The YPI Journey
A message from our Outgoing Chair, Amanda Blair
The journey through YPI and my time as Chair,
has been one of my most memorable IAFE experiences. When approached several years ago, it was
perfect timing and I wanted to get plugged in to where I could make a
difference. Through my involvement in
YPI, I have met amazing individuals from all over the United States and
abroad. The support I received as your
chair, has opened doors and developed relationships that I will continue to
cultivate.
During my journey, I have had the opportunity
to develop as a speaker, be in mentorship roles and experience a trip of a
lifetime. As your YPI Chair, speaking in
Singapore at the Royal Agriculture Conference Society (RACS) was a fulfilling
role, which I will never take for granted.
From experiencing the culture, to learning about food safety and
vertical farming, being part of the RACS this past fall was an amazing part of
my journey. Looking back on my career, I
never would have imagined being selected to represent IAFE and our awesome YPI
program on the other side of the World.
It has been humbling, and I will never be able to express the gratitude
I have for such a unique opportunity. Singapore welcomed our delegates with open
arms. The focus was learning and creating
a collaborative unit to improve food security around the globe. During the trip we sampled food, such as
squid ink scallops to durian, many bowls of rice, and of course sipped on an
original Raffles Hotel Singapore Sling.
It is with enthusiasm I know YPI will
continue to grow and be able to pave the future as adversity continues and
Fairs adjust to modern times. Your
steering committee includes influential, talented individuals who without a
doubt, will lead YPI to an even greater tomorrow. Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and I
look forward to YPI’s continued success in 2017.
Warm
regards,
Amanda
Blair
Tulsa
State Fair
We Are Here to Support YOU!
A message for your 2017 YPI Chair, Chelsey Jungck
I still remember my first IAFE
Annual Convention in 2009. I was brand
new to the fair industry. I had one fair under my belt as a seasonal
employee and I had recently committed to joining the Nebraska State Fair as a
full-time employee, which included moving with the fair to Grand Island, NE. The
week before convention I had just made that move, lugging all of my belongings 90
miles west, from Lincoln to Grand Island, NE. Our adventure in Grand Island
would begin once we returned from convention.
So,
life was a whirlwind, to say the least, and I wasn’t entirely sure what I had
signed up for as I rolled into the Paris/Bally’s convention center in Las Vegas.
Admittedly, I was quite nervous! But, it was within the first few hours of
convention that I began to meet members of the IAFE’s Young Professionals
Initiative (YPI). They were friendly, welcoming, and quick to invite me to join
them at various events throughout the week. By the time I left convention my
nerves were gone, I had a network of friends from across the country, and I
knew the fair industry was my professional home.
I
applied to join the YPI Steering Committee with this experience in mind. I knew
that I wanted to be part of the team that had the opportunity to make a similar
impact on other young professionals in our industry. I am so very honored and
thankful that that application would lead to four years of service on the YPI
Steering Committee, and that this year I will serve as the YPI Steering
Committee Chair.
The
YPI’s page on the IAFE website states that, “In addition to providing
professional development, networking and educational opportunities for its
members, YPI serves as a channel for idea sharing and furthering relationships
among fair leaders across the U.S. and Canada.” That has indeed been my
experience with YPI! I am proud and excited to be a part of the team that will
strive to further those goals for all young professionals in the fair industry,
in 2017.
Thank
you to Amanda Blair, the 2016 YPI Steering Committee Chair, and the outgoing
even zone representatives for their commitment and service to YPI. This year,
we will be welcoming applications for new odd zone representatives on the
Steering Committee. If you are from Zones 1, 3, 5, 7, or an associate, under
40, who would like to help shape the future of YPI, I encourage you to apply! Please
remember that myself, Miranda Muir (2017 YPI Steering Committee Vice Chair),
and the rest of the 2017 YPI Steering Committee are here to support YOU, the
young professionals in the fair industry. I invite you to check out our webpage, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or join us at any IAFE event this
year. We are always gathering and engaging, as a group, to support the future
of the fair industry!
