Convention Schedule Information

The 2022 Heartland Association of Fairs, Festivals and Events Convention will be held November 17-19 at The Grand Hotel in Minot, ND. 

Click the links below for Registration Information:
Associate Member Information
Fair Festival & Event Member Information

Convention Schedule
Thursday, November 17, 2022         

*Schedule subject to change

9:00am-12:00pm:  Registration Open & Booth Set-up
10:00am-12:00pm:  Tour the ND State Fair Center - be sure to let us know if you are interested!
12:00pm-4:00pm:  Tradeshow Booth Set-up
1:00pm-6:00pm:  Registration Open
1:30pm-2:30pm:  Educational Sessions
 • “The Pros and Cons of Working Together to Route Your Stage/Grounds Entertainment & Resources”
     Mark Landa (Greater Grand Forks Fair)  Kyle Palmer (Artists & Attractions) Round Table • Kevske Room
  • Emergency Response Plans on the Fair Grounds, Emergency Planning/Evacuation 
      Keith Raymond (The Magic of Keith Raymond)  Workshop • International Room
  • Audio/Visual Marketing Utilizing Social Media.. Focusing on Free Apps to use for Pictures/Graphic Design Anyone Can Use!
     Ward Hilger (Hooked Up Enterprises)    Workshop • Maple Leaf Room

2:45pm-3:45pm: Educational Sessions
  • Partnering with Nonprofits on Events/Logistics    Megan Langley Laudenschlager (Executive Director, StrengthenND) Workshop • International Room
  • Navigating the Regulations Roller Coaster for Mobile Food Vendors, How it Affects Your Fair. Event Mike Schmitz (701 Food Trucks) 
     Workshop • Maple Leaf Room
  • Fair, 4-H, FFA... Who is in Charge of What? Bradley Brummond (Walsh County Fair) Julie Hammer (Sioux Empire Fair) Round Table • Kevske Room

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

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

4:00pm-5:00pm:  Visit Associates/Tradeshow • Tradeshow Sponsored by TexKota Panel & Gate

5:00pm-6:00pm:  Social Hour/Visit Associates • Hor D’oeuvres Served in the Grand Ballroom Sponsored by Etix

6:00pm-9:30pm: Opening Ceremony • Convention Center
  Sponsored by ND State Fair
  Emcee: Keith Raymond (The Magic of Keith Raymond)
  Flag Presentation • Minot AFB Honor Guard
  National Anthem • Lizzy Hofer
  Pledge of Allegiance
  Mayors Welcome • Minot Mayor, Tom Ross
  President’s Welcome • Candi Briley
  Introduce Associates, Dinner,
  District I  Award, Showcases
  Showcases Include:
  Forever Simon & Garfunkel / The Everly Set     (Creative Community Promotions)
  Tripwire (Bitzer Entertainment)
  Ashley Barron (Artists & Attractions)
  Variety Attractions Video Showcase
  Bon Jour (Artists & Attractions)
9:30pm-10:30pm:  Visit Associates, Registration Open
10:30pm -  Hospitality Rooms Open

Friday, November 18, 2022   
7:30am:   Past President’s Breakfast • Kevske Room

8:00am:   Registration Opens

8:30am:   Breakfast • Convention Center
  Sponsored by Tri-County Fair
  Emcee: Scott Wick (Sioux Empire Fair)
  Showcase
  Showcase Includes:
  BubbleYou® Bubble Tower Video (Bill Coleman) 

9:15am-10:00am:   Keynote Speaker, Larry Berry
  • Sponsored by IAFE the Network!

10:15am-12:00pm:  Visit Associates/Tradeshow     • Coffee & Cookie Break • Sponsored by Romeo Entertainment Group • Grand Ballroom

11:00am-12:00pm:  Educational Sessions
  • Engaging the Media to Partner with Your Fair through Media Relations, Stephanie Schoenrock (Executive Director, Visit Minot)
  Round Table • Kevske Room
  • FREE Things to Do at the Fair,  Kyle Palmer (Artists & Attractions)     Workshop • International Room
  • Growing Fundraising & Sponsorship Dollars   Shana Zaiser (MN State Fair Foundation Development Director) Workshop • Maple Leaf Room

