Remember to take photos at your fair of your exhibits, booths, & activities to use in your “display of fair” setups at the convention. This is a great way to share new ideas! We will be adding a judged competition this year as well as a “People’s Choice” award. Your local fair can also participate by decorating a table with red, white, and blue décor to be enjoyed throughout the convention. We can’t wait to see the creativity!!

We're considering adding something new and fun to this year's AFMA Convention—a Talent Contest for our convention attendees! Whether you sing, play an instrument, tell jokes, perform magic, dance, recite poetry, or have another unique talent, we'd love to showcase the many talents within our fair family. Best of all, we're planning to award cash prizes to our top performers! This event will only take place if we have enough interest, so we'd love to hear from you. If you thin

Now is the time to nominate that special person who never seems to be recognized for their hard work and service to your local fair. As your fair season begins, think about the dedicated volunteers you work with. Send in your nomination for the Hall of Fame, Charles Smith Memorial Award, Lloyd Dunaway Award, Workhorse Award, and the Mary Louise Fiser Family Award. The guidelines are listed on the AFMA website. The deadline for receiving the nominations is October 15, 2026.

The Arkansas Fair Managers Association is excited to kick off another year of the Junior Fair Ambassador Program! Each year, this program brings together outstanding young leaders who are passionate about promoting Arkansas fairs, agriculture, and the communities they serve. Our Junior Fair Ambassadors represent the future of our fairs. Through leadership opportunities, community involvement, and educational experiences, they help showcase the important role fairs play in sup

If you are interested or know someone who might be interested in having a booth at the convention, please let us know. The booth space is 10x10 with a skirted table, two chairs and signage. Each vendor will be responsible for their own electric hookups with the convention center. The booth will cost $150, not requiring you to be an associate member. For those who wish to be an associate member, dues are an additional $100. Associate members will be listed in the convention di

Dear AFMA Members and Friends, As we look ahead to the new year, it is time to map out our calendars for our favorite annual gathering. Mark your calendars for January 14-16, 2027, as we head into our next AFMA Convention! This year’s convention carries an incredibly special significance. As our nation honors its semi-quincentennial—250 years of American independence and history—we are stepping into the spotlight to celebrate the deep-rooted agricultural traditions that bui

We’re excited to invite all Fair Board members and guests to our Early Bird Reception! January 14th at 6:00 PM - Hot Springs Convention Center – Hall B & C Come enjoy an evening of fun, fellowship, and entertainment as we gather together! What to expect: Buffet featuring finger foods Door prize giveaway Bingo and games Entertainment Great fellowship with fellow Fair Board members and friends Whether you want to try your luck at bingo, enjoy good food, or simply spend time wit

Thank you to everyone who attended the Arkansas Fair Managers Early Bird Reception and events on Thursday evening Your presence, participation, and enthusiasm helped make this gathering a tremendous success. It was a pleasure to reconnect with longtime friends and welcome new faces as we shared ideas, experiences, and conversations that strengthen fairs across Arkansas. Events like these remind us how valuable collaboration and community are in supporting agriculture, youth p

The Arkansas Fair Managers Association (AFMA) gathered once again in Hot Springs from December 11–13, 2025, for its annual convention. This year’s theme, “Country Christmas at the AFMA,” set a festive tone at the Hot Springs Convention Center as fair managers, associate members, and industry partners from across the Natural State met to celebrate the 2025 season and prepare for the year ahead. Equipping Our Leaders: Licenses, Certifications, and Verifiers The 2025 Convention

One of the most exciting highlights of this year’s AFMA Convention was our annual Scholarship Auction — and once again, our fair family showed up in a big way. Through generous bidding, donated items, and lots of good-natured competition, we were able to raise funds that will directly support students pursuing their education and future careers in agriculture, fair management, and related fields. The scholarship program is one of the most meaningful things we do together as a

The AFMA Board would like to welcome our two new AFMA Board members, Hazelle Whited from Sharp County and Tracy Henderson from Lonoke County. Hazelle will fulfill a vacated three-year term and Tracy will fulfill a vacated one-year term. Scharidi Barber and Karen Baker were both re-elected to five-year terms. Mrs. Pam Lloyd was appointed as Director Emeritus, a well-deserved honor. Congratulations to these ladies!

We couldn’t be prouder of our AFMA Junior Ambassadors who joined us at this year’s convention. These outstanding young leaders from across Arkansas spent several days right alongside us — learning, lending a hand, asking great questions, and soaking in what it truly means to be part of the fair family. Throughout the week, they participated in leadership sessions, helped with convention activities, and visited with fair managers and board members from every corner of the stat

We also honored a few deserving people for their dedication and service to the Fair Industry at our annual Awards Banquet. Those honored were: Hall of Fame: Becky Featherston Associate Hall of Fame: Kim Maple Charles Smith Memorial: Alan Quattlebaum Work Horse Award: Michael Michael Mary Louise Fiser Family Award Carson & Rhonda McGee Lloyd Dunaway Award: Keith Pullen Visitation Award: Steve Jernigan Travel Trophy: White County Associates Remembrance Award: Pam Casper

The Early Bird Reception will set the stage for our convention on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. We will be serving some delicious finger foods and playing lots of fun Christmas reindeer games. Bingo will be played at $5.00 per card, along with other games that we know everyone will enjoy! We will have several vendors set up in our Tradeshow area this year. This will be a perfect time to get some last minute Christmas gifts as well as gather information and ideas for next year’s

It’s Almost Conference Time – Get Ready for a Country Christmas at the AFMA! The countdown is on — our annual AFMA Conference is just around the corner this December, and we couldn’t be more excited to be back together for another fantastic year! This year’s theme, “Country Christmas,” promises to bring a warm, festive spirit to our time together. Get ready for great networking, valuable learning opportunities, and a little holiday cheer, AFMA-style. One of the highlights of

AFMA is thrilled to share that our Junior Ambassador Program continues to grow and shine! This year, we are proud to have 14 incredible Junior Ambassadors joining us at the conference. These young leaders will be on hand throughout the event to assist, help, and represent the future of the fair industry with enthusiasm and pride. The Junior Ambassador Program is an amazing opportunity to engage and inspire the next generation — giving them hands-on experience, industry insigh

2026 AFMA Convention Dates: December 11-13, 2025 Hot Springs Convention Center AFMA Convention Promises Excitement, Education, and Entertainment The Arkansas Fair Managers Association is gearing up for its annual convention, and this year's event is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and informative gatherings for fair managers and board members across the state. With a packed agenda featuring professional development opportunities, high-caliber entertainment, and esse