Here’s to the IAFE YPI in 2017!
Chelsey Jungck
Scholarship Awards - 2016 Convention
Each year the IAFE zones select young professionals from their
geographic areas to attend the annual IAFE Convention and Trade Show in Las
Vegas, Nevada. The YPI Zone Scholarship program
begun in 2010 and has expanded with a total of 21 scholarships ranging from
$500 to $1,000. This is made available to young adult’s ages 21 to 39 from IAFE
member fairs. Here is a shout out to the 2016 recipients:
ZONE 1:
- Carly
Reyna – Schaghtcoke Fair
- Paula
Smith – Erie County Fair
ZONE 2:
- Suzanne
Holcomb – Greater Hillsborough County Fair
- Andrea
Simeone – South Florida Fair
ZONE 3:
- Mike
Berkery – Indiana State Fair
- Tara
Sheldon – Holmes County Fair
- Alyssa
Szafasz – Porter County Fair
ZONE 4:
- Chrissy
Gluege – Waukesha County Fair
- Ian
Heilmann – Wisconsin State Fair
- Katy
Stenerson – Red River Valley Fair
- Angela
Stern – Wisconsin State Fair
- Kayla
Thuemling – Wisconsin State Fair
ZONE 5:
- Greg
Heine – Cedar County Fair
- Alyssa
Preston – Warren County Fair
ZONE 6:
- Cody
Rosenbalm – East Texas State Fair
- Brent
Talley – Four State Fair
ZONE 7:
- Jillian
Cook - Calgary Stampede
- Leslie
Gorman – Canyon County Fair
ZONE 8:
- Rachel
Jacobson – Alameda County Fair
- Alison
Wells – California State Fair
If
you see any of these recipients at your events this year, congratulate them!
These are just a few folks who are the future of our industry and their hard
work and dedication will pay off.
Are you interested in receiving a scholarship this year? Announcements and other scholarship information will come in the upcoming months - stay tuned!
Looking to Get Involved?
The YPI Steering Committee is seeking new members from Zones 1, 3, 5, 7 and an associate member. If you are under 40 years old and from an IAFE member fair in one of these Zones, we encourage you to apply to serve on the YPI Steering Committee. All applications must be submitted by May 31, 2017.
- For more information about being a YPI Steering Committee member, click here.
- To download an application, click here.
YPI Spotlight:
Justin Iwankow
Entertainment Coordinator
Erie County Fair
Hamburg, NY
- How long have you been in the fair industry? 4 years at my current position. 9 years prior as a fair seasonal employee
- What advice do you have for anyone new to the industry? Don't lose focus on why you are in the Fair Industry. It isn't always easy and fun, and things will get difficult, but remember why you are putting in the work, and that it is worth it.
- What’s your favorite fair food? Funnel cake has to be my favorite fair food, just be careful with the powdered sugar on a windy day.
- What does the YPI network mean to you? To me, YPI means that the fair business isn't going anywhere. It is great to see other young professionals in this field who care about fairs as much as you do. Together we can find ways to honor the past fair traditions and mix them with new ideas in order to adapt to our changing society and world.
- What is the best fair advice you've ever been given? Slow Down and Breathe. Even if it is for a second, take the time think before jumping to a conclusion or making a rapid decision.
- Position: Entertainment Coordinator
- What’s your favorite fair memory? My parents, grandparents, 5 brothers and I would pack into the van with a cooler full of lunch food and snacks and just enjoy all the free things to do at the fair. My Grandpa would sit at a picnic table all day watching the shows on the community stage (the stage I eventually began to run) and love every minute of it. I would sit with him and he made you realize how easy it is to enjoy the little things in life.
- What is one item you can't live without during the Fair? At least 1 pair of good sneakers. A lot of walking!
- How did you get involved in the Fair industry? My fair was looking for a stage manager to run a community stage and I had experience in that field from running my High School Stage Crew.
