Huron Chamber Chief Named State Fair Manager

WoolridgeThe South Dakota State Fair has named a new manager. Long-time Huron Chamber and Visitor’s Bureau president and C-E-O Peggy Woolridge-Besch has been selected to replace Jerome Hertel, who left to become manager of the state fair in Alaska…

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Hertel revived the State Fair, leading it to five years of sustained growth in vendors, revenue and attendance. Hertel’s goal of 200-thousand visitors was achieved in 2014 with over 210-thousand people taking in the Fair. Besch says she knows there will be pressure to continue the overall upward trends at the fair. She says her two decades of experience at the Chamber will benefit her as State Fair manager…

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Besch says the move is bittersweet…

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Besch has been with the Huron Chamber for 23 years, 14 of those as it’s president and CEO. In recent year, she helped bring the 25th annual Red Power Round Up and Wally Byam Caravan Club International Airstream events to both Huron and the State Fair Park.