Thank You 2025 Convention Sponsors!
Join us at The Huron Event Center, Huron, SD November 20-22, 2025
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
The Clarion, Minot, ND November 19-21, 2026
The Ramkota/Best Western, Aberdeen, SD November 18-20, 2027
The Clarion, Minot, ND November 16-18, 2028
Travel Tips & Directions to Huron
Registration is now open, Early Bird Pricing now through November 5:
Associate Member Information
Fair Festival & Event Member Information
2025 Convention Schedule
*Schedule subject to change, for the most up to date schedule and full descripton, please download the HAFFE APP.
| Date | Location | Event | Speaker(s) |
| Thursday, November 20, 2025 | |||
| 9:00AM | Pre Function Foyer | Associate Tradeshow Booth Setup | |
| 9:00AM | Welcome/Registration Table | Registration Desk Open | |
| 1:00PM BUSSES DEPART HEC for SD State Fairgrounds | |||
| SD State Fairgrounds |
SD State Fairgrounds Tour | SD State Fair Staff, Peggy Besch | |
ROTATION BETWEEN THREE SESSIONS - ROTATION TIMES ARE BELOW
|
SD State Fairgrounds | Service Dogs & Safety: What Every Fair Staff Should Know | Charlotte Henley |
| SD State Fairgrounds | Fair for ALL: Creating Truly Inclusive Events | Courtny Hinds | |
| 3:00PM | Symposium Room | First Timers for Associates | Keith Raymond |
| 4:00PM | Symposium Room | First Timers for Fairs, Festivals & Event Members | |
| 4:00PM | Pre Function Foyer | Visit Associates/Tradeshow | |
| 5:00PM | Pre Function Foyer | Welcome Social & Visit Associates | |
| 6:00PM | Dakota Grand Ballroom | Welcome & Opening Session, Dinner | Troop 222 |
| 9:30PM | Pre Function Foyer | Visit Associates/Tradeshow | |
| 11:00PM | Hospitality Rooms - Pool Side | Hospitality Rooms Are Open! | |
| Friday, November 21, 2025 | |||
| 6:30AM | Crossroads Hotel Lobby | Continental Breakfast Buffet | |
| 7:30AM | Board Room | Past Presidents Breakfast | Brad Brummond |
| 8:00AM | Welcome/Registration Table | Registration Desk Open | |
| 8:00AM | Dakota Grand Ballroom | Morning Session | Ian Hill |
| 8:45AM | Dakota Grand Ballroom | Keynote | Ian Hill |
| 10:00AM | Symposium Room | From Vision to Victory: How North Dakota Fairs Secured HB 1591 | Brad Brummond, Diane Schell, Frank Klein |
| 10:00AM | Prairie Grand Ballroom | Plays That Pay: The Proven Fair Success Playbook | Scott Hillyer, CEO of Fairs.com |
| 10:00AM | Salon #1 & #2 | Safe & Sound: Inflatable Operations Every Fair Should Know | Patrick Branger |
| 11:00AM | Symposium Room | Practical AI Magic: Tools to Elevate Your Fair | Courtny Hinds |
| 11:00AM | Salon #1 & #2 | Connecting Your Kid Zone to All Generations | Holly Wade |
| 11:00AM | Prairie Grand Ballroom | Doing More with Less: Building Strong Fairs on Small Budgets | Kyle Palmer |
| 12:00PM | Dakota Grand Ballroom | Lunch, Showcases | jill Albanese |
| 1:30PM | Pre Function Foyer | Visit Associates/Tradeshow | |
| 3:00PM | Symposium Room | Associates Annual Meeting | |
| 3:00PM | Salon #1 & #2 | Competitive Exhibit Entries: Systems, Trends & Strategies | Tiffany Weigem, Jeanette Linke, McKenzie Bierman |
| 3:00PM | Prairie Grand Ballroom | Small But Mighty: Thriving Through Change with a Tiny Team | Abby Bischoff |
| 4:00PM | Prairie Grand Ballroom | Annual Meeting | |
| 5:00PM | Pre Function Foyer | Visit Associates/Tradeshow | |
| 6:00PM | Dakota Grand Ballroom | Friday Evening Dinner & Showcases | |
| 10:00PM | Pre Function Foyer | Visit Associates/Tradeshow | |
| 11:00PM | Hospitality Rooms - Pool Side | Hospitality Rooms Are Open! | |
| Saturday, November 22, 2025 | |||
| 6:30AM | Crossroads Hotel Lobby | Continental Breakfast Buffet | |
| 9:00AM | Symposium Room | Making the Best of Trade and Earned Media | Kandi Cornford |
| 9:00AM | Prairie Grand Ballroom | Weathering the Storm: Understanding Weather Insurance for Your Event | Robert Holmes |
| 9:00AM | Salon #1 & #2 | Livestock Shows Roundtable: Continuing the Conversation | Tiffany Weigem, Darrin Erdmann |
| 9:00AM | Board Room | 2026 Board of Directors Meeting | |
| 10:00AM | Prairie Grand Ballroom | Efficient Meetings Using Parliamentary Procedure | Jim Connors, PhD, PRP |
| 10:00AM | Salon #1 & #2 | Hoop Barns: Cost, Durability & Practical Use on the Fairgrounds | Darrin Erdmann, Perry Blocker, Rick Bauman |
| 10:00AM | Symposium Room | The Future of Fairs: Smarter Ticketing, Sharper Marketing | Bryant Chappell, Dennis Scanlon |
| 11:00AM | Dakota Grand Ballroom | Lunch, Showcases, Fair/Event Person of the Year Award, Announcement of new board of directors, final fairwell |
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.