Submitted Photo Renae Korslien, right, general manager of the North Dakota State Fair, will retire after a 50-year career. Craig Rudland, assistant manager of the State Fair, has been named the new general manager.

Renae Korslien, general manager of the North Dakota State Fair, has announced her plan to retire after a 50-year career.

The N.D. State Fair Board has appointed Craig Rudland as the new general manager of the State Fair.

The fair has come a long way since Korslien joined the team 50 years ago, including building the new grandstand in 2010. Korslien was instrumental in booking legendary acts such as Tim McGraw, Nickelback, KISS, Aerosmith, Toby Keith, Journey, Luke Bryan, Foreigner, Zac Brown, Blake Shelton, Ludacris, Jelly Roll, Eric Church and many more.

Rudland has been an integral part of the NDSF team for more than 42 years, having worked closely with Korslien in his most recent role as assistant manager for the past 13 years. Rudland and his management team will now include Aaron Ottmar, newly named assistant manager, with 22 years of NDSF experience.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the North Dakota State Fair for the past 50 years. It has been an honor to contribute to such an important event in our state, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished together. I am confident that Craig and the rest of the team will continue leading the fair with the same passion and dedication we have always had,” Korslien said.