The International Association of Fairs and Expositions

3 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 6 T he International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) is a voluntary membership trade association, providing information, education, and advocacy for the agricultural shows and fairs throughout the world. Agricultural fairs have been a part of fabric of life in most parts of the world for centuries, and the model most prevalent today grew from the agricultural societies of Europe. In the United States, the wide-ranging establishment of the county and state fair model can be traced back to 1811 and Elkanah Watson’s creation of the Berkshire Agricultural Society in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The historic growth and increasing professionalism attached to fairs in the late 1800s led to the formation of the IAFE in 1891 to act as a clearing house for the discussion of common standards, rules of conduct and a system of inter-fair relationships. Based in Springfield., Missouri since 1980 the IAFE’s staff of ten works with hundreds of engaged individuals from throughout the membership serving AT A GLANCE THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FAIRS AND EXPOSITIONS (IAFE) WHAT: Voluntary membership trade association for agricultural shows & fairs WHERE: Based in Springfield, Missouri WEBSITE: www.fairsandexpos.com The International Association of Fairs and Expositions B R I N G I N G C O M M U N I T I E S T O G E T H E R