THANK YOU 2023 CONVENTION SPONSORS!
Join us at the Best Western Ramkota, Aberdeen, SD November 16-18, 2023!
Click the links below for Registration Information:
Associate Member Information
Fair Festival & Event Member Information
Convention Schedule
Thursday, November 16, 2023
*Schedule subject to change
9:00AM-12:00PM Registration & Associate Tradeshow Booth Setup
1:00PM-4:00PM Associate Tradeshow Booth Setup
1:00PM-6:00PM Registration
1:30PM-2:30PM Educational Breakout Sessions
ROOM B Social Media Program
Ward Hilger - Hooked Up Enterprises
ROOM D Crisis Communications for Incidents
Allan Miller - MEP, Crisis Management
ROOM E Creating Lasting Partnerships with Fairs & Festivals
Holly Wade - Miss Bows - Associate Round Table
2:45PM-3:45PM Educational Breakout Sessions
ROOM B Grand Champion Competitive Exhibits!
Jill Albanese - Wisconsin State Fair
ROOM D Emergency Planning/Evacuation
Keith Raymond - Magic of Keith Raymond
ROOM E 4H and FFA Ideas to Grow Continued Interest
Emily Grunewald - Red River Valley Fair and Julie Hammer - Sioux Empire Fair
3:30PM-4:00PM
THEATER First Timers for Associates
4:00PM-4:30PM
THEATER First Timers Fairs, Festivals & Events
4:00PM-6:00PM Visit Associates/Tradeshow
5:00PM-6:00PM Social & Visit Associates/Tradeshow
Hors d’oeuvres Served Sponsored by Etix
6:00PM-10:00PM Welcome & Opening Session
CONVENTION HALL (Presidents Address, Introduce Associates, Dinner, Associate of the Year Award, Showcases)
Sponsored by Red River Valley Fair and Sioux Empire Fair
Emcee: Keith Raymond - Magic of Keith Raymond
National Anthem: Cale Moon
Presentation of Flags: Troop 188 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Mayor of Aberdeen, Mayor Travis Schaunaman
Invocation: Deb Hatlewick - Stutsman County Fair
SHOWCASES The ABLeS - Liz Gregory Talent
Weston Frank - Hooked Up Enterprises
The KR Balloon Factory (Video) - Keith Raymond
Bon Jour - Artists & Attractions
Tyler Richton & The High Bank Boys - Artists & Attractions
10:00PM-11:00PM Visit Associates/Tradeshow
Registration Open
Hospitality Rooms Open
Friday, November 17, 2023
7:30AM Past President’s Breakfast
8:00AM Registration Opens
7:30AM-8:15AM Breakfast - Continental Breakfast
MINERVA’S Provided by Best Western/Ramkota
8:30AM-10:00AM Keynote, Showcases
CONVENTION HALL Emcee: Jodi Buresh - Saffire
SHOWCASES Shania Too - DC Entertainment
Jennifer's Barnyard All Creatures (Video) - Creative Community Promotions
Lizzy Hofer Band - Lizzy Hofer Entertainment
Special Guest: Scott Kozelka - IAFE Zone IV
KEYNOTE Be Better
Lori Wickett - EIGHT:18
10:15AM-12:00PM Visit Associates/Tradeshow
Refreshment Break Sponsored by Greater Grand Forks Fair, North Dakota State Fair and TMS Inc.
11:00AM-12:00PM Educational Breakout Sessions
District Breakout Meetings & Networking
ROOM B District 1, 2 and 3
ROOM D District 4, 5 and 6
ROOM E District 7 & 8
12:15PM-1:45PM Lunch, Showcases
CONVENTION HALL Sponsored by Romeo Entertainment Group
Emcee: Jim Birkemeyer, Norman County Fair
Invocation: Cale Moon
SHOWCASES Sherwin Linton - Sherwin Linton Entertainment
Etix (Video)
Ashley Wineland - DownTown Events
2:00PM-2:45PM Educational Breakout Sessions
ROOM B Live Music Promotion and Planning...
