MAAFS CELEBRATES FAIRFEST AT ANNUAL CONVENTION IN HARRINGTON

HARRINGTON, DE - November 17, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“FairFest” was the theme for the Maryland Association of Agricultural Fairs and Shows Convention held October 28-30, 2004 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. The convention attracted several hundred fair managers, board members, nationally acclaimed speakers, trade show exhibitors and entertainers from across the region. The entire convention was held on the fairgrounds complex.

“We had a great convention lineup from start to finish,” said Andy Cashman, CFE, outgoing president of MAAFS. Cashman is assistant general manager of the Maryland State Fair in Timonium. “The Delaware State Fair again rolled out the red carpet for this event, and we were very excited to return to a fairgrounds to hold our convention.” This was the second consecutive year the annual event was held in Delaware. In 2005, the statewide convention moves back to Maryland’s Western Shore, being held in Gaithersburg, hosted by the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair.

During the MAAFS’ annual business meeting, Dennis Hazzard, CFE, of the Delaware State Fair, was elected vice president. And Becky Brashear, CFE, of The Great Frederick Fair, assumed the role of statewide president. The Delaware State Fair was also awarded first place in newspaper ad, black and white; promotional advertising, outdoor; printed promotional material, multi-page; printed promotional material, brochure/flyer; television ad; and slides in the 100,000+ attendance division.

During the three-day event, Joseph C. Free of The Great Frederick Fair in Frederick, MD was named the Maryland Fair Person of the Year. Free has been a Board of Manager of The Great Frederick Fair since 1973, and has held all offices on the board, including president from 1984-1985. At The Great Frederick Fair, Free spends countless hours helping to organize the Farm Bureau Dairy Bar; running to Maryland State Fairgrounds to get a load of livestock stalls; serving as superintendent of the open class beef department; overseeing the Household Department; serving on the 4-H and Livestock Committees; diversifying the fair's livestock program by including alpacas and Texas Longhorns; and helping to line up cows to give birth during fair week in the fair's Birthing Center. He was instrumental and remains active in the organization of the fair’s popular tractor pull. One of his biggest commitments is the fair's City Streets, Country Roads Ag Education Program started in 1996. He has been instrumental in getting that popular exhibit off the ground and now into its new and permanent facility. Free has supported the MAAFS being a loyal attendee and benefit auction financial supporter. Free has also been an active member of numerous community organizations.

The Judges Certification Program held at the start of the MAAFS Convention to certify indoor exhibit judges for baked goods, farm and garden exhibits, crafts and photography drew a large number of participants from across Maryland and Delaware.

The Delaware State Fair would also like to acknowledge thanks to Ron's Mobile Homes, Winkler Farms, and Bubola Farms for their donations to the success of the event. For more information on the convention, visit MAAFS' website at www.maafs.com. ###