• Value Driven Entertainment for the Entire Family, Brad Brummond (Walsh County Fair), Round Table • Dakota Room E

• Weather Insurance/Cancellation Insurance Robert Holmes (Spectrum Weather Insurance), Scott Wick (Sioux Empire Fair), Workshop • Dakota Room D

9:45am-11:15am: Visit Associates/Tradeshow Last Chance • Concourse • Refreshments & Snacks in Concourse, Courtesy of Etix

10:00am-10:45am: Educational Sessions

• Visitor Livestock Exhibit Relations & Safety, Dana Matthies (Turner County Fair), Round Table • Dakota Room E

• Ground Operations, Cody Cashman, (Red River Valley Fair) Round Table • Dakota Room B

11:15am- Lunch, Final Awards and Showcase (Associate of the Year, Fairperson of the Year Award, Hall of Fame) • Convention Hall

Emcee: Mark Gramm  •  Invocation: Keith Raymond

Showcase Includes:

Bruno Mars Tribute (Creative Community Promotions)

Induction of 2022 Board Officers & Directors

Join us in Minot, ND November  2022!

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.

HAFFE Membership