Bringing National Recipe Contests To Grassroots America...

The American Fair - Behind the Scenes

 

Arlette Hollister

Superintendent of Foods, Iowa State Fair
Arlette Hollister has been Superintendent of Foods at the Iowa State Fair since her husband “volunteered” her for the job in 1985. An English/speech schoolteacher whose only “D” in college was in foods, Arlette said she learned by “trial and error!” Incredibly, in 15 years, she grew the department to be one of the largest in the nation.
  • The Iowa State Fair rightfully now boasts to have the largest Foods Department of any fair in America. It awards the large amounts of prize money (think tens of thousands of dollars), and has literally dozens of divisions and classes. This is exceptional even for a fair with a million in annual attendance.
  • In a given year, Arlette Hollister and 60 helpers oversee 10,000 entries brought in by some 700 + contestants.
  • She is an outstanding promoter and an inspiration to the contestants. She has even left her busy post to find winners and get them to TV interviews for us when we have been caught in a time crunch. Arlette loves her job and she thrives in the contest arena.
  • She suggests this to entrants: “Be observant of the judging. Watch and listen as the judges give reasons for their selections. It is a learning process. Also, practice. Experiment on neighbors! A new person can win. Just give it a shot!
  • Contestants also need to be careful when going through the process of entering. Arlette advises, “Fill out the forms before you arrive. On Cookie Day we had 583 entrants lined up. This is not the place to be filling out forms. Follow the rules. If six cookies on a plate are required, don't bring 10. And by all means, be on time.”
  • Arlette is very accommodating for the entrants. If people want, they can bring entries the Saturday before the fair opens and she will freeze them.
  • In the 12 years I have worked with Arlette, her voice has never conveyed anything less than total enthusiasm. Her accomplishments are overwhelming. I asked how she does it. She said. “PEP. Promotion, enthusiasm and persistence!”
  • When I think of Arlette, I also think of patient, energetic and professional. Thank you for your great contributions to grassroots America Arlette!
Working with 70+ fairs nationwide, we value all the hard-working fair coordinators who help make recipes contests happen. Here are a few of our other long-time fair coordinators...heroes to us, really:
  • Curt, Linda, Michelle and team at the Minnesota State Fair.
  • Lisa & team at the North Carolina State Fair.
  • Sally & team at the Topsfield Fair in Massachusetts.
  • Sue & gang at the Puyallup Fair in Washington.
  • And to the dozens of other fairs and staff...Oklahoma, Nebraska, San Diego, Kentucky, New York, Indiana, Arizona and Texas...to name a few.