- Have any other great tips or words of wisdom you'd like to share? It could be anything - work/life balance, organization skills, etc. Please share it here! Anyone who has met me knows that I always have a smile on my face and I stay positive. Life is too short not be happy. You're attitude and energy is contagious. You never know who you will meet that might need that smile to turn their day around. There is no such thing as a bad day, it is just a different day.
Mentor Spotlight:
Salinas, CA
Celeste was nominated by Emily Grunewald as a mentor. Celeste is very active in the Ag. Industry. She is an active advocate for Agriculture and the Fair Industry.
- How long have you been in the fair industry? Involved with Fairs since I started showing livestock projects at age 9. I have worked at numerous fairs in the entry department and assisted with special projects. I was also on the board of our local fair - Friends of the Fair group
- What’s the best / hardest lesson you have learned in the industry? I think dealing with so many personalities can be the best and the hardest. So many people passionate about so many things and you come to realize that the passion you hold for a certain " something " is comparable to someone else " something" Once you learn that everyone has a thought and you learn to deal with that then things seem to fall into place and many times you can get your point across. Never go in thinking that your way is the only way. Lots of people, lots of personalities, lots of ideas make a great fair !
- What’s your favorite fair food? Old Country Cinnamon Rolls with TONS of cream cheese frosting - WARM - Oh I want one right now!
- What do you feel is the biggest change / challenge you have faced? I really have not been involved in depth enough with the fair industry to face challenges but I do know that when fair managers or board members move on from their positions it seems like with any other business or industry it takes adjustments and understanding on all parts. One thing I think we sometimes don't like to admit but it's true is that everyone can be replaced. Once you leave a position someone can come and fill that spot. Never think you are too good cause there is always someone that can come along and " be gooder." ( Yes I realize that is not a word but it makes sense :)
- What question would you ask a mentor? What is your greatest life experience? With experiences come lots of good stuff. When folks share their life experiences from their areas of expertise it is a good way for the rest of us to learn. Someone once told me " You are an expert in your own experiences." That is such a great piece of advice, by sharing experiences we become well rounded.
- If you could give one piece of advice what would that be? Never sacrifice your true self no matter what. We are in a world where we seem to always compare ourselves to others, there will always be someone who has a higher degree than you, in better shape than you, has more money than you , etc etc but YOU are the only YOU there is and others are looking at you thinking the same thing . Always do your best, try hard and that is the most you can ask for.
- What’s the one thing during the fair you can’t live without? Livestock Exhibits - especially the cattle!
- What’s your advice on handling failure? Accept with grace and move ahead, you are not always going to win, it makes it that much sweeter when you do .
- What’s your favorite quote? Never let the noise of others drown out your own inner voice - this is so very important because there is so much " noise" out there from people who might not fully understand what we do or why we do it. But......
- Who is your role model / mentor? My mom - we lost my dad very suddenly a few years back and my mother did not miss a beat in making sure that our family ranch kept on track. As hard as it was without him she did not falter in making sure that we would continue as a successful business. She never says she can't . She just does it , whatever she is faced with . When you think of it we really all need to be that way. Accept challenges that arise and TRY. Never say you can't do something.
Announcements!
- Participate in the Igniter – IAFE Discussion Board! If you haven't already joined, now is the time to sign up for the IAFE's online member service. The board allows you to post questions/discussions, reply to topics, post document resources, look up contacts, and to network. This is an incredibly simple way for you to easily interact and communicate online and exchange ideas, experience, knowledge, and wisdom with your peers. Click here for instructions on how to use the board. Already signed up? Log in to participate and start a topic.
- Join the Young Professionals Initiative-IAFE - To connect with other YPI members, click here.
- Post on social - Tell us what you're up to! Post using #IAFEYPI. You might just get retweeted! We're on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
- Talk to us - To tell us what you want to see featured in the YPI Newsletter, click here.
