“They’re local, affordable, and woven into everyday life in a way large professional sports simply can’t be.” NAVIGATING LEGISLATIVE AND WORKFORCE CHALLENGES One of the most pressing advocacy issues facing the fair industry involves temporary labor. Carnivals and concessions rely heavily on skilled, mobile workers who assemble, operate, and disassemble complex equipment as they move from fair to fair. Yet visa and labor regulations have not always reflected the unique nature of that workforce. In the United States, IAFE has been working with Congress to reclassify these workers into visa categories more aligned with their actual roles— closer to circus workers than traditional agricultural laborers. In Canada, the association has engaged with Members of Parliament to clarify how temporary fair workers should be treated within provincial labor frameworks. “These are highly specialized jobs,” Grindle notes. “They’re not taking employment away from local workers. The training required is extensive, and the work is inherently mobile.” Beyond workforce concerns, zoning pressures and land-use disputes have become increasingly common as communities grow. Developers often see fairgrounds as underutilized land, overlooking the revenue, emergency services training, graduations, and year-round events these spaces support. In response, IAFE provides not just advocacy at higher levels of government, but also equips local fairs with the tools and training needed to advocate effectively within their own communities. EDUCATION THAT STRENGTHENS THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY Education is where IAFE’s impact becomes deeply tangible. The association offers an extensive suite of online courses, live training sessions, regional workshops, and its flagship Institute of Fair Management—a professional development program designed to support both volunteer-led and professionally managed fairs. 78 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01
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