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WSFA Management Team Meeting & Statewide Super School is just around the corner! You will find online registration and hotel information listed below. We look forward to seeing you in March!

Location

Palouse Empire Fairgrounds 322 Fairgrounds Road Colfax, WA 99111


Questions

Gale Sobolesky
WSFA Executive Secretary
360-269-9971


Management Team Meeting

Friday, March 24, 2023, 1 PM. Dinner provided.
Registration Fee: $65.00

Super School

Saturday, March 25, 2023, 8:45 AM- 3:30 PM. Lunch provided.
Registration Fee: $25.00

Online Registration

Register online today! Deadline to register March 17, 2023.

REGISTER NOW


Overnight Accommodations

Best Western Wheatland Inn

701 N Main Street
Colfax, WA 99111

Room rate for WSFA $89.99
per room, per night, plus tax.

To reserve, please call
509-397-0397.
Just mention WSFA and the
dates of 3/23- 3/26.




Rates are good for any of these dates in case you want to explore before or after the meetings.
Discount rate is valid until Thursday, March 9, 2023.

PALOUSE EMPIRE FAIRGROUNDS

322 Fairgrounds Road
Colfax, WA 99111

RV Camping Spots are available at the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds.

Call the Palouse Empire Fair Office to make reservations 509
-397-6263.

Website:
https://www.palouseempirefair.com/


Management Team Meeting

1:00 pm Welcome
Andrea Thayer, CFE WSFA President, Chief Experience Officer Washington State Fair, Janel Goebel and Heather Van Dyke Palouse Empire Fair.

1:15 pm 2023 Legislative Session Recap
Mike Burgess, WSFA Government Affairs Tawnia Linde, WSFA Legislative Committee, Chair, Director of Marketing & Sponsorship Clark County Fair.

1:45 – 2:20 pm Round Table and Introductions
We will move around the room and everyone can introduce themselves. Let us get to know your Fair – How is your fair is funded and governed?
Moderated by Janel Goebel, Palouse Empire Fair

2:30 – 3:30 pm The Art of Storytelling- Storytelling Training
Speaker: Mary Kae Repp, Genesis Marketing

What to expect in this session?
1. Guidance on HOW to tell your story as a Fair.
2. The Spokane County Interstate Fair will be used as an example.
3. The session will go over all the steps taken to tell your story and use the Spokane County Interstate Fairs story to show you how to build yours. Mary Kae has had the pleasure of being the marketing agency for the Spokane County Interstate Fair since 2002.

WHY would you want to attend this session if you already have a story?
1. This session will give some ideas on expanded ways of telling your story and building your brand that you may not already be doing.
2. Mary Kae Repp, the speaker for this session, has been helping businesses and events tell their story for 22 years as the owner of Genesis Marketing.

HOW can you get the most out of this session?
Go to https://genesiscreatescolor.com/ and sign up to receive the packet for this class in advance. The full packet for this class will be finished and uploaded to this website by March 1st. Please sign up to be sent this packet upon completion. The session will be most successful if the attendees can read the information prior and send in their questions prior. Mary Kae will prepare answers to the questions to share in the session.

3:40 – 4:30 pm Money In the Bank: Selling More Tickets Online, Earlier
The proven digital strategy that works for Fairs of all sizes
Presented by: Mark O’Shea & Steve Richo, Co-Founders, Noise New Media

4:40 – 5:15 pm Tour of the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds
Hosted by Palouse Empire Fair

5:15 pm Social Time and Networking

5:30 pm Dinner
Closing Remarks by Andrea Thayer, CFE, WSFA President

Super School

8:15 – 8:45 am Registration Desk Opens
Coffee, Tea, and Donuts provided.

8:45 am Welcome and Morning Introductions
Andrea Thayer, CFE WSFA President, Chief Experience Officer Washington State Fair and Janel Goebel and Heather Van Dyke Palouse Empire Fair.

Ag Exhibit Convention Contest – Tawnia Linde, Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, Clark County Fair and WSFA Director and Convention Contest Chair.

9:10 – 10:00 am Session One
Getting your Fair Department ready for the WA State Fair Commissioner, from a Superintendents point of view. Gina Mosey, Pru Beyer and Heather Van Dyke
Gina has over 35 years’ of experience in the Fair industry with Spokane Jr. Livestock Show, Spokane Interstate Fair, and Clayton Community Fair. As a parent, 4-H leader, Fair Superintendent, Livestock Sale Booster, and Scholarship Committee Chair.
Pru is the Small Animal Barn Superintendent, for the Palouse Empire Fair. Pru has been a great asset at the Palouse Empire Fair, and the Small Animal Department the past two years with recommendations from the State Veterinarian.
Heather as an exhibitor, parent, 4-H Leader, FFA Alumni Booster, Superintendent at Spokane County Interstate Fair, Spokane Jr. Livestock Show, and Palouse Empire Fair Event Coordinator.

10:10 – 11:00 am Session Two
1) Unique Display Ideas
Jessica McLaughlin, Fair Coordinator, Spokane County Interstate Fair.
Creative displays simply require us to enter a world of Pure Imagination. Together, let’s take a look at what other fairs across the nation (and beyond) are doing to bring magic into their competitive exhibit displays. Where will your creativity take you in 2023 after viewing just a fraction of the possibilities?

2) Time with the Washington State Veterinarian Office
Dr. Ben Smith and David Hecimovich, WA Dept Of Ag.
Dr. Smith will share an update regarding the State Vets Office and David Hecimovich, will speak on the Animal Disease Traceability Program.

11:10 – 12 noon Session Three
1) "The good, bad and ugly of Exhibitor Guides", " To print or not to print. .... that is the question "
Roylene Crawford, WSFA Vice President and Kittitas County Fair Board. Rebecca Martinez, Fairgrounds Coordinator, Grant County Fair and WSFA Director.
Candid discussion on Exhibitor Guides and ways to improve. Sharing your experience and ideas.
FAIRS - Please bring copies of your Exhibitor Handbook or if you do only online, please come prepared to share the link.

2) FFA and 4H Session Discussion regarding Animals.
Tom Gwin, Manager, WA State 4-H Fair

12 noon Lunch: Networking time

1:00 – 1:30 pm Tour of the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds Hosted by Palouse Empire Fair.

1:40 – 2:30 pm Session Four
1) Meet the New Department of Agriculture Fair Program Administrator
Michelle Chevez, Fair Commission WA Dept of Ag.

2) How Can Finding Sponsorship Serve your Fair and/or Fair Department
Tawnia Linde, Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, Clark County Fair and WSFA Director.

2:40– 3:30 pm Session Five
1) Creative Ways to Get more entries for your Fair
Carolyn Morley, Manager North Central WA Fair and WSFA Director.

2) "Prepare 2 Respond” Disease awareness and mitigation
Paul S. Kuber, Ph.D. Associate Professor, State 4-H Agri-Science Specialist, Northeast Region Livestock and Forage Specialist

3:35 pm Closing Remarks Community Building
And last chance for bids on the Silent Auction. Auction will close immediately thereafter!


Silent Auction

We will be having a silent auction during Super School. Funds raised during this event will be donated to WSFA. We encourage everyone to please bring an item for the Silent Auction. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Roylene Crawford at 509-929-1782 or croylene@gmail.com.



Palouse Empire Fairgrounds Map & Directions

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