She didn’t know that she had applied to be director of marketing for the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair, but nearly 12 years later, she is glad someone did it for her.
Gayle Hart was working in the office of special events for the City of Jacksonville in 2000 when she heard there was an opening at the fair’s administrative office. She’s married to Erik Hart, president of The Florida Theatre.
“My husband asked me if I’d ever leave the City and I said that the fair job would be fun, but it’s probably filled already,” said Hart.
Without her knowledge, her husband filled out an application for her and submitted it.
“When they called me, I told them that I didn’t fill out the application. They told me they didn’t care and they wanted to see me anyway,” said Hart. “I’ve been here ever since and it has been great.”
The fair reports that its annual event has an estimated economic impact on Duval County in excess of $10 million.
It also reports that the impact to the City through lease revenues and revenues from parking during the 12 days of the fair exceed $195,000 a year.
The private, nonprofit educational corporation also has made contributions to area charitable and civic organizations of about $3.1 million since the fair’s inception in 1955.
Hart is responsible for the marketing campaign for the fair and booking the entertainment, which has become more difficult because the economy has forced many entities to do more with less.
“It’s a challenge. Everyone wants more money and I get less budget,” said Hart.
She recently earned Certified Fair Executive status from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions.
“It’s like what they do for accountants who become CPAs,” said Hart. “You have to demonstrate your knowledge of the industry, agriculture, off-season rentals and building maintenance.”
The certification process took about a year and her completed application weighed about 20 pounds, Hart said.
She also answered the burning question of what makes a fair different from a carnival.
“We are required to showcase Florida crops and show descriptions of animals throughout the exhibition halls to provide an educational experience, otherwise we are just a carnival,” said Hart.
Her work isn’t completed when the fair closes Nov. 13. Hart also is responsible for renting the fair’s facilities, which include the grounds and buildings near EverBank Field.
Some of the bigger events held at the fairgrounds are the Cowford Ball, gun shows and the start/finish and vendor market for the Gate River Run.
356-2466