Lessons and learnings from one of America’s largest fairs will be on show in Australia in February.

Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA), Media Release, 22 November 2024

Ray Allison, Chief Development and Strategy Officer from the Indiana State Fair, and Second Vice Chair of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), has been announced as the first of two keynote speakers at the Agricultural Shows Australia 2025 Conference.  

The Indiana State Fair debuted in 1852 in Indianapolis and attracts almost one million visitors annually. It’s the sixth oldest state fair in the U.S. – and Ray has worked an impressive 32 fairs in total. 

“Agricultural fairs and shows matter, arguably today more than ever,” Ray said. 

“This interactive presentation will highlight the significance and impact of fairs/shows globally over the last 200 years. We’ll look at the history and traditions we all hold so dear and explore how and why they still matter today, and we’ll also discuss how fairs are evolving to meet ever-changing customer demand, while staying true to their agricultural roots.”                

Ray has worked with the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Centre since 2007, where he’s held many leadership roles, from Public Safety Manager to VP of Development. 

Executive Officer of Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA), Katie Stanley said Ray will bring enormous experience and insight to the stage in his keynote session, ‘Rooted in Tradition, Growing for the Future: The Enduring Relevance of Agricultural Fairs/Shows in Today’s Marketplace.’

“Ray is passionate about supporting youth, agriculture, and education, aligning with the values we hold dear. His keynote will offer invaluable insights into how state fairs and agricultural shows can continue to thrive and evolve,” Katie said. 

“As he puts it, “The only limit to our realisation of tomorrow will be our doubts of today” – a perfect sentiment for a conference with the 2025 theme of ‘Reimagining an icon’ and the focus on reimagining and growing our iconic events.”

Gallagher is the proud platinum sponsor of the third ASA National Conference. Other sponsors include  Localtix;  The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania; AgShows NSW;  Australian Show Ribbons;  Showorks; and  Showday Online.

The Agricultural Shows Australia 2025 Conference is hosted by ASA and the ASA Emerging Leaders Committee. It is a pinnacle event for the broader agricultural shows community. 

Registration for the ASA Conference 2025 is via the  ASA website. The conference is run from Thursday 13 February through to Sunday 16 February 2025.  

The major celebration for the conference is the “The Royals” Gala Dinner sponsored by The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland, The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, The Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA, The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Limited, The Royal National Capital Agricultural Society, and The Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia.