Colorado State Fair hires new general manager from Idaho
The Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado State Fair Board of Authority on Monday announced the selection of Andrea Wiesenmeyer as the fair's new general manager, according to a news release.
A unanimous choice by the interview committee after a national search, Wiesenmeyer steps into the leadership role left vacant by Scott Stoller, who stepped down after serving for six years, officials said.
During his tenure, Stoller helped lead the State Fair through the COVID-19 pandemic, spearheaded the development of a 30-year master plan, and oversaw the continued growth of one of the Centennial State's keystone annual events, the release stated.
Wiesenmeyer brings nearly a decade of experience in fair leadership, according to the news release. A graduate of the Institute of Fair Management and certified fair executive, she served as the marketing and partnership director for the Clay County Fair in Iowa for five years. She spent the past three years at the helm of the Jerome County Fair and Rodeo in Idaho.
"The unanimous decision by the hiring committee to bring on Andrea Wiesenmeyer as the next GM of the Colorado State Fair says it all," said Commissioner Kate Greenberg in a statement. "Andrea has the skills, experience, and leadership qualities to do the job. She is ready to lead the Colorado State Fair into its next chapter."
Wiesenmeyer will serve the first few weeks of her tenure, which officially begins Oct. 14, working from Idaho as she and her family prepare for the move to Pueblo, officials said.
"Joining the Colorado State Fair staff is a true honor," she said. I'm excited to help celebrate the State Fair's rich traditions, bring families together to create new memories, and showcase the best of Colorado's agriculture community."
Wiesenmeyer assumes leadership of one of Pueblo's biggest economic drivers, according to Department of Agriculture officials. A recent Economic Impact Study showed that the 2021 State Fair generated — either directly or indirectly — more than $19 million in earnings in Pueblo County, and supported more than 600 jobs.
