The Colorado State Fair has received significant recognition at both international and regional levels, collecting a total of 23 awards. The honors were announced following the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Annual Convention, which took place in Denver from December 1 to 4, 2025.
At the IAFE event, the Colorado State Fair earned 15 awards across several categories. Among these was the “Best of” award for Best Marketing Campaign for its 2025 “Growing the Tradition” campaign. The fair competes in Division 3, which includes fairs with attendance between 250,000 and 500,000.
Other first-place wins at IAFE included best printed promotional material for the 2025 commemorative poster, best social media campaign for a flash sale promotion, best souvenir for the Growing the Tradition watering can, and best marketing innovation with its 3D character statues. Additional awards recognized efforts in digital advertising, signage, online advertisements, agricultural photography and programming, as well as sponsorship initiatives.
Staff members from both the Colorado State Fair and other divisions of the Colorado Department of Agriculture also contributed educational sessions during the convention. Four staff leaders—Amber Henker, Callie Masar, Lea Cassidy, and Sheri Giordano—graduated from the Institute of Fair Management (IFM), an industry program focused on management training since its founding in 2007. Robyn Toft completed advanced education through graduation from IFM’s Management Certification Track.
Before attending IAFE’s convention in Denver, fair representatives participated in the Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs (RMAF) Convention held November 12–14 in Billings, Montana. At this regional event uniting fairs across the area to promote public entertainment offerings, the Colorado State Fair received eight additional awards. These included first-place honors for non-fair event (Sober Cowboy Rodeo), event guide (2025 Daily Guide), and animal photography by Summer Lane Photography.
Other recognitions at RMAF covered themes such as competitive exhibits guides, social media posts related to promotions like flash sales on Facebook, agriculture promotion efforts through programs like Colorado Proud Farm Trail, and themed photography involving people.
The combined results reflect ongoing efforts by fair organizers to enhance their programming and professional development within both state and broader industry contexts.
