4800 U.S. Highway 301 North
Tampa, FL 33610
Phone (813) 621-7821             Fax (813) 740-3505             http://www.floridastatefair.com/

FLORIDA STATE FAIR RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

[NEWS RELEASE] TAMPA, FL. — December 27, 2007.  The Florida State Fair received international recognition with six awards at the 117th annual International Association of Fair’s and Expositions (IAFE) Convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada in November.

The Florida State Fair won four 1st-place Hall of Honor Communications Awards and two Agricultural Awards of Excellence.  The 1st place Communication Awards were received in Category 2 (Newspaper Ad-Color Print), Category 3 (Magazine Ad), Category 5 (Outdoor Promotional Advertising), and Category 13 (Media Guide/Press Kit).  The Agricultural Awards were received in Category 6 (Video of a Special or Unique Event for Exhibitors of the Fairgoing Public) and Category 9 (Non-Fair Agricultural Event or Program).

Jim Tucker, President and CEO of IAFE, stated that “This is an outstanding accomplishment for the Florida State Fair when one considers that there were over 1,100 entries from around the world in these competitions.”  Fairs or expositions may enter among a total of 15 Communication Award categories and 13 Agricultural Award categories, each divided into 5 divisions by attendance.  The entries are evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders.  The Florida State Fair can take great pride in knowing that their event has been selected for this prestigious honor.  The purpose of this competition is to improve the advertising and publicity programs of fairs and expositions, and to provide recognition to the events that are doing an outstanding job. 

Chuck Pesano, Executive Director of the Florida State Fair Authority, remarked that “It’s great to be acknowledged that our planning and marketing efforts for the 2007 Florida State Fair yielded high quality results.  It is an honor to be recognized by the IAFE because of their prominence in the Fair industry and we look forward to additional success in the years to come.”

The top three winners were announced during the Agricultural Awards breakfast on November 27 and the Communications Awards reception held on November 28.  The Agricultural Awards were sponsored by John Deere, who is an avid supporter of the Fair and Expo Industry around the world.  The Agricultural Fair and Expo Industry are not only very important to rural and urban economies globally, but are also steeped in tradition that has a tremendous impact on the social well being of our rural and urban society.  The Hall of Honor Communications Awards were sponsored by K & K Insurance, an internationally operating company that provides insurance to Fairs and Expos. 

Plans for the 104th annual Florida State Fair (http://www.floridastatefair.com/) are in full force.  The event will take place on February 7-18, 2008.  The Florida State Fair – always in Tampa and always in February – is organized by the Florida State Fair Authority under the leadership of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson leads the Fair Authority, which oversees the Florida State Fairgrounds and the annual Florida State Fair.

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Denise Shreaves:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Manager of Marketing & Public Relations
Florida State Fair Authority
(813) 627-4314