Celebrating The Ohio State Fair

The Ohio State Fair is a time-honored, summertime tradition for so many. In this episode Boxer and Sarah go behind the scenes with Alicia Shoults and Adam Heffron of the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds to learn about what it takes to put on one of Ohio’s favorite events. Hear about the history of the fair, what’s new, can’t miss foods to try and their insider picks for must-do experiences this year. Get your tickets for the Ohio State Fair happening July 29-Aug. 9, 2026. Adam Heffron is the Executive Director of the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds. Returning after 30 years, Adam previously worked at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds in the Rental Department after college. He then went on to work in the fair and event industries before returning as the Executive Director of the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds in 2024. Adam leads a team of approximately 55 full-time staff members dedicated to hosting more than 150 events year-round. The staff, as well as and hundreds of part-time staff members also put on the annual Ohio State Fair attracting visitors from all 88 counties in Ohio, as well as guests from across the country. With core roots in agriculture and tradition, the Ohio State Fair is a premiere event with quality entertainment, hands-on activities, delicious food, shopping, an 8-acre Natural Resources Park, an exciting Midway, and so much more. Alicia Shoults, CFE, is the deputy director of experience and operations of the Ohio State Fair. She got her start in the fair industry during her youth in 4-H as a county junior fair board member, then landed a summer internship at the state fair in college. In 2011, she returned as the Ohio State Fair’s marketing and public relations director, overseeing and executing all the fair’s marketing, advertising, public relations and social media efforts. Her role was broadened into the Assistant General Manager role in 2019. Alicia is a member of International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Education Foundation Board of Trustees, is a past president of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Central Ohio, was a member of the YMCA of Ross County Board of Directors. She is proud to have been named the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Rising Star in 2023, and the Central Ohio Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Tom Poling Practitioner of the Year Award in 2022. She was recently elected as Second Vice Chair of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), and will serve as Chair of the organization in 2028.