At the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) 128th Annual Convention, held Nov. 25-28, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, Steven Patterson of the Indiana Association of Fairs was named the State and Provincial Associations of Fairs Executive of the Year. The Executive of the Year Award goes to an association executive who has been in this position for at least five years. They have to be recommended by their association and are judged on their participation and involvement in their local, state, and the State and Provincial Associations of Fairs.
Patterson has served as a fair volunteer to a seasonal employee to a fair board member to a full-time fair employee and then took on the responsibility of executive director of the Indiana Association of Fairs.
Patterson has served as executive director of the Hendricks County 4-H & Agricultural Fair in Danville, Ind., since March 2014. Before serving as executive director, Patterson was on the fair’s board of directors including terms as treasurer, president, and past president. Patterson previously worked for Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance beginning in 1988 in various capacities including property and casualty claims representative, training manager, and quality control coordinator.
From 1983-2013, he served the Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, in a variety of ways. He began in 1983 as a general fair worker and was first assistant to the fair director on two occasions with a stint as special projects coordinator in between. Starting in 2005, Patterson served on the Indiana State Fair Commission Board of Directors. Patterson is a graduate of the IAFE Institute of Fair Management and has enrolled in the Institute’s graduate program. In 2012, he received an IAFE Heritage Award. He has been with the Indiana Association of Fairs since 1999, including as public relations director and as director of administration.
Patterson is also active in his community. He is on the board of directors and treasurer of Sycamore Services. He serves on the Parade and Princess Committee for the 500 Festival and serves the Indianapolis Sports Corporation.
