Fairest-of-the-Fair

The Florence County Fairest of the Fair is part of a program for the Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair. As the Florence County Fairest of the Fair, our contestant is eligible to compete to become the Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair.

WISCONSIN'S FAIREST OF THE FAIR

Job Description, Duties and Compensation - State Fairest of the Fairs

The purpose of the Fairest of the Fair program is to promote the enormous variety of opportunities - educational, agricultural, social, cultural and commercial - available at the Wisconsin's county, district and state fairs. It is a position of responsibility to all the people of Wisconsin.

If you are selected Wisconsin's Fairest of the Fair, your duties will be two-fold: you are a traveling representative of the Wisconsin Association of Fairs and, if qualified and hired, you may become a full-time summer employee of the Public Relations Department of the Wisconsin State Fair. Details are outlined below.

Your term is for one year, from the convention in January through the following convention, though most of your duties will be performed between June 1 and September 30. You must have a flexible schedule and be available throughout the year for appearances, meetings, interviews, etc., sometimes on very short notice. While you may not be working seven days a week, you must be available for evening and weekend functions. Once it is set up, you must follow your schedule, and it should supersede any personal commitments (obviously, there may be exceptions if they are cleared in advance). A courtesy car may be provided. If not, you must furnish your own transportation.

The skills required to perform the duties described below are many. The rewards are many as well. You must be poised, mature, out-going, articulate, sensitive to all types of people, and be able to withstand long hours of work while remaining pleasant. You must have excellent writing, public speaking, computer and telephone skills. You must be able to adapt to any situation, and be dependable and professional in the performance of your duties.

Much greater than the actual financial compensation you will receive for the duties described below, is the honor of being Wisconsin's Fairest of the Fair and the life experience you will have gained. The position will be as challenging and rewarding as you make it. In addition, by the end of your term, you will have developed better self-confidence, listening skills, time management techniques, writing and speaking ability and a greater regard for the people and places of Wisconsin.

1. Traveling Representative of the Wisconsin Association of Fairs

Duties: You learn about and visit county and district fairs, community parades and other special events, throughout the state in order to promote the concept and better understanding of Wisconsin's fairs. At the annual convention at the end of your term, you must open the general and business sessions, make a brief report at the business meeting, act as master of ceremonies at the contest semi-finals and a short speech at the contest finals.

Procedure: You send out letters to all county and district fairs to solicit appearances and arrange media interviews in the area. You will also receive invitations to community events which must be coordinated by the Wisconsin State Fair public relations director.

Compensation: You will be reimbursed for mileage, lodging and meals while traveling to appearances. If hired by Wisconsin State Fair Park, you will also be paid an hourly wage by the Wisconsin State Fair for eight hour per day/40 hours per week maximum. All appearances and expenses must be approved in advance by the State Fair public relations director. This policy does not apply to your home county. You and/or your county are responsible for any expenses incurred by your attending functions in your home county, at your county fair or elsewhere.

2. Public Relations Employee of the Wisconsin State Fair

Duties: If qualified and hired, you may become a full-time summer employee of the Wisconsin State Fair's, public relations department, performing office duties and assisting in the promotion of the Wisconsin State Fair.

You may also serve as an official spokesperson for the Wisconsin State Fair, arranging and performing media interviews throughout the state and northern Illinois.

During the Wisconsin State Fair, you may serve as the Fair's official host, greeting fairgoers and special guest, MC-ing and participating in events and contests, performing media interviews, etc.

Procedure: You will work out of the Wisconsin State Fair Park Administration Building (or other assigned building) in West Allis, contacting media and making arrangements under the direction of a public relations department staff member. During the Fair, you may have a companion who coordinates your appearances at various Fair events.

Compensation: In the office or on the road for media interviews, you will be paid an hourly wage at 40 hours per week maximum. You will also be reimbursed at the state established rated for mileage, lodging and meals when on the road. When combining a visit to a county fair and media interviews in the area, of course, you will only be reimbursed for your expenses and paid your wages once.

During the Wisconsin State Fair, you will also be paid for an eight-hour day maximum, which is what your actual working time averages out to each day.

If you do not live within an easily commuting distance of West Allis, Wisconsin State Fair will arrange for or assist with lodging for you during the summer months.

A courtesy car may be provided during the summer months if a sponsor is located, but if not, you are responsible to have transportation readily available at all times while working in this position.

Florence County Fair - Fairest of the Fair Eligibility Requirements

• All contestants must be at least 18 years old by August of the current year

• All contestants must reside in Florence County and must have established

residence at least one year prior to entry

• The contestant agrees that the time, method and manner of judging shall be solely within the discretion of the rules and regulations set forth by the Florence County Agricultural Society and the Wisconsin Association of Fairs and that the decision of the selection committee shall be final

• Applications are due April 1 and the winner will be officially named in June

• Responsibilities:

• Represent the Florence County Fair during community activities at the fair with specific assigned duties and events:

• An evaluation will be provided to the Fairest with the requirements to help him/her stay organized and keep up a schedule. This evaluation will be used in bi-weekly meetings with a member of the fair board.

• Will be chosen based on application, references and involvement in the Florence County Fair

• Serves a four month term – from June through September

• After completion of the fair, the fair board will look at the evaluation of the fairest responsibilities to determine if he/she is eligible to compete in the state competition in January.

• Completed application, eligibility certification, and code of conduct must be submitted to the Florence County Agricultural Society by April 1, 2011.