Introduction to Food Forest Workshop
What is a food forest? A food forest is a garden designed to mimic the structure of a natural woodland, using layers of edible and useful plants such as trees, shrubs, herbs, ground covers, roots, and vines. Instead of relying on single crops, it brings many species together so they can support one another, improve soil health, attract pollinators, conserve water, and produce food over time. The goal is to create a resilient,...
2026 ASF Scholarship Recipients
Fair Increases Student Support with $10,000 in Scholarship Awards Nine Alaska high school students recognized in 2026 Palmer, Alaska – The Alaska State Fair is expanding its investment in Alaska’s next generation, awarding $10,000 in scholarships to nine high school students from across the state, up from $8,000 awarded to six students last year. Applicants submitted a cover letter, extracurricular resume, letter of recommendation,...
Alaska State Fair Names Blake Allen as CEO
Palmer, Alaska – The Alaska State Fair is pleased to announce the appointment of Blake Allen as its new Chief Executive Officer. Allen brings nearly two decades of leadership experience spanning hospitality, retail operations, event management, and large-scale venue management. Allen most recently returned to Denali Park Village in interior Alaska as Lodging Operations Manager in January 2026. He previously spent five seasons...
Rebarchek Mentored Potato Plots
Rebarchek Mentored Potato Plots: Guided Introduction to potato gardening June 4th at 7:30pm or June 6, 11:00am. $55 registration fee. Registrationlimited to 30. Click here to register for Thursday, June 4th Click here to register for Saturday, June 6th Jeff Smeenk (Director, Palmer Soil and Water Conservation District) will mentor each program registrant in successful potato gardening.Registrants will learn about the characteristics...
Annual Meeting
Fair to Host Annual Meeting May 20, 2026 Highlights include board election and door prizes Palmer, Alaska – The Alaska State Fair, inc. will hold its 2025 annual membership meeting on Wednesday, May 20. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in Raven Hall on the fairgrounds. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Interested non-members of the public are invited to attend, but only Fair lifetime and 2025 annual members are eligible to vote at the...
Blues Traveler Cancels Show at 2023 Fair
Palmer, Alaska – Due to illness in the touring party, Blues Traveler has to cancel it’s August 24, 2023 performance at Alaska State Fair. The band looks forward to returning to Alaska soon. In their place, the Fair has confirmed award-winning classic rockers Foghat who will perform Thursday, August 24, at 7 p.m. Foghat is out on the road, traveling across the land and bringing their infectious boogie to packed houses full of adoring...
Jeff Curtis Chosen to Lead Fair as New CEO
Former CEO of Portland Rose Festival brings decades of experience Palmer, Alaska – Jeff Curtis, former CEO of the Portland Rose Festival, has been selected as the new CEO of the Alaska State Fair. Curtis will assume the role previously held by Jerome Hertel, who served as the Fair’s CEO since December 2014. Curtis, who is relocating to Alaska from Portland, Oregon, served as CEO of the internationally recognized Portland Rose Festival...
Farm Family of the Year 2020 and 2021
Halibut Cove shellfish farmers are Alaska’s Farm Family of 2020 (Palmer, AK) – Alaska’s Farm Family of the Year for 2020 is the Bates family of Halibut Cove, whose determined operation of their shellfish farm in Kachemak Bay embodies the innovative, resilient spirt of Alaska agriculture even in the face of a global pandemic. “Alaska agriculture is a growing, evolving industry, and nothing reflects that more clearly than the...
Fair Outlines Health Safety Precautions for 2021 Event
Fairgoers encouraged to purchase parking, admission in advance Palmer, Alaska – As Alaska continues to respond to the global pandemic, the Alaska State Fair will implement a series of safety precautions intended to protect the health of fairgoers, staff, volunteers, vendors, entertainers and others at the 2021 Fair. Earlier this year, the Fair announced an extended 14-day schedule to help spread out the crowds and keep everyone as...
Nominations sought for 2021 Alaska FarmFamily of the Year
(Palmer, AK) – The Division of Agriculture and the Alaska State Fair invite the public to submit nominations for the twenty-second annual “Farm Family of the Year” award, to be presented at the 2021 Alaska State Fair. The “Farm Family of the Year” award was established in 2000 by the Division of Agriculture and the Alaska State Fair with the intent to honor an Alaska farm family...
Fair Awards $6,000 in Scholarships to Alaska Students
The Alaska State Fair has selected the recipients of its 2021 scholarships; a total of $6,000 will be awarded to five Alaska high school students through the Fair’s annual scholarship program. The Fair’s 2021 scholarship recipients include: $2,500 first-place recipient Vea Tungul. Vea, a senior at Dimond High School in Anchorage, plans to attend the University of Washington this fall. With a GPA of 4.29, Vea has earned an AP...