105th Annual Convention of Indiana Association of Fairs
Indianapolis Marriott East
Indianapolis, Indiana
Tentative Schedule of Events (12-9-25)
Convention Badge is required for attendance at all activities.
Friday, January 2, 2026
9:00 am – INAF Board Meeting – Freedom A Ballroom
10:30 am – 8:00 pm – Registration Desk Open – Atrium
11:00 am – 1:30 pm – Trade Show Booth Set-Up – Liberty Hall
11:00 am – Indiana State Fair Livestock Committee Meeting – Freedom A Ballroom
1:00 – 7:00 pm – Silent Auction / Door Prizes Dropped Off – Wilke
1:00 pm – Indiana State Festivals Association Board Meeting – Freedom B Ballroom
1:00 pm - Associates Meeting– Salon D&E
- Introduction of Associate Members
- Election of Support Services Representative to INAF Board of Directors
- Associate Member of the Year Recognition
1:00 - 7:00 pm - Communication Awards Accepted - Atrium
2:00 pm – Sound Check for Showcase – Grand Ballroom
2:00 – 7:00 pm - Trade Show Open - Liberty Hall
2:00 - 2:50 pm – Education Sessions – Presented by Kissel Entertainment
- Artificial Intelligence - How do you use Chatgpt - Salon A-B
- Indiana Department of Health - Salon C
- How to use Canva with your social media - Veterans 1
- Weather Insurance 101: Summary of all types of weather coverage available to Indiana fairs and festivals. - Veterans 2
- Media Guidelines & Protocol - Veterans 3
- What Are the Trends in the Food Areas from Concessionaires & Event Organizers - Veterans 4-5
3:00 pm – Indiana State Fair Board Meeting – Freedom A Ballroom
3:00 - 3:50 pm – Education Sessions – Presented by Kissel Entertainment
- What is the Experience Between Carnivals & Fairs / Festivals - Salon A-B
- Beyond the Ribbon: The Purpose and Process of 4-H Judging - Veterans 1
- Plays That Pay: The Proven Fair Success Playbook - Veterans 2
- Safety/Security - Working with your local Police, Fire, EMS and other City/County DepartmentsVeterans 3
- Board of Animal Health (BOAH) Updates - Veterans 4-5
4:30 pm – Indiana Association of Fairs General Session – Veterans Ballroom
- Welcome - INAF President David Bagnall
- INAF BUSINESS MEETING
- Committee Reports
- Election of 2026 Vice President
- Associate Introductions
- Keynote Presentation – “You Make THE Difference: Will We Meet the Moment” Presented by Award-Winning Fair & Ag Society Advocate Ian Hill
- Door Prizes
5:00 – 8:00 pm - Silent Auction All Convention Items on Display – Atrium
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Reception Honoring IAFE Chairman – Ray Allison – Trade Show – Liberty Hall
Enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks
7:00 pm – Doors Open for Showcase - Grand Ballroom
7:30 pm – Entertainment / Showcase Presented by Fairs.com - Grand Ballroom
Feudin' HillbillysFor Pete Sake
Indy AnniesCircle City Sidewalk Stompers
45RPMJordan Blanchard
Julie Neville
7:00 – 11:00 pm – Visit ISFA Hospitality in Tower Suite 680
Saturday, January 3, 2026
7:30 am – 2:00 pm – Registration Desk Open – Atrium
7:00 am – 8:30 am – INAF Hall of Fame / Past President Breakfast in Memory of Max & Lois Fitzpatrick Freedom A Ballroom
8:30 – 11:00 am - Silent Auction Session 1 - Atrium
9:00 am – 5 pm - Communications Awards Display – Honoring Glen Slabach – Atrium
9:00 – 9:50 am – Education Sessions – Presented by Fairs.com
- Pageants - Queens / Little Miss & Mister / Other Events - How are You Recruiting. What is participation and the future?Come share your thoughts and take away ideas! - Salon A-B
- Importance of Insurance; What you MUST HAVE!What could it cost you if you don’t!Veterans 1
- Marketing Your Fair: Avenues to Find Your Audience & Ways, They Can Find You Veterans 2
- Growing Partnerships: Engaging with Indiana 4-H to Create Mutually Beneficial Programs for Youth - Veterans 4-5
9:00 – 10:00 am – Silent Auction / Door Prizes Dropped Off – Wilke
9:00 am – 4:35 pm - Silent Auction All Convention Items on Display - Atrium
9:00 – 11:30 am - Trade Show Open - Liberty Hall
10:00 - 10:50 am – Education Sessions – Presented by North American Midway Entertainment
- Importance of Food Concessionaires Presented by National Independent Concessionaires Association (NICA) - Salon A-B
