2011 Convention - Day Two

A wonderful and delicious breakfast buffet started our first full day of the 2011 convention.  After the breakfast Bud Owens, Association President, started the day's events. Mr. Owens announced that the auctions on thursday night raised almost $5000.00. 

Our first speaker was Barb Hensinger, CFE, Executive Director, Ingham County Fair, Mason, Michigan. Barb spoke to us about developing growing our fairs by developing partnerships with in dividuals and organizations that do not regularly attend our fairs.  After our morning sessioin, we broke out into our workshops.

In the Florida Room, Cendy Bellew, Georgia National Fair, and Jim Harden, Middle Georgia District Health Inspector, Ret., spoke on Food and Permit Regulations. In the Tennesee Room, Barb Hesinger, CFE, Executive Director, Ingham County Fair, Mason, Michigan, spoke on How to Handle Complaints at Your Fair. In the Alabama Room, Kurt Southerland, Northwest Georgia Regional Fair, and Gary Farmer, Gwinnett County Fair, spoke on - Keeping Livestock and Agriculture Alive at Your Fair. In the Georgia Room, Gary Graves, Exchange Club Fair of S. W. Georgia, and Dale Thurman, Gwinnett County Fair, spoke on Media and Promotions.

After the workshops, association members met for the "Whats On Your Mind" session, which was moderated by John P. Webb, CFE, GAAF Past President.  In this session a panel of members take questions from the floor. Question can be related to any topic affecting the fairs. Our panel members this year are, Carnivals - James E Strates of Strates Shows, Fairs - Hilda Thomason of the Coastal Empire Fair, Food and Concessions - Bob Erwin, CFE, Georgia National Fair and our Entertainment Representative - Mike Fuller, of Macon Georgia.

After lunch, Bruce Goddard, The Humorus Undertaker and author of, View from a Hurse, and The Legacy of Eulan Brown, had everyone laughing with his unique humor about his life as an undertaker.  Mr. Goddard's session was sponsored by the Georgia Farm Bureau.  After Mr. Goddard's presentation the Associate Members Trade Show participants introduced themselves to the Fairs.

Following this lunch session, we resumed our workshops (repeat of the morning session), and the Trade Show was open from 2:00 to 6:00 PM.