Goin’ Hog Wild for the Great Indiana State Fair

Entry by Courtney Sampson, Marketing and Communications Intern, Indiana State Fair

I’d like to consider myself a “research queen.” Really, I love reading and surfing the Internet; this trait bodes well for me when researching potential internships or future jobs. When I stumbled across the Publicity/Media Relations internship for the Indiana State Fair, I learned that it is the “Year of Pigs.” I’m a Hoosier gal, so the idea of celebrating pork didn’t faze me much. After all, Indiana pork production contributes $3 billion to Indiana’s economy annually! See – told you I like research. Needless to say, my first day on the job really brought the “Year of Pigs” to life…so-to-speak.

One of my responsibilities is to assist Andy Klotz, Director of Publicity & Media Relations for the State Fair, escorting the media to various events at the fairgrounds. My first day coincided with the Indiana State Fair Signature Food Contest. Now, if you haven’t been to the fair (yet!), there are three things to know: the country’s 6^th oldest fair is all about food, family, and fun…but on my first day, it was mostly about the food!

Jolene Ketzenberger, columnist for the Indianapolis Star, is developing a piece on the Signature Food Contest that will appear in-print and online at Indystar.com on June 16. I hope you’ll check it out, and I promise you won’t be disappointed to read the descriptions and reviews of each item. Ketzenberger’s article will go into much more detail, but you’ll be able to vote online beginning in mid-June for your favorite pork-related delicacy.

As you can imagine, the 17-day Great Indiana State Fair needs lots of hands to help carry-out such an awesome event. On Thursday, thousands of prospective seasonal employees braved the humidity, pop-up thunderstorms, and long lines to apply for hundreds of available jobs. Applicants ages 14 to senior citizens showed-up for ticket-taker, parking and gates, building and grounds, and education positions. I roved the area, answered questions from applicants, collected our coveted pens, and listened to people as they shared their stories about the effects of tough economic times.

Although helping at a Job Fair may not coincide perfectly with Publicity/Media Relations, I learned a larger lesson that day. Having a paid internship in a field that interests me and helping host a Job Fair puts things into perspective, and I felt grateful for the few days I have been with the Indiana State Fair. I’m looking forward to sharing more with you about lessons from an intern. Thanks for reading!