An initiative of You Make THE Difference Foundation
A nonprofit community benefit organization
Live monthly
Practical ideas. Honest conversation. Work you can use.
Join Ian Hill and guests from across the fair community for focused, practical learning designed for board members, ag society leaders, volunteers, and community champions.
When
Last Thursday of every month
12:00 PM Central Time
Where
Watch from wherever you lead
Join the live broadcast or return here for the session archive.
Current and recent sessions
Learning that stays available.
Start with the latest conversation, then explore the archive for practical resources your board can use throughout the year.
March 2026
Join Ian Hill and his special guests for a real, unfiltered conversation about the future of fairs across North America.
Hosted by award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill
This conversation is being convened by You Make THE Difference, working alongside fairs and agricultural societies across the U.S. and Canada to help lead this exact moment.
Featuring:
• Tim Carson, CEO, Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies
• Jayme Buttke, Executive Director, Wisconsin Association of Fairs
• Courtny Hinds, GM, Wyoming State Fair
This is not theory. This is happening right now!
Fairs are not a relic of the past.
They are a cornerstone of thriving communities in the future.
But only if we lead this moment with intention.
Be there. Be part of it.
Because the future of the fair doesn’t belong to someone else…It belongs to those willing to lead it.
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will learn how to:
- What the generational handoff actually looks like on the ground
- Where fairs are thriving and where they’re at risk
- How we engage the next generation of leaders
- The role of boards, volunteers, and associations in this transition
- What needs to change now to stay relevant
Download the Following PDF
February 2026
Every fair eventually faces leadership transition.
Hosted by award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill
The question isn’t if; it’s whether that transition is intentional or disruptive.
Across fairs and ag societies, boards are navigating long serving leaders stepping back, informal succession plans, and valuable knowledge walking out the door. Too often, succession is delayed because it feels uncomfortable, until it becomes urgent.
This February You Make THE Difference Live Lunch & Learn focuses on board succession planning and leadership transition in a practical way focused on fairs.
Led by award winning fair and ag society advocate Ian Hill, this session is not about forcing people out or creating politics. It’s about protecting the fair, preserving institutional knowledge, and creating confidence through periods of change.
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will learn how to:
- Understand why succession planning is an act of stewardship, not replacement
- Identify where their fair is most vulnerable during leadership transitions
- Recognize the difference between roles, people, and systems
- Learn what should be in place before leadership changes occur
- Leave with one practical step they can take this year to prepare for the future
Download the Following PDF
January 2026
Practical Uses of AI in Fairs
Hosted by award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill
Fair boards and volunteers are being asked to do more than ever, often with limited time, limited help, and growing expectations.
This January You Make THE Difference Live Lunch & Learn award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill, will focuses on practical, real world uses of AI that can support fair operations without replacing people or changing what makes fairs special.
This session is not technical, theoretical, or hype driven. It’s a grounded look at how simple AI tools can help with everyday fair work like communication, planning, documentation, and follow through, so volunteers can spend less time buried in tasks and more time doing what matters.
Real world clear examples, common sense boundaries, and responsible use, shared through a lens focused on fairs.
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will learn how to:
- Understand what AI can realistically help with in a fair or ag society setting
- Identify practical ways AI can save time for boards, committees, and volunteers
- Learn how AI can support planning, communication, and organization
- Recognize appropriate boundaries for using AI in community organizations
- Leave with simple ideas they can choose to use, or not, during the upcoming fair season
Download the Following PDF
December 2025
Making 2026 Great: A Practical Roadmap for a High Impact Year
Hosted by award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill
In the last YMTD Lunch & Learn of 2025…
In the last YMTD Lunch and Learn of 2025, we’re equipping Fair Boards, Ag Societies, and volunteer led organizations with a simple, practical roadmap to make 2026 their strongest year yet. Great years don’t happen by accident; they’re planned, aligned, and set in motion months in advance.
In this practical, interactive session, Ian Hill will walk participants through the key steps every board can take in the next 60 to 90 days to create clarity, strengthen alignment, and build momentum before the new year even begins. Leaders will leave with a focused set of priorities, a clear action plan, and the confidence to step boldly into a high impact 2026.
In volunteer led organizations like Fair Boards, Ag Societies, and nonprofits, we often carry too much, because we care too much. But leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about building others up to do meaningful work alongside you.
