47th annual meeting of the North Dakota State Fair Association took place on Thursday, November 15 in Bismarck, ND. There were 72 delegates and 30 guests in attendance.
Business covered at the annual meeting included the review and presentation of the Fair’s annual report and audit by State Fair Manager, Renae Korslien, as well as the election of three board members. Delegates re-elected to the North Dakota State Fair Association Board included Neil Fleming of Cavalier, District 1, Connie Hanson of Devils Lake, District 4, and Gary Knell of Hazen, District 7.
Each year the State Fair Board of Directors nominates individuals to receive the State Fair’s highest level of honor and recognition by being chosen as a North Dakota State Fair Honorary Member. This year’s membership was presented to two individuals who have and continue to play extremely important roles in the success of the State Fair, Linda Nelson and Steve Gehrtz. Linda Nelson has been employed with the Fair since 1979 and most recently serves as the Gate Superintendent. Each year, Linda organizes all of the gate staffing. This process starts in the middle of the winter and sometimes continues to the day before the fair begins. Her smile and attitude keep the gates running smoothly all nine days of the Fair.
Steve Gehrtz happened to be in Minot the day the Fair was informed they would flood and he came
to the Fairgrounds to see if any help was needed. Having experience with the Grand Forks flood, Steve was aware of the things to come and offered his help and knowledge out of the goodness of his heart. His involvement played a valuable role in the comeback of the Fair following the flood.
As the final order of business, Todd Berning, president of the North Dakota State Fair Foundation, presented the Tile the Atrium project, which provides individuals, communities and organizations the opportunity to purchase a personalize stone tile in the new floor of the Upper Atrium of the North Dakota State Fair Center. The NDSF Foundation also presented, Glenda Hockridge of Fessenden with a guitar signed by the 2011 Academy of Country Music Award winners. Hockridge won this guitar during the 2012 North Dakota State Fair by purchasing a raffle ticket from the NDSF Foundation. Information on the foundation is available at www.ndstatefairfoundation.com.
Dates for the 2013 North Dakota State Fair are July 19-27. More information is available at www.ndstatefair.com.
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