Del Mar Fairgrounds Claims 14 Industry Awards
The fair industry managed to overcome the challenges of 2020 to come together (in all kinds of creative, masked and virtual ways) to celebrate agriculture, industry and community spirit.
Trade industry associations International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE) and Western Fairs Association (WFA) each continued to offer their awards programs, and while class offerings were reduced, new catagories honored special challenges overcome in the events industry this year.
The team at the Del Mar Fairgrounds earned accolades from their peers for both online offerings like the virtural Junior Livestock Show and Auction and competitive beer and wine competitions, as well as the in-person drive-thru events, Fair Food Fix and the Scream Zone. Partnering with the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank to distribute food to more than 1,000 local families gained applause as a worthy community outreach effort. Here’s the full list of awards and honors:
IAFE
| PLACE | CATEGORY | ENTRY |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Place | Virtual Demonstration | Plant, Grow, Eat |
| 2nd Place | Additional Competitive Exhibits Measures Taken | Virtual Home Wine Awards |
| 3rd Place | Correcting a COVID-19 Related Issue or Challenge, Agriculture | Virtual Junior Livestock Show and Auction |
| 3rd Place | Innovative Ways Technology Was Used Within Agriculture | Ringside with the Judges |
| 3rd Place | Agriculture Education During COVID-19 | Plant, Grow, Eat video |
WFA
| PLACE | CATEGORY | ENTRY |
|---|---|---|
| Judges’ Choice & 1st Place | “Give It Your Best Shot” Photo Contest | The Scream Zone |
| 1st Place | Virtual Online Contest | San Diego International Beer Competition |
| 1st Place | Virtual Auctions | Virtual Junior Livestock Show and Auction |
| 1st Place | Drive-Through Food Events | Fair Food Fix |
| 1st Place | Drive-In Entertainment | The Scream Zone |
| 1st Place | “Give It Your Best Shot” Photo Contest | Fair Food Fix |
| 2nd Place | Virtual Fair | Youth Programs |
| 2nd Place | Community Outreach | San Diego Food Bank Food Distribution Event |
The Western Fairs Association, founded in 1922 and incorporated in 1945, is a nonprofit trade association serving the fair industry throughout the western United States and Canada.
The IAFE represents more than 1,100 fairs throughout the world and promotes the development and improvement of agricultural fairs, shows and expositions.
