The Alaska State Fair's new general manager comes to Palmer by way of South Dakota, so Jerome Hertel shouldn't be too put off by the area's windy winters or agricultural roots.
As reported by the Plainsman in Huron, Hertel spent nearly seven years as manager of the South Dakota State Fair. He presided over attendance gains -- more than 210,000 visitors this year -- and way more space for campers than Alaska offers, though that's something Hertel hopes to change. South Dakota's fair runs for a week unlike the two-week Alaska State Fair.
But the two fairs have more in common than the local paper thinks.
"While the South Dakota State Fair promotes itself as one of the last significant agriculture fairs," a Dec. 8 online version of the story says, "Alaska counterpart is more reflective of the state's mining, gas, oil and fishing resources that are the basis of its economy."
Hertel replaces Ray Ritari, who retired last month.