DELAWARE STATE FAIR HONORED FOR EXCELLENCE IN ADVERTISING

HARRINGTON, DE - November 6, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

During the 2006 Maryland Association of Agricultural Fairs & Shows (MAAFS) convention, held in Gaithersburg, Maryland, the Delaware State Fair received an Award of Excellence in recognition for outstanding performance in fairs and shows advertising and publicity programs. On-hand to receive the award were several directors, superintendents, and staff from the Delaware State Fair, including the marketing and publicity director, Tricia Southard.

According to Southard, members of MAAFS submit various items from their advertising campaigns in what is known as the Communications Awards Contest—a competition with 23 categories, divided into divisions based on Fair attendance.

Southard added, “The purpose of the competition is not only to recognize those doing an outstanding job but for each fair to improve its advertising and publicity programs by learning from others.” Southard explained each entry is scored based on judging in each of the following criteria: motivational; informative; indicative of creative excellence; appropriate to activities, audience and media used; utilization of a central theme; and indicative of production excellence.

For the 100,000+ attendance division, the Delaware State Fair entered 12 categories and received 11 awards, including first place in Best Advertising Campaign; Magazine Ad; Promotional Advertising, Outdoor; and Radio. The Delaware State Fair was awarded second place for Television; Newspaper Ad, Black and White; Newspaper Ad, Color Print; Printed Promotional Material, Multi-page Publication; Printed Promotional Material, Brochure/Flyer; and Single Newspaper Story/Interview. The Fair received third place for its Media Guide/Press Kit for its online press release system.

Many of the advertising and publicity items submitted to the MAAFS convention will be judged again at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions' (IAFE) annual convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada in December. In the IAFE convention, the Delaware State Fair’s items will be judged against fairs from across the globe.

For more information about MAAFS, please visit www.maafs.com. To learn about IAFE, please visit www.fairsandexpos.com.###