DES MOINES, Iowa—During the Iowa Association of Fairs Conference and Annual Meeting held December 9-11 in Des Moines, one new board member was elected to the Iowa State Fair Board of Directors and five members were re-elected.

Delegates who attended the meeting from six geographic districts in Iowa elected two board members to serve two-year staggered terms on the Iowa State Fair Board. Directors re-elected to their districts are Tennie Carlson, Stratford (north central); Gary Van Aernam, Exira (southwest); Deb Zumbach, Coggon (northeast); Jo Reynolds, Indianola (south central); and Gary McConnell, Bloomfield (southeast).

Newly elected to the Board is VerDon Schmidt from Everly (northwest). Schmidt fills a vacancy left by retiring Board member Dave Hoffman who has served on the Iowa State Fair Board since 2010 and has been a vital part of many exciting State Fair initiatives. Dave has served in various leadership roles over his tenure, including President of the Iowa State Fair Board from 2019-2020.

Board Officers for 2023 are as follows:

President: Darwin Gaudian, Primghar (northwest) – 1st term

Vice President: Curtis Claeys, Grand Mound (southeast) – 1st term

Treasurer: Deb Zumbach, Coggon (northeast) – 1st term

Other Board Members include Alan Brown, Hampton (north central); John Harms, Monticello (northeast); C.W. Thomas, Guthrie Center (southwest); Randy Brown, Osceola (south central); Darwin Gaudian, Primghar (northwest); and Curtis Claeys, Grand Mound (southeast). Board Members by office held are Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (represented by Lt. Governor Adam Gregg); Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig; and Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen (represented by Andrea Nelson).

(contributed press release, Iowa State Fair)