ASF Crops Superintendent starting new chapter

Alaska State Fair Crops Superintendent Kathy Liska is retiring from her long-held position. She said it's a bittersweet feeling.

“It was a hard decision to make… I just believe that another chapter can't start if i don't close the one I have already so that's one of my reasons for leaving,” Liska said. “I was calling it a retirement, now I'm calling it a realignment.”

Liska began working at the Fair in 1994. She said that she spent nine years as Sally Karbelnikoff's assistant before becoming the Crops Superintendent herself in 2003. She said the transition wasn't difficult.

“I knew what the job was so that made it simple for me," Liska said.

Liska said that one of the most exciting aspects of her job was organizing the giant pumpkin and giant cabbage weigh-offs. She said those contests draw a lot of people to the Fair each year.

“I love watching people ‘ooo’ and ‘ahh’ over them,” Liska said.

The Fair is officially recognized by Guinness World Records and put Alaska on the map as the place where the world's heaviest cabbage has been grown. Liska said that Scott Robb and other iconic growers have become renowned for their giant vegetable growing abilities.

“It's amazing," Liska said. “There's a lot of attention at our Fair because of the giant growers. Who would have thought that Alaska would be a hot bed for this? But it has been.”

The Fair's agricultural exhibits are not limited to giant pumpkins and cabbages. Each year, growers from across the state bring a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and other home grown entries. Liska said they have a growing amount of interest each year.

According to Liska, the 2024 season featured a record number of new entrants. She said there’s 21 divisions with over 300 classes.

“It's strong,” Liska said. “The dream starts in January when all the seed catalogs come in.”

Liska said that anyone who enters their items in the agricultural exhibits is assigned a number they keep for life, and they had close to 80 new numbers assigned this year. She said this highlights self-sufficiency.

“I credit the parents for that. They're growing and teaching their kids to grow,” Liska said. “Nothing tastes better when you take it out of your own garden. A lot of work goes into it but the payoff is priceless.”

Agriculture is the reason the Fair was established in the first place. Liska said that keeping that spirit alive is an integral part of the Fair's history and overarching identity, dating back to when the original Mat-Su Colony farmers celebrated their first harvest. She said the Fair is the “last hoorah of the summer.”

“It's kind of a throwback to the old ways," Liska said. “It's a home grown fair in all ways.

It still runs under the ideas as it started and that was for family and fun and agriculture and just a good time.”

Looking back, Liaka said that she has a lot of fond memories of working at the Fair. She said that she's made meaningful connections with so many people and had many exciting experiences in and around her department.

“I've had a blast. It's been a special job. I've been lucky to have had this position,” Liska said. “It was a little somber on my way home and making my rounds before I left...

They told me I'm a part of the Fair and I always will be… I know I'm going to miss it.”

Looking forward, Liska said that she isn't sure what her exact plan is but she feels peaceful and content knowing she can figure it out as she goes.

“I'm at a point of just clearing my plate off and realigning what I'm going to do,” Liska said.

Liska used to bring flowers and berries to the Fair before she started working there.

“Maybe I'll get back into doing entries because I'll have time,” Liska said with a laugh.

The theme for the 2024 Fair season was “Enjoy the Ride.” Liska said this felt like the perfect symbolic send off.

“It's been a great run," Liska said. “The stars aligned. It was all there. It was all right there in front of me that it was time.”