Meet new Alaska State Fair director at open house Sunday

PALMER — Imagine you’re a big fan of state fairs, starting your job as director of a state fair and your very first task in that position is to represent that fair at a convention of state fairs — a fair of fairs, if you will.

Pretty good first day of work, right?

Incoming Alaska State Fair director Jerome Hertel started working as the new director Dec. 8 at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions at the Paris and Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas. When he got off the plane in Anchorage Thursday evening, an interview with the Frontiersman was among the first tasks performed in his new home state.

“I haven’t had that much time to give it that much thought,” he said, when asked if he had any additional goals for the Alaska State Fair. “I’m kind of getting acclimated to Alaska and the state fair. My goals moving forward are to continue with the success of the Alaska State Fair. It’s been a very successful state fair.”

Hertel has worked in the convention business his whole career, since graduating from the University of South Dakota. His first job was managing a sporting arena in Houston, Texas, for about three years, after which he returned to South Dakota, working first for the Sioux Falls Arena and Convention Center, then the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and from there to the South Dakota State Fair, where he was the director since 2008.

He was moved to apply for the Alaska position after spotting an advertisement for the position listed on the IAFE website.

“I was looking for a new challenge, new opportunities, and I’ve always wanted to live in Alaska,” he said.

“I felt very good about stepping into a very good situation,” Hertel added.

The next big task will be to face the public. Hertel will answer questions at the Alaska State Fair Christmas Open House from 1 to 4 p.m., Dec. 14 at Raven Hall on the fairgrounds.

The event is intended to be family friendly, and features refreshments, photos with Santa Claus and reindeer, live music, children’s activities and a sleigh ride.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.

The community's first chance to meet new Alaska State Fair Director Jerome Hertel is at the Alaska State Fair's Christmas Open House from 1 to 4 p.m., Dec. 14 at Raven Hall on the fairgrounds.