National Association of State Fair Managers

National Association of State Fair Managers
Name	National Association of State Fair Managers
Abbreviation	NASFM
Formation	1899
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	United States
Region served	United States, Canada
Membership	State fair managers, agricultural fair professionals

Contents

National Association of State Fair Managers The National Association of State Fair Managers serves as a professional association connecting managers of state and provincial fairs across the United States and Canada. It provides training, standards, networking, and advocacy for leaders of large public exhibitions such as the State Fair of Texas, Minnesota State Fair, Iowa State Fair, California State Fair, and Ohio State Fair. The association interacts with organizations including the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, the National Association of Agricultural Educators, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National FFA Organization, and the National Association of Counties.

History

Founded in the late 19th century amid the growth of agricultural exhibitions like the Great New York State Fair and the North Carolina State Fair, the association emerged as fairs expanded in scale and complexity. Early leaders drew on practices from events such as the Chicago World's Fair and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition to professionalize operations, paralleling developments at institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Department of Agriculture. Through the 20th century, engagement with entities such as the National Agricultural Library, the Smithfield Horse Show, and regional exhibitions like the Kansas State Fair shaped the association’s standards for livestock shows, midway operations, and exhibition halls. The association navigated crises tied to events such as the Great Depression, World War II, and public-health responses influenced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The association’s mission emphasizes professional development, safety, and promotion of fairs exemplified by venues like the Texas A&M University–affiliated fairs and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture cooperative extension systems. It organizes workshops referencing model frameworks used by the American Society of Association Executives and partners with entities such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to create emergency planning and risk management protocols for events like the New York State Fairgrounds exhibitions. Collaboration with arts organizations such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and industry groups including the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions informs programming and vendor standards.

Membership comprises chief executives, general managers, and staff from fairs including the Minnesota State Fair, Texas State Fair, Missouri State Fair, Arizona State Fair, and Florida State Fair. Institutional affiliates include state departments of agriculture like the California Department of Food and Agriculture and provincial partners such as Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Members participate in committees mirrored on governance models from the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Governors Association. Regional chapters often coordinate with events hosted by the National Corn Growers Association and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

The association delivers continuing education modeled on programs from the National FFA Organization and the 4-H National Headquarters, offering certification in areas such as livestock exhibition standards, carnival safety aligned with the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions guidelines, and food-safety practices consistent with the Food and Drug Administration protocols. Training materials incorporate research from the National Agricultural Library and extension publications from universities such as Iowa State University, Pennsylvania State University, and University of California, Davis. Members access benchmarking data drawn from fairs like the North Carolina State Fair and consulting services with firms that have worked on projects for the Rose Parade and the State Fair of Texas.

The association convenes an annual conference that features seminars, trade shows, and networking modeled on events like the International Association of Fairs and Expositions conventions and meetings hosted by the American Society of Association Executives. Programs spotlight case studies from fairs including the San Diego County Fair, the Kentucky State Fair, the New York State Fair, and the Oregon State Fair, and invite speakers from institutions such as the United States Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The trade show attracts vendors familiar to exhibitors at the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Iowa State Fair.

Governance follows a board structure with officers elected by representatives from member fairs, drawing on parliamentary procedures similar to those of the American Society of Association Executives and the National Governors Association. Past and present leaders have professional ties to major fairs such as the Minnesota State Fair and the Texas State Fair and to land-grant universities including Cornell University and Iowa State University. The association’s committees coordinate policy on safety, finance, and programming with stakeholders like the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the National FFA Organization, and state agriculture departments.

The association advocates for policy outcomes affecting large exhibitions, working with legislative bodies such as state legislatures represented in the National Conference of State Legislatures and federal agencies including the United States Department of Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Its initiatives have influenced standards adopted by fairs like the Minnesota State Fair and Iowa State Fair in areas including animal welfare (engaging with the American Veterinary Medical Association), public-safety protocols (coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security), and economic development tied to events such as the Rose Parade and major agricultural shows. The association’s research and best-practice publications inform municipal partners like the City of Minneapolis and county governments represented by the National Association of Counties.