Ohio County Tourism promotional piece awarded Grand Champion at Fair Convention

Over 80 entries were received from numerous fairs and festivals from across the State of Indiana

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RISING SUN/OHIO COUNTY, IND:  Ohio County Tourism, Inc. was named the Indiana Association of Fairs (INAF) Grand Champion Class A winners in their 2024 Communication Awards Contest. The ceremony was held during the INAF Annual Breakfast Awards Banquet in Indianapolis on January 7, 2024.

According to Kendal Miller, executive director for Ohio County Tourism, the tourism organization and their Rising Sun Summer Fest event are members of the Indiana State Festival Association. Indiana fairs, festivals, and associate members in the Indiana Association of Fairs and the Indiana State Festival Association were welcome to enter the annual Communication Contest.

First-time participants in the communication contest, Ohio County Tourism entered promotional posters from their 2023 Rising Sun Summer Fest and Rising Sun Stars & Stripes Celebration events. Ohio County competed in the Class A division for counties with a population of 34,999 or less. 

Over 80 entries were received from numerous fairs and festivals from across the State of Indiana.

Entry categories included: photo album; website; printed promotional item; event photo; event photo series; and advertising and collectible/commemorative items.

While the Rising Sun Summer Fest had received a fifth place ribbon the day before, the Stars & Stripes poster had been moved to a table with non-winning entries.

“I didn’t think anything about it. I had planned on bringing both posters back to Rising Sun with our one ribbon. I was excited we won that,” said Miller.  

The evening before the close of the conference, Miller received a call from the communication contest chairwoman asking if she was planning on staying for the INAF Awards Breakfast the following morning.

“I hadn’t planned to. The annual Breakfast Banquet is held right before the close of the conference and appears to be geared more to INAF members,” said Miller.   

It was then that the contest organizer told her that the Rising Sun Stars & Stripes Celebration promotional poster would be receiving a Grand Champion award at the banquet and asked if she would consider staying to accept it.  

Miller received the Class A Grand Champion banner and winner’s check from Kevin Stewart, INAF president, on behalf of Ohio County Tourism for the Stars & Stripes Celebration promotional poster.

Ohio County Tourism will be hosting the 2024 Rising Sun Summer Fest on Saturday, June 8 and the Rising Sun Stars & Stripes Celebration on Saturday, July 6. Event details are currently in the works.

For information on additional Rising Sun/Ohio County events, lodging, shops, eateries, and landmarks, log on to the enjoyrisingsun.com website, follow the Rising Sun-Ohio County Tourism Facebook page,
e-mail kendal@enjoyrisingsun.com, drop by the 217 N. High Street Visitors Center on Tuesday-Friday from 10am-4:30pm, or call (812) 438-4933.