YMTD Initiative · Fairs & Ag Societies
Stronger fairs start with the people behind them
Program story · Published September 21, 2026
Fair boards and volunteers carry more than an event calendar. They help keep a place for their community to come together.
The people behind the fair
A county fair depends on the people who give their time to it: board members, volunteers, and local leaders. Recruiting help, sharing responsibility, and preparing the next generation of leadership are part of that work.
The YMTD Initiative starts with those people. Its purpose is to equip the leaders of fairs and agricultural societies with practical support to lead, adapt, and sustain the institutions their communities value.
Practical learning. Continued support.
The initiative combines face to face workshops with training materials, the YMTD mobile app, and opportunities to connect with other leaders. The published program addresses challenges including volunteer shortages, leadership fatigue, and financial sustainability.
The Foundation’s contribution is to bring training, tools, and connections within reach. Local boards and volunteers bring their knowledge of the place they serve.
A participant’s perspective
“He gave us all a ton of knowledge that we can and will work with.”
Tommy Matthews
Participant feedback published on the YMTD Initiative page.
What people take away
In feedback shared on the initiative’s website, Junia Seamans Norris described learning about building buy in and considering how people want to feel when they visit a fair.
These reflections speak to practical learning and the intention to put it to work. Following what boards do next will show how that learning supports their fairs over time.
Read more about the workshops, continuing resources, and participant feedback on the YMTD Initiative page.
Bring practical support to your fair.
Explore the YMTD Initiative for fairs and agricultural societies, or talk with us about your community.