In this high impact session, Ian , brings decades of grassroots leadership experience to help you shift from overwhelmed to empowered. You’ll learn how to delegate with clarity, inspire ownership, and create the kind of team that gets things done, without burning out.
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will learn how to:
- Identify the top three high impact priorities that will drive the majority of their success in 2026.
- Build a 60 day alignment plan to clarify roles, expectations, and responsibilities before January.
- Establish a simple volunteer engagement rhythm that increases participation and reduces stress going into the new season.
- Set clear quarterly objectives to maintain focus and momentum throughout all of 2026.
Download the Following PDF
October 2025
Do Less. Lead More: The Art of Effective Delegation
Hosted by award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill
In volunteer led organizations like Fair Boards, Ag Societies, and nonprofits, we often carry too much, because we care too much. But leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about building others up to do meaningful work alongside you.
In this high impact session, Ian , brings decades of grassroots leadership experience to help you shift from overwhelmed to empowered. You’ll learn how to delegate with clarity, inspire ownership, and create the kind of team that gets things done, without burning out.
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start multiplying your impact, this one’s for you.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand why effective delegation is essential for sustainability, growth, and succession in volunteer led organizations.
- Learn how to delegate with confidence, matching the right person to the right task, setting expectations, and following up without frustration
- Apply a simple, proven framework for building a culture of shared responsibility and empowered leadership.
Download the Following PDF
September 2025
Hard Conversations, Healthy Culture: Dealing with Toxic People & Poor Performers
Hosted by award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill
Toxic behavior and poor performance don’t just hurt feelings; they drain your energy, stall your mission, and drive away good volunteers. Whether it’s a negative board member, a consistently unreliable volunteer, or someone who dominates and discourages others… ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.
In this direct session, Ian Hill shares the tools, mindset, and real life strategies to address the hard stuff head on, without losing your integrity or the mission. You’ll learn how to set boundaries, confront poor behavior constructively, and protect the culture you’ve worked so hard to build.
Because your fair, ag society, or nonprofit deserves a team that lifts it up rather than tearing it down.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify the warning signs of toxic behavior and underperformance and understand their real impact on volunteer culture.
- Learn practical scripts and strategies for confronting issues early, clearly, and with purpose.
- Apply leadership tools that create accountability, restore trust, and protect the health of your organization long term.
Download the Following PDF
August 2025
Lead with Purpose: Strategic Planning that Creates Real Change and Impact
Whether you lead a Fair Board, Ag Society, or nonprofit, strategy isn’t just paperwork; it’s your compass. A clear, community driven plan unites people, aligns resources, and brings purpose to every meeting, event, and decision.
In this powerful session, Ian welcomes Tim Carson, CEO of AAAS and recipient of the 2024 IAFE Executive of the Year Award. Tim has helped guide strategic planning across Alberta’s 290+ ag societies, and he’ll share how local leaders like you can move from maintenance to momentum. This isn’t theory. It’s tools, frameworks, and practical guidance that works in real world, volunteer led organizations like yours.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the essential elements of a strategic plan and how to make it meaningful for your Fair Board, Ag Society, or nonprofit.
- Engage your team in shaping vision, aligning values, and building commitment through inclusive, grassroots planning.
- Apply proven tools and templates used across Alberta to turn big ideas into practical steps that move your mission forward.
July 2025
Celebration is Key: Keeping Volunteers Connected, Committed, and Coming Back
Hosted by award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill
Volunteers are not just helpers; they are community builders, tradition stewards, and difference makers. Recognition is not a bonus; it’s a key leadership strategy for loyalty and retention.
In this session, you’ll learn how to celebrate and recognize volunteers consistently, using simple gamification techniques, social media highlights, and grassroots connections.
You’ll leave ready to build a culture where volunteers feel honored year round, not just at the annual banquet.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify year round strategies for celebrating volunteers in personal and public ways.
- Integrate volunteer recognition into the Volunteer Experience Plan and social media campaigns.
- Use simple gamification and storytelling techniques to fuel volunteer motivation, loyalty, and pride.
June 2025
Building A Volunteer Experience Plan: Inspiring Loyalty Through Intentional Connection
Join award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill as he shares how to build a volunteer experience plan!
Today’s volunteers expect more than tasks; they expect a meaningful experience. Without an intentional plan, even the best volunteers can drift away.
In this session, we’ll show you how to design a 12 month Volunteer Experience Plan that builds loyalty, strengthens your volunteer community, and keeps people engaged year after year.
Learn how to use monthly touch points to inspire, educate, and celebrate volunteers, creating a culture where they feel seen, valued, and proud to stay involved.
Learning Outcomes:
- Design a simple, year round Volunteer Experience Plan using the Inspire, Educate, Celebrate model.
- Personalize volunteer communication through strategic use of surveys, milestones, and touch points.
- Prepare fair season ramp up communications that energize, organize, and retain volunteers.
May 2025
Beating Burnout: How To Reignite Passion & Prevent Overload
Passion fuels fair boards, but with increasing demands, volunteer shortages, and financial pressures, burnout is a real challenge. When burnout goes unchecked, it not only impacts personal wellbeing but also threatens the long term success of fairs and agricultural societies.
Join us for our February Lunch & Learn, where we’ll equip you with practical strategies to prevent burnout, sustain motivation, and keep your team engaged
What You’ll Gain:
- Recognize burnout warning signs before they impact your health and leadership.
- Balance responsibilities without sacrificing passion or effectiveness.
- Master delegation, boundaries, and time management to prevent overload
- Develop a personalized burnout prevention plan for long term sustainability.
April 2025
Building Your Community Through Social Media: More Than Just Posts: Creating Connection & Engagement
Social media isn’t just a marketing tool; it’s a community building powerhouse. For fair boards and societies, it’s not about selling tickets or promoting events; it’s about creating meaningful engagement that builds trust, fosters relationships, and strengthens community involvement. When done right, social media doesn’t just spread awareness; it mobilizes supporters, attracts volunteers, deepens donor relationships, and sustains engagement long after the event ends.
This session will dive into how fair boards and Ag societies can use social media strategically to cultivate an online presence that resonates with their audience, increases participation, and strengthens community bonds.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn how to use social platforms not just to inform, but to inspire, engage, and connect with your audience.
- Move from one way announcements to two way conversations that make people feel heard and valued.
- Craft High Impact Content That Builds Community
- Learn what types of posts generate the most engagement, from behind the scenes stories and volunteer spotlights to interactive content like polls and Q&As.
- Go beyond “likes”: what social media analytics actually tell you and how to use them to refine your strategy
- Learn how to measure growth, engagement, and conversion to improve your community building efforts over time.
March 2025
Volunteer Recruitment And Retention In A Changing Landscape
The landscape of volunteerism is shifting, and organizations must adapt to thrive. Today’s volunteers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, seek purpose, flexibility, and clear impact. They are no longer motivated by obligation alone; they want to see the difference they are making. This session will dive into the strategies needed to recruit and retain volunteers effectively, ensuring they feel valued, engaged, and connected to the mission.
Learning Outcomes:
- Attract Volunteers in a User Driven Society: Learn how to personalize recruitment efforts by aligning volunteer opportunities with skills, passions, and flexible commitments.
- Demonstrate Impact to Improve Retention: Discover ways to communicate how volunteer contributions directly affect the organization’s success through storytelling, data, and meaningful recognition.
- Enhance the Volunteer Experience: Understand how to foster a sense of community and create experiences that make volunteers feel emotionally connected to the mission.
- Leverage Digital Tools for Recruitment & Engagement: Utilize social media, email campaigns, and digital platforms to reach the right people and keep them engaged over time.
February 2025
Fundraising and Development: Building trust, not just asking for money.
Fundraising isn’t about just securing dollars; it’s about building relationships, earning trust, and connecting people to a purpose that matters. People don’t give to projects; they give to people and a compelling ‘why’, not just a ‘how.’ When fair boards and ag societies approach fundraising as community building rather than just financial transactions, they unlock long term support and sustainable revenue streams.
This session will explore the five distinct revenue streams that drive financial success and how to create a tailored strategy for each:
- Individual Donors: Engaging community members in a meaningful way.
- Business Donors & Sponsors: Partnering with local businesses for mutual benefit.
- Government Entities: Accessing public funding and grants.
- Foundations: Leveraging nonprofit, corporate, and family foundation support.
- Revenue Generating Activities: Events, raffles, and other fundraising initiatives.
Take the next step
Keep the work moving between sessions.
Use the YMTD App for continuing resources and connection, or return to the Fairs & Ag Societies initiative.