12:15pm-1:45pm:   Lunch, District II Award and Showcases • Convention Center
  Sponsored by Variety Attractions
  Emcee: Jodi Buresh (Saffire) 
  IAFE Update: Scott Kozelka (IAFE Zone 4 Director)
  Showcases Include:
  Nathan Bryce & Loaded Dice (Creative Community Promotions)
  Crazy Contests from Freddie Prez Video Showcase
  Ashley Wineland (Ashley E Productions)

2:00pm-2:45pm:     Educational Sessions
  • Attracting Younger Generations! Kara Fladstol (Weston County Fair) Round Table • Kevske Room 
  • Get hAPPy! Jodi Buresh (Saffire)  Workshop • International Room
  • Animal Health Planning,  Katherine Ockert (Extension Educator with Michigan State University)   Zoom Workshop • Maple Leaf Room

3:00pm-3:45pm:  Educational Sessions
  • Come Ready to Share the Most Challenging    & Rewarding Things Happening at Your Fair!
    Round Table Small Fairs • International Room, Rod Wilhelm (Stutsman County Fair) Chris Opsahl (Tri-County Fair)
    Round Table Large Fairs • Minot Room, Cody Cashman (Red River Valley Fair)

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

4:00pm-4:45pm:   Annual Meeting  • Convention Center

5:00pm-6:00pm:  Visit Associates/Tradeshow
  • 7th Inning Stretch Snack Break • Sponsored by Sioux Empire Fair • Grand Ballroom

6:00pm-9:30pm:   Dinner, Silent & Live Auction
  Sponsored by TMS • Convention Center
  Emcee: Ward Hilger (Hooked Up Enterprises)
  Auctioneer: Mike Sundsbak, Sundsbak Auctioneers

  Showcases Include:
  Jarrod Turner (Artists & Attractions)
  Jonathan Elandson (Liz Gregory Talent)
  Jennifer’s Barnyard Races Video Showcase
  (Creative Community Promotions)
  Lizzy Hofer Band (Lizzy Hofer)
  The Boys of Summer (Downtown Events)    
        
9:30pm -10:30pm: Visit Associates/Tradeshow
10:30pm:  Hospitality Rooms Open
11:00pm:           Open Jam Session • Kevske Room

Saturday, November 19
8:00am:   Breakfast • Convention Center
  Sponsored by Greater Grand Forks Fair

8:15am:  New Board of Directors Meeting • Board Room

9:00am-9:45am:  Educational Sessions
  • A Guide To Using Your Free Stage Acts    Keith Raymond (The Magic of Keith Raymond)
  Alex Bartlett (Pauer Sound) Workshop • International Room
  • Starting a Fair or Moving the Location of Your Fair Considerations     Bradley Brummond (Walsh County Fair)    Round Table • Kevske Room
  • Succession Planning     Scott Kozelka (Steele County Free Fair Manager,    IAFE Zone 4 Director)      Workshop • Maple Leaf Room

9:45am-11:15am: Visit Associates/Tradeshow
  Last Chance • Grand Ballroom
  • Rolls/Donuts Sponsored by Red River Valley Fair
  • Grand Ballroom

10:00am-10:45am:  Educational Sessions
  • Grounds Updates and BeautificatioN. Aaron Ottmar (ND State Fair)     Round Table • Kevske Room
  • Revenue Generating Ideas for Your Fairgrounds on the Off Season. Elizabeth Birkemeyer (Red River Valley Fair)
  Workshop • International Room
 • Digital Ticketing: It’s Not Just For Big Fairs Anymore! Maddie Snider & Dennis Scanlon (Etix)
  Workshop • Maple Leaf Room


11:15am:  Lunch, Final Awards and Showcase
  (Associate of the Year, Fairperson of the Year Award, Hall of Fame Award) • Convention Hall
  Sponsored by Spectrum Weather and Specialty Insurance
  Emcee: Dean Clott (DC Entertainment)
  Showcases Include: 
  Missing Lynx (DC Entertainment)
  Creative Community Promotions Video Showcase
  Booz N Tuna (Booz N Tuna)

 Induction of 2023 Board Officers & Directors

Announcement of New Board of Directors, Passing of the Gavel

Join us back at the Best Western Ramkota, Aberdeen, SD November 16-18, 2023!

If you have educational session and break out topic ideas, please email those to Tera at secretary@heartlandassociationffe.com! Thank you in advance!

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