Ways to Advertise and Prepare for Bands at Your Fair
Ann Marie Westercamp - Eli Alger
ROOM D Marketing with a Focus on Digital Advertising, Radio, Print & Billboard
Ward Hilger - Hooked Up Enterprises
ROOM E Avian Influenza & Poultry Shows Round Table
Brad Brummond - Walsh County Fair
3:00PM-3:45PM Educational Breakout Sessions
ROOM B Contests, Contests, Contests
Elizabeth Birkemeyer - Red River Valley Fair and Katie Moulsoff - Brown County Fair
ROOM D Fair Park Beautification, Easy as A, B, C
Jill Albanese - Wisconsin State Fair
ROOM E Incident Reports and Sharing Experiences
Rod Wilhelm - Stutsman County Fair and Chris Opsahl - Tri-County Fair
3:00PM-3:45PM Associates Meeting
THEATER Election of Associate Board Member
4:00PM-5:00PM Annual Meeting & Election
THEATER Election of District Board Members
5:00PM-6:00PM Visit Associates/Tradeshow
Refreshment/Snack Break: Sponsored by Ramkota Best/Western & Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce
6:00PM-10:00PM Dinner, Hall of Fame Award, Live Auction, Silent Auction Closes, Showcases
CONVENTION HALL Sponsored by Tri-County Fair
Emcee: Ward Hilger, - Hooked Up Enterprises
Invocation: Frank Klein - Stark County Fair
Live Auctioneer: Randy Mages - World Famous
SHOWCASES Jared Rogerson - Liz Gregory Talent
Booz-N-Tuna - Booz N Tuna
Madison Sound (Video )
Cale Moon - Cale Moon Entertainer
Magic Joe - Joe Barnett
Rowan Grace - DownTown Events
10:00PM-11:00PM Visit Associates/Tradeshow
Hospitality Rooms Open
Saturday, November 18, 2023
7:30AM-8:15AM Breakfast - Continental Breakfast
MINERVA’S Provided by Best Western/Ramkota
8:15AM New Board of Directors Meeting
9:00AM-9:45AM Educational Breakout Sessions
ROOM B Sponsorship Activations... What Sponsors Think About You
Lori Wickett - EIGHT:18
ROOM D Livestock Shows
Darrin Erdmann - TexKota Panel & Gate and Tiffany Weigum - Mercer County Fair
ROOM E How to Make Your Festival a Success With or Without a Carnival
Lon McWhorter & Tammy Cadman - Macs Carnivals
9:45AM-11:15AM Visit Associates/Tradeshow Last Chance
Refreshment Break Sponsored by South Dakota State Fair, Spectrum Weather & Specialty Insurance and Variety Attractions
10:00AM-10:45AM Educational Breakout Sessions
ROOM B Agri-Tourism at Fairs
Jason Wurst - Follow Me To The Fair
ROOM D Re-Think Everything
Kyle Palmer - Artists & Attractions
ROOM E The Benefits of the Heartland Association & Ways to Elevate Round Table
Candi Briley, HAFFE President, Brad Brummond, HAFFE President Elect & Tera Heiser, HAFFE Secretary/ Treasurer
11:15AM Lunch, Fairperson of the Year and Showcases
CONVENTION HALL Sponsored by Mac’s Carnival and TexKota Panel & Gate
Emcee: Rachel Kippley, Brown County Fair
Invocation: Randy Mages, Brown County Fair
SHOWCASES Danielle Nowell
Eli Alger and The Faster Horses
The Kezars - Carlson Talent
ZZ-3 - Winterset Conconcert Events
Introduction of the 2024 HAFFE Board!
Bus Schedule
A bus will run at specified times between the Ramkota/Best Western and the AmericInn throughout convention for your convenience!
There is NO CHARGE to registered attendees to utilize this service.
Thursday, November 16
1:00pm Pick up at AmericInn - Drop off at Ramkota
11:00pm Pick up at Ramkota - Drop off at AmericInn
Friday, November 17
8:00am Pick up at AmericInn - Drop off at Ramkota
11:00am Pick up at Ramkota - Drop off at AmericInn
12:00pm Pick up at AmericInn - Drop off at Ramkota
11:00pm - Pick up at Ramkota - Drop off at AmericInn
Join us back at The Grand Hotel, 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
