Posts Tagged ‘Internships’

Since we first came to work here at State Fair Park back in May, every project my fellow interns and I have completed has led us closer to the huge, exciting event that has consumed our lives for the past 11 days- the 2012 Oklahoma State Fair.

As the Fair drew nearer and nearer, someone would remind us (almost daily) to “get ready, the Fair’s almost here” or “only a few more days now”.  It’s no wonder that these warnings caused us a bit of unease, since none of us really knew exactly what to expect.  So, when the count-down on our wall read only ‘One day until the Fair’, I had braced myself for a wild ride, and I’m not talking about the Mega Drop.

Here’s a pic of me in my rain gear during the Great Taste of a Fair Contest

Opening Day definitely threw me into ‘Fair mode’ head first.  We held the Third Annual Great Taste of A Fair vendor competition despite the uncooperative weather, and I was charged with transporting our vendors and their food entries through the downpour via golf cart to our eager panel of judges.  I was rewarded with a taste of these mouth-watering concoctions, which included the Oklahoma Cabernet Chocolate Souffle’ from Coco Flow, a Chocolate-Dipped Belgian Waffle On-A-Stick from Sophie’s Sidewalk Café’, a Deep-Fried Bacon Brownie from Layne’s Concessions and a famous Sweet Shop Deep-Fried Cinnamon Roll.  Not a bad way to start things off!

For the most part, my daily routine during the Fair was very similar to what I had done before it began.  I spent time interacting with fans through our Facebook page, answering questions, posting updates on what was going on here at the Oklahoma State Fair each day and helping with a few giveaways.

We often gave away Meet and Greet passes for the performers we had on the Chesapeake Energy Stage.  I particularly enjoyed these Meet and Greets, not only because I had the chance to introduce myself to some very talented musicians, but also because I got to see how wonderful an experience a Meet and Greet opportunity was for our Fairgoers.  It is a great feeling to know I helped make it possible for Fairgoers to meet artists they admire and create very special memories here at the State Fair.

I know it sounds like I’ve spent the past week and a half just stuffing my face and hanging out with awesome people (which I have), but like with anything else, there have also been some crazy, hectic, and stressful moments.  As interns, we are very fortunate to work with supervisors who are always there to help us with whatever problem we may encounter, and who do anything they can to make our experience better.

Here’s me with Eddie Money and a fellow intern!

Now that the 2012 State Fair has drawn to an end, I can say with confidence that it has been one of the most fun and rewarding experiences of my collegiate career.  Were there rough patches?  Of course.  Was it exhausting? Yep, 14-hour days will get to you.  But I have learned more and done more in my 5 months of interning at the Oklahoma State Fair than I ever would have expected, and I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be a part of this amazing organization.

It makes me sad when I think that my time here is almost over, but I know that, thanks to my truly awesome boss and the hands-on experience I have gained, I am so much better prepared for my soon-to-be professional career.

I hope you all had as wonderful a time visiting the Oklahoma State Fair as I have interning here, and I look forward to the next great thing the future has in store.

Those who know anything about the Oklahoma State Fair know that it is one of the most highly-anticipated, entertaining events of the year.  It is responsible for captivating guests of all ages, and providing a place where residents and visitors alike can enjoy delicious food, talented performers, and just have a good time.  As summer rolls around and the State Fair draws near, it’s time for all hands on deck here at State Fair Park – and that’s where the interns come in.  This year there are five interns:  Chelsea, Jill, Meagan, Steffanie, and myself.  My name is Aubrey, and I am here to give our Fair Fans a little insight into life as an Oklahoma State Fair Intern.

Since starting my position as the Marketing and Public Relations Intern at the Oklahoma State Fair, there is one question I have received over and over again.  Surprisingly it’s not “can you get me free corndogs?”, but that is a close second.   No, the burning inquiry on everyone’s mind (and maybe yours as well) is this – what exactly does an intern at the State Fair do?

The interns dressed to impress before our last Intern OKC session. Left to right: Aubrey, Chelsea, Steffanie, Meagan, and Jill.

Well, in order to answer that, I first have to tell you what we don’t do.  We don’t dress up as clowns, we don’t concoct funnel cake recipes in a secret underground kitchen, and, most importantly, we don’t fetch coffee or spend our days hovering around the copy machine.  I’m sure you’re all familiar with the stigma surrounding internships that implies interns are only recruited to perform insignificant and mundane tasks, and that may be the case somewhere, but not here.  As an intern at the Oklahoma State Fair, I have been given more responsibility and independence than a majority of my peers in similar positions, and have loved every minute of it.

I think this is the part where I am supposed to give you an account of my ‘typical day’, but because pulling off an event as massive and complex as the Oklahoma State Fair requires so much preparation, each day at State Fair Park is a little bit different.  Some activities are fairly constant in the Marketing and Public Relations department, such as interacting with fans through our many social media pages and creating content to spread the word about happenings at State Fair Park.  Other than that, I am fortunate to come in to work each day and be presented with a new task or project to keep me on my toes.

Some days are spent hunkered down in our collection of cubicles, fondly known as the “bull pen”, making phone calls or writing emails.  Others are passed in the board room during an office-wide “craft-a-palooza” to gear up for an event like Battle in the Saddle.  On days we feel everyone needs a little pickup, the interns make an impromptu donut run to Brown’s Bakery to fill the office with sugar and happiness.  And, when our Oklahoma City Thunder makes it to the NBA Playoffs, we tie on Harden beards and Thunder up with the best of ‘em.  Regardless of what the day has in store, I know I will be learning new things and having new experiences in an environment that I truly enjoy.

Showing our Thunder spirit on an NBA Playoff game day!

So, really, the answer to the mystery of what we interns do here at the Oklahoma State Fair is this: we do whatever is necessary to create a fair where people

can make memories with their family and friends.  More than that, we have the opportunity to grow as young professionals under the guidance of supervisors who are sincerely invested in our development as we prepare to take on the workforce.

With that, I’d like to say thanks to everyone who supports the Oklahoma State Fair, and I hope to see you all in September!

We are about seven months away from opening day of the 2012 Oklahoma State Fair.  Even though planning for 2012 started the millisecond the 2011 State Fair ended, we are getting ready to lurch into what old timers around the office call “Fair Season.”  At this point every year, time starts to tick by a little bit faster, the copier starts running out of paper more often and a fresh pot of coffee is always brewing.

You might be surprised to learn that there are only a handful of full time staffers that plan the biggest event in Oklahoma.  Once “Fair Season” kicks into high gear, one of our saving graces is the Internship Program. Every year, we are able to hire some of the best and brightest students and recent grads from the OKC metro area.

We have six different positions to fill this year:

• Creative Arts
• Entertainment & Educational Attractions
• Horse Show Management
• Livestock Management
• Marketing & Public Relations
• Special Programs

If you are interested, you can check out detailed job descriptions for each position and apply online HERE.

THE GOOD

Now, we know a lot of companies say that their internship program is different, but we really mean it.  You will not spend your time making coffee and filing (although coffee is extremely important – see paragraph #1).  Instead, you will receive a true introduction to the event business that will give you real, hands-on experience in a number of different areas including: event management, promotions, communications, leadership, and project management.

Sound pretty awesome?  It is.

THE BAD

All of our positions require someone who is detail oriented, pro-active, and capable of following directions.  Ideally we look for upper-class undergraduates or recent grads that have experience using Microsoft Office and other programs.

Additionally, our interns have a longer and heavier time commitment than most other programs.  Most positions start in the spring and, because the State Fair falls in September, last until fall.  It should go without saying, but we’ll say it again anyway: interns must be able to work during the Fair.  Keep in mind that the Fair is an eleven day event that starts early in the morning and ends late at night…

THE UGLY

You know how we just mentioned that interns work during the Fair?  Yeah, about that….

Interns are expected to help with anything and everything that goes into getting ready for and closing out the Fair.  This pretty much means that there is no life outside of State Fair Park during the month of September.  It’s a lot of long, tough workdays.

THE PAYOFF

It is all worth it.  Being a part of this event is as rewarding as it is challenging.  You’ll meet great people, develop a relationship with a lifelong mentor, and have exceptional work experience to add to your resume when you are finished.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be one of this year’s interns, please take a moment to apply online.  We plan to start processing applications and resumes on a rolling basis (in the order received) beginning today. Our goal is to notify applicants and schedule interviews during February and March.