There are two periods of volunteering.  The first runs from Thursday January 3, 2008 through Wednesday February 6, 2008 and from Tuesday February 19, 2008 until the work is completed at the end of the fair.  The work during these time periods will vary from day to day but will involve many tasks that need to be done before the fair opens and after it closes.  There are no specific shifts or times that you have to work.  Come anytime of day, stay as long as you are able and leave whenever you want.  We will be in the office for assigning work every day from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.  If you are signed in by 10:30 am, we will prepare lunch for you and serve it at noon. 

The second period is the fair days, Thursday February 7 through Monday February 18, 2008.  Team Captains or the office staff will be signing up volunteers before the fair begins and getting the volunteer to commit themselves to specific times and dates throughout the fair.  Once you are signed up, when you come in to work that assignment, you may go directly from the parking lot to that assigned area.  The team captain will be at that area and he/she will sign you in/out and provide your meal ticket at the completion of the shift.  Sign up will start after the luncheon on January 7 and will continue every day until the fair begins. 

This year the following incentives will be provided for volunteering.  All hours worked before, during and after the fair will be computed to determine your total number of hours worked.  It is important that you sign in and sign out, as that is the only official record of your hours worked.

1. You will receive a gate ticket for each day worked at the fair and one parking pass that will allow you to park inside the fair grounds (on days that you work) in the volunteer parking lot.
2. A meal ticket is provided for each 4-hour shift worked during the fair.  Meal tickets are only redeemable at the Taste of Florida Food Bar located in the Ag Hall of Fame.
3. Volunteers that work one 4 hour shift (4 hours) will receive a Florida State Fair Pin at the completion of that shift.
4. Volunteers that work two 4 hour shifts (8 hours) will receive a Florida State Fair Hat or Visor at the completion of the second shift.  .
5. Volunteers that work five 4 hour shifts (20 hours) will be invited to the annual Awards Banquet held Thursday February 21, 2008 starting at 4:00 pm in the Florida Center.
6. Volunteers that work twelve 4 hour shifts (48 hours) will be presented a Gift Certificate redeemable at Wal-Mart with a value of $12.50.
7. Volunteers that work twenty five 4 hour shifts (100 hours) will be presented a $25.00 Gift Certificate redeemable at any Cracker Barrel Old Country Store nationwide.
8. Volunteers that work fifty 4 hour shifts (200 hours) will be presented a Florida State Fair Jacket.

Anyone interested in volunteering can enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road Service entrance and go to the volunteer office in the Florida Center or call (813) 621-7821 or (800) 345- 3247 extension 300.