The International Association of Fairs and Expositions

6 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 6 produced six times per year is mailed to member organizations and all individuals associated with those members have 24/7 access to current and past online versions of the magazine. Each issue of the F&E contains educational and informational articles, most written by members. Regular e-mail and mailed correspondence, social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and a podcast are also used to round out communication with members. The educational programming for the members is also delivered in multiple channels. These include in-person events (the Annual Convention and Trade Show, Management Conference and regional conferences and workshops), webinars – dubbed “CyberSeminars,” engaging discussions using Zoom on a variety of timely topics (called “Let’s Talk” sessions) and the production of resources such as toolkits on specific topics (Avian Influenza, Succession Planning, Communication in Time of Covid, etc.) and a shared library of documents on best practices or examples of innovative programming submitted by members. Using multiple platforms for engaging members virtually through the CyberSeminars, Let’s Talk, and committee meetings, resulted in over 6,000 individuals participating throughout 2021. What does the future hold for the agricultural fairs and shows that are the IAFE members? Although coming off of the pandemic is fraught with challenges (supply chain, inflation, staffing shortages), there has been – thus far – no decrease in the enthusiasm of guests to return to their fair. About 95 % of all IAFE member fairs were able to produce a full event in 2021 and when weather cooperated (always the nemesis none can control), crowds exceeded expectations or broke attendance records. On-grounds spending records were shattered. Through the first few months of 2022, with the season of fairs held primarily in Florida, Texas and other southern locales, the trend is repeating itself. INTERNAT IONAL ASSOC I AT ION OF FA I RS AND EXPOS I T IONS