- Visit Indiana Marketing Opportunities - Veterans 1
- From Data to Decisions: Growth Strategies for Fairs Backed by Ticketing & Marketing AnalyticsVeterans 2
- Junior Fairboards - Engaging Young Adults and Don’t Lose them by Not Listening or Discouraging Them! - Veterans 3
- Working with Others and Making it Work - Veterans 4-5
11:30 am – Indiana State Festivals Association Business Luncheon / Board Meeting – Freedom B Ballroom
- Welcome & Invocation - ISFA President - Josh Reichart
- President’s Report to the Membership - ISFA President - Josh Reichart
- ISFA AWARDS PRESENTATION –
- Josephine Hauck Award Presentation
- ISFA Vice President - Bernadette Manuel
- Hall of Fame Award Presentation
- ISFA Treasurer - Gale Gerber
- ISFA Report to Membership – ISFA Coordinator - Doug Weisheit
- Closing Comments – ISFA Coordinator - Doug Weisheit
- ISFA Board Meeting to Follow Luncheon
11:30 am – Indiana Association of Fairs Awards Luncheon – Grand Ballroom
Emcee: Frank Smith III – The KNOW Warrior
- Welcome - INAF President David Bagnall
- INAF AWARDS PRESENTATION – Grand Ballroom
- Hall of Fame Sponsored by Variety Attractions
- Communications Awards – Honoring Glen Slabach & Max & Lois Fitzpatrick
- President’s Award
- IAFE Update – Ray Allison (Indiana State Fair), Chair of IAFE Board
- Entertainment by:
- Closing Comments
- Door Prizes
1:30 pm – Indiana Standardbred Advisory Board Meeting – Salon D&E
1:30 pm – Indiana Association of Fairs District Meetings
- District 1 – Roy Wilson & Brad Beeson, Directors – Salon A-B
- District 2 – Jerry Hammon & Dillon Muhlenkamp, Directors – Veterans 1-2
- District 3 – Luke Schonfeld & Cindy Mowery - Veterans 3
- District 4 – Jim Lankford & Terri Shanks, Directors – Salon C
1:30 – 4:00 pm - Trade Show Open - Liberty Hall
2:00 pm – “You Make the Difference” Presentation with Ian Hill – Veterans 4-5
2:00 – 2:50 pm – Education Sessions – Presented by Fairs.com
- OABA - Carnival-Midway Updates!How Can We Work Together!How Do Minor Policies Effect the Event - Salon A-B
- "Let's Talk" Social Media - Optimize Your Time & Resources – Salon C
- "Clarity Creates Confidence — Do Your Board and Volunteers Know Their Roles?" – Veterans 1
- Rain Insurance vs. Cancellation Insurance: Which is Right for You? Compare and contrast rain insurance with cancellation insurance. - Veterans 2
- Five Keys to Effective Sponsorship Activation & How to Engage Larger Companies - Veterans 3
2:00 – 5:00 pm - Silent Auction Session 2 - Atrium
2:00 pm – Sound Check for Showcase – Grand Ballroom
3:00 – 3:50 pm – Education Sessions – Presented by Poor Jack Amusements
- Livestock Events at Your Fair or Festival (Auctions-Length of Stay-Challenges) – Salon A-B
- How you Wow your Visitors - Creating a Disney Experience! - Salon C
- Emergency Action Planning: Preparing for the Unexpected - Veterans 2
- Don't Walk Away from Money on the Table: Revisiting Your Revenue Streams – Veterans 3
4:00 – 4:50 pm – Education Sessions - Presented by Luehrs’ Ideal Rides
- Alcohol at Your Facility & Event - Indiana Excise Police - Salon A-B
- Food Concessions / Vendors at Your Event - Salon C
- Big Strategies for Small Budgets - Free to Fee - Low-Cost Way to Promote Your EventVeterans 1
- Current Trends in Entertainment - Free Stage - Strolling Acts- Other Activities - Veterans 2
- Media Guidelines & Protocol - Veterans 3
5:00 pm - Silent Auction - (Drawings (Door Prize) - All Convention Closes - Atrium
5:00 pm - Communications Awards Picked-up - Atrium
7:00 pm – Doors Open for Showcase - Grand Ballroom
7:30 pm – Showcase Presented by Fairs.com – Grand Ballroom
- Showcase Acts:
- Door Prizes Donated by:Marriott Hotel East - Get-Away Weekend Package and by Luehrs’ Ideal Rides
- Popcorn Provided by – Ron E. Smith Foods
Jonny JamesAmanda Webb
Big Rosco & The HammersCincinnati Circus Company
Conway TurleyPresley Aronson
Lily Grace
7:00 – 11:30 pm – Visit ISFA Hospitality in Tower Suite 680
10:00 pm – After Showcase Presentation – Atrium
Enjoy complimentary drinks from Cincinnati Circus
Sunday, January 4, 2026
9:00 am – INAF Board Meeting – Freedom Ballroom