Competitive Exhibits (Special Events + Ag/Livestock) Internship

The Ohio State Fair Competitive Exhibits Internship is a new opportunity in 2025! A hybrid internship shared between the Special Events Department and the Agriculture/Livestock Department, this internship creates a unique opportunity to gain administrative experience, as well as Fair experience across different departments.

What are the Special Events Department and Ag/Livestock Department?

• The Special Events Department includes many different areas of the Ohio

State Fair. Those areas include Creative Arts, Fine Arts, Youth Arts, Ohio State

Fair Junior Fair Board, All-Ohio State Fair Band, All-Ohio State Fair Youth

Choir, Customer Service/Guest Information Services, First Aid Center/EMS,

Lausche Youth Exploration Space, and coordination of booking events in other

certain buildings. This department plans and executes a variety of special

events and exhibits related to these areas working with seasonal staff and

contracted staff.

• The Ag/Livestock Department is responsible for overseeing all of the

agriculture and livestock related functions at the Fair. This includes the

planning and execution of all livestock shows – junior and open class shows.

They work closely with the Barn Directors, as well as the Entry Department.

This department also oversees the Animal Care Center, Agricultural related

vendors, and other agricultural exhibits such as Little Farmers. This

department handles events or works with contractors for events such as

skillathons, Sale of Champions, and Final Drives for OME and OBE

presentations.

Opportunities:

• This is a unique opportunity to gain experience working within multiple

departments at the Ohio State Fair!

• Gain experience and insight in the Fair industry as you work alongside the

Special Events team helping plan and execute events related to all facets of

the department, which include: Youth programming and activities, Creative

Arts, Fine Arts, Youth Arts, Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board, All-Ohio State

Fair Band, All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir, Customer Service/Guest Information

Services, and more.

• Gain hands-on experience working closely with the ag/livestock staff to plan

exhibits and shows.

• Provide administrative support to related areas above.

• Assist with various special events during the Fair, including nightly concerts in

Celeste Center. Past concerts have included Yung Gravy, KIDZ BOP, Casting

Crowns, Ludacris, Jeff Dunham, Gabriel Iglesias, Ludacris, and more.

• Get hands-on, real-life experience in the Fair industry, including coordinating

schedules, assisting with exhibit set-up and activities, managing, and training

seasonal staff and volunteers, etc.

• *School internship credit available (based on your college’s specific

requirements).

Qualifications:

• Any college student that is entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year.

• Many majors are appropriate, including hospitality management, public affairs,

government, business, agricultural, or other related majors.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

• Strong organizational skills, high attention to detail and accuracy, strong

written and verbal communication, ability to multi-task and be adaptable.

• Proficient with Google applications and Microsoft Office applications and

Dropbox.

When You’ll Work:

• Dates: May – August (based on school schedules).

o Internship cannot exceed 14 weeks.

• Hours:

o Monday – Friday during business hours (flexibility with hours).

o Note: you will be required to work on Saturday, July 12 and July 19,

2024, as well as long shifts immediately prior to and during the Ohio

State Fair (July 23 – August 3, 2025). Pre-Fair livestock shows run July

14 – July 22, and you will be required to be on-site.

• Hybrid work schedule – remote (May – July) and in-person (July – August). In

May, June, and early July, more remote time will be available. As we approach

the Ohio State Fair, the frequency of required in-person dates will increase. No

time off or hybrid opportunities are available

Application Information and Deadline:

• Application link

• Friday, January 10 at 11:59 p.m.

• Interviews will take place within two weeks of the application deadline.

Questions:

• Please contact Alissa Belna-Muhlenkamp at a.belnamuhlenkamp@

expo.ohio.gov or Andi Hershey and a.hershey@expo.ohio.gov.