Media

The State Fair of Virginia Receives International Recognition

Left to Right: Curry Roberts, SFVA president; Susan Mitchell, SFVA director vendor sales; Lorene Blackwood, SFVA senior director, programs; Kieth Hessey, former State Fair General Manager.

The State Fair of Virginia has received the “Best of Show” Award and seven “Best in Class” awards from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) headquartered in Springfield, MO. The Awards were presented during the 116th Annual IAFE Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on December 6 and the Agriculture Awards Breakfast on December 5.

“We are pleased that our peer Fairs have recognized the State Fair of Virginia, which honors the hard work and vision of the many Virginians who put on the Fair each Fall,” said State Fair of Virginia president Curry Roberts. The Fair worked with Siddall Advertising, Elevation Advertising and Campbell Communications on various projects that were represented in the Fair’s entry. 

The State Fair of Virginia won “Best of Show” of all Fairs entered, regardless of size, in any of the Communications categories. Communications categories won include “Best in Class” for Newspaper Ad in black and white, Newspaper Ad in color, Magazine Ad, Radio Ad, Printed Newsletter and Media Guide/Press Kit. The IAFE has a membership of over 3,200 fairs from around the world. 

Agriculture Awards include a “Best in Class” for Printed Material Developed and Produced to Promote Agriculture Programs and a third place award for Best Agricultural Photograph.

The IAFE Awards are the second such recognition of the season for the State Fair of Virginia, which in October was named the Virginia Agribusiness of the Year by the Virginia Agribusiness Council.

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