The time is now to apply for fair ambassador

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By Correne Martin

The Crawford County Fair Ambassador program is seeking young women, as well as men, to apply for the yearlong position of promoting the fair and the county’s agriculture industry. Applications are accepted now through Nov. 30 and can be obtained at crawfordcounty wisconsinfair.com. The ambassador will be selected at a special gala at the end of January 2016.

“The ambassador gets to meet and talk to people at festivals, parades, the dairy breakfast and other community events they attend throughout the year,” said Liz Brownlee, the ambassador committee chair who held the position in 2008, when it was titled the Fairest of the Fair. “It’s also very mindblowing what happens behind-the-scenes for the Crawford County Fair and this position gets to see more of that business part of things. Of course, the ambassador will attend every day of the fair in 2016 too.”

Among the ambassador’s jobs are speaking with children as well as adults at schools, events, 4-H leaders association meetings, women’s club and other civic club meetings; planning events; meeting with the fair coordinator and board regularly; meeting the carnival owners; finding fair entertainment; understanding and helping carry out the business aspect of the fair; and overall acting as the public relations representative of the fair.

“We do encourage a lot of independence in this position and there are many opportunities for that,” said Brownlee, who lives in Mt. Zion. “It’s kind of a neat way to experience many different jobs.”
Anybody age 18 or older by Jan. 1, 2016, who has a genuine interest in promoting the Crawford County Fair is eligible to apply. Brownlee explained that they don’t have to be an exhibitor or involved directly with the fair, they simply have to be interested in learning more.

Applications can be printed off at crawfordcountywisconsinfair.com (click on the fair ambassador tab) or paper copies can be picked up at the Crawford County UW-Extension office in Prairie du Chien. Once the application is filled out, candidates will be asked to answer a series of questions about which of their assets make them someone who could represent the fair well. Applicants must also write a complete bio of themselves.

Prior to the January 2016 gala, the ambassador selection committee—consisting of three to six judges such as members of the board, committee, media and community—will conduct interviews and review the applications and resumes. At the gala, candidates will be asked to give a speech introducing themselves and answer an impromptu question about why they want to be ambassador or why they want to promote the fair.

“The selection is a lot about how they compose themselves in answering questions, and their experience,” Brownlee stated. “We like to have different people with different experiences because everyone’s point of view is unique.”

The contest runners-up become attendants of the ambassador’s court. The ambassador will then have the opportunity to compete for the 2017 state Fairest of the Fair title.

In addition to the Crawford County Fair Ambassador position, a Future Ambassador will be selected from those girls and boys ages 9-17 who apply. Applications may also be obtained online or at the Extension office.

Brownlee said the ambassador committee is really hoping for more applicants this year. They have only been getting about two per year and would like to see more young people get involved.

“A lot of people think the fair is just about showing animals, but it’s so much more than that. You get to talk to businesses, network, and learn time management and respect for the county fair,” she said. “We try to keep our past ambassadors involved too so it’s a great way to get started.”

In addition to the ambassador and future ambassador, the Crawford County Fair also welcome committee members who have different backgrounds that might benefit the fair. Pictures, news clippings and information about past fairests and ambassadors are also wanted, as Brownlee said she’d love to put together a scrapbook of such history.

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