Submitted Photo Children decorate cupcakes in a contest during the North Dakota State Fair. The cupcake contest helped the fair take first place in the Create It on the Spot Contest category of the IAFE awards program.

A cupcake decorating competition and a new sponsorship for its Family Day helped the North Dakota State Fair capture top awards at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions convention this month.

The State Fair earned six first-place awards and five other Awards of Excellence at the 129th annual convention Dec. 1-4 in San Antonio, Texas.

“We are so honored to be recognized for the work we love to do for the North Dakota State Fair,” NDSF General Manager Renae Korslien said in a prepared statement. “Each year we do our best to keep the State Fair fun, safe, and always changing. With just under 46,000 competitive exhibits on display in 2019, we have so much to be proud of as a fair.”

Fairs and exhibitions from around the world submit entries to IAFE each year. The North Dakota fair has consistently received a number of awards each year, and this year it was recognized in each of the five award categories, which are Agricultural, Communications, Competitive, Sponsorship and Non-Fair Facility Usage. Each category focuses on a different aspect of specific events and event planning.

The State Fair’s four Hall of Honor Communications Awards included two first-place awards for a brochure and for the promotional window clings at Dakota Square Mall. The fair also received a second-place communications award for its website and a third-place award for its electronic newsletter.

The State Fair earned three Non-Fair Facility Usage Awards, including two first-place awards for marketing campaigns. It received a third-place award for a successful non-fair event, which was the annual ribfest held on the fairgrounds.

The fair received two Innovation in Sponsorship Awards. First-place recognition went to the first-time sponsorship of ND United for Family Day. A second-place award came in Sponsorship Continuity as a result of the 15 years of sponsorship by SRT for the park that includes the Dakota Talent Stage. SRT added wi-fi to the park this year.

The State Fair received first place in the Create It on the Spot Contest for the kids’ cupcake decorating contest. Cash Wise donated the cupcakes and children competed in decorating them and were able to keep and eat the cupcakes.

The fair received a third-place Agricultural Award for its communications related to agriculture, particularly communication through its electronic newsletter.

The International Association of Fairs and Expositions, based in Springfield, Mo., is a voluntary, nonprofit corporation serving state, provincial, regional and county agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions, and expositions. Its associate members include state and provincial associations of fairs, non-agricultural expositions and festivals, associations, corporations, and individuals engaged in providing products and services to its members.