Tiffany Wilkerson, general manager of the Arkansas State Fair
The Arkansas State Fair, a yearly fixture on the state’s entertainment calendar for decades, has a groundbreaking new general manager, Little Rock native Tiffany Wilkerson.
Wilkerson, at 39, is the youngest GM ever at the State Fair, which comes to the Little Rock Fairgrounds every October and offers its facilities for events and alternate uses year-round.
She is also the first woman to fill the post, as well as the first African American.
Wilkerson has spent 20 years working for the Arkansas Livestock Show Association, in jobs like commercial exhibitor coordinator, box office manager and director of administration. The ALSA leadership expects that experience to serve Wilkerson well as she oversees all business operations and directs all activities for promoting, preparing and producing the extravaganza of amusements, rides, food and livestock shows that fill Barton Coliseum, the midway and other facilities. Other duties will include establishing and maintaining a business organization and structure to manage