President’s Column As I am writing this we are in the heart
of Florida's winter fair season. All of this season's fairs that have taken place have reported great results aside from some challenging weather conditions. Congratulations are in order
for a
number of our members. Clark Converse received the IAFE Heritage Award at the IAFE convention in Las Vegas. The Heritage Award recognizes volunteer fair managers
that have distinguished
themselves through their commitment to their fair. Clark has devoted nearly 30 years to the Pasco County Fair serving in various capacities. Our own past president and FFF Hall-
of-Famer and South Florida fair manag- er Rick Vymlatil was tapped as second
vice chairman of the IAFE. If history holds true to course, Rick will move up through the chairs and have the honor of serving as the first IAFE Chairman at the new convention city of San Antonio in a couple of years. The last person to serve in that post from Florida was FFF and IAFE Hall of Famer Darwin Fuchs.
Florida Federation of Fairs
& Livestock Shows, Inc. OFFICERS President
Tom Umiker CFE,
Greater Hillsborough County Fair PO Box 100 Sydney, FL 33587-0100
Phone: 813-737-3247 ▪ Fax: 813-737-4889
tomumiker@gmail.com
First Vice President
Felecia Chivington, Pensacola Interstate Fair Second Vice President
Dawn Rowe, Osceola County Fair Secretary/Treasurer
Paul Davis, Florida Strawberry Festival Immediate Past President
Rick Vymlatil, CFE, South Florida Fair DIRECTORS
Shawn Krauel, Central Florida Fair
Albert Montes, Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo Leah Norris, Lake County Fair
Bill Olson, CFE, Greater Jacksonville Ag Fair Charles Pesano, Florida State Fair Hal Porter, Citrus County Fair Rhonda Ward, Collier County Fair
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS Paul Laughter, Etix
Dennis Lee, The Dennis Lee Show
HONORARY DIRECTORS Danny Raulerson
Florida Dept. of Agriculture Farmers Market Division
Frankie Hall, Florida Farm Bureau
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lisa Hinton, CFE
2
31 Accurate Event Group 18 Agri-Puppets 54 All Star Stunt Dog Show 51 Arnold Amusements 11 Belle City Amusements 21 Belmont Magic 53 Belmont Magic 38 GL Berg 58 Capitol International 35 Communications Direct 33 Conjurer 13 Creative Community Promotions 25 Data Print
The efforts of our own Federation did not go unnoticed at the con-
vention. Congratulations and thanks go to the members of the Newslet- ter Committee for placing number one in Newsletter and E-Newsletter category. Accolades for members of our fair family did not end at the conven-
tion. In December the FDACS announced that our own Lisa Hinton is Florida's Woman of the Year in Agriculture! This great honor was be- stowed on Lisa with formal ceremonies at the Florida State Fair with many of her Fair family present. Lisa was cited for her historic role in Florida agriculture. It began with being elected the first state female FFA officer in Florida, followed by her innovative contributions to the State Fair agribusiness department and finally her statewide roll with fairs in Florida! Our year is passing quickly and I want to remind you that our conven-
tion in St. Augustine is only three short months away. Felecia and her convention program committee have put together a very good compre- hensive program. Miranda Muir, Stacy Wade and Jeanne Keaton, on our Agriculture committee, have been working hard with the cooperation of FDACS on a very special project that will benefit all fairs. We look forward to that unveiling. The legislature is in session and we hope to restore the premium paid
to fairs. Also if your fair is seeking an appropriation to do capital im- provements on your grounds and you would like the input of our Federa- tion lobbyist please do not hesitate to call the office for assistance. In closing if your Fair is coming up best wishes for a successful
run...... If your Fair has passed....... get some rest! Tom Umiker, CFE—Federation President
2016 FAIR DATES
Mar 3-8 Mar 3-13 Mar 4-13
Mar 8-13
Alachua County Youth Fair Gainesville
Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City
Sumter County Fair, Webster Bradford County Fair, Starke
Mar 15-20 Okeechobee County Fair, Okeechobee
Mar 17-27 Collier County Fair, Naples Mar 11-20 Firefighters’ Indian River Fair Vero Beach
Mar 17-Apr 10* Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo Mar 18-26 Putnam County Ag Fair, East Palatka
Mar 18-26 Suwannee County Fair /Livestock Show, Live Oak
Mar 18-27 Sarasota County Fair, Sarasota Mar 28-Apr 3 Citrus County Fair, Inverness Mar 31-Apr 3 Levy County Fair, Bronson Mar 31-Apr 9 Clay County Ag Fair, Green Cove Sp.
Apr 1-9* Apr 7-16 Apr 6-10 Apr 13-24
Santa Rosa County Fair, Milton Lake County Fair, Eustis Flagler County Fair, Bunnell Brevard County Fair, Cocoa
Apr 15-23 Hernando County Fair, Brooksville TBD
Jackson County Fair, Marianna
TBD Hendry County Fair, Clewiston *Check Fair website for dates closed during this period
Advertisers
36 Eco Shield 43 Eco Shield 07 EMC Tickets 27 ETIX 30 Farmers’ Almanac 55 Florida Dinosaur 52 Haas- Wilkerson Insurance 57 Harmony Artists 50 Indiana Ticket Co. 56 Island Steel Drum Band 41 Mojoe Productions 45 National Ticket 39 Paisley Craze
05 Populous 10 Regalia 34 RMA Presents 22 Spectrum 46 The Moogician 37 The One Man Band 17 The Sweeney Boys 35 The Thought Seer 47 Tricky Dog Show 15 Triangle Talent 29 UMS Banking 08 Wade Shows 49 Weldon, Williams & Lick
Please Patronize Our Advertisers FAIRCRACKER-SPRING 2016
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