Marla Calico, CEO of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions Interviewed on Growing Your Future Podcast

Marla Calico is the President and CEO of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) and has contributed over three decades of expertise, leadership and advocacy in the agricultural community. Calico shared her thoughts as being “Grateful for the opportunity… working with people and an industry who are the salt of the earth…they are the best in the world. The people who run state fairs and county fairs across the world… they are truly passionate about what they do. There is no room for mediocrity; they want to improve that [fair and exposition work]. And, I get to be a part of that every day and I am grateful for that every day of my life,” Calico said.

Calico’s path to CEO was not expected. She had multiple scholarships in the field of music. “But, something came over me and I just didn’t feel like it was the right path,” she expressed.

She declined the scholarship. She Investigated the medical field and that did not yield an internal calling either. Upon looking for a summer job in the familiar area of 4-H (Head, Heart, Hands and Health), she ended up with an unexpected opportunity. “I was referred to the Ozark Empire Fair, the second largest Fair in Missouri. It is also one of the top 100 Fairs in the United States. They were hiring in the livestock department,” she recalled. Having experience with her local 4-H, FFA (Future Farmers of America) and clerking at her local county fair, these experiences made her a perfect fit and future that has become her passion. “This opened up my eyes to a world of possibility of working in the agricultural fair industry,” she said excitedly. She has spent nearly 30 years in this industry, culminating in the role of CEO of the Ozark Empire Fair.

Her accomplishments also include being elected as the chair of the board of the IAFE. Prior to this, she spoke across the country about the IAFE. During these opportunities to engage with constituents, fair and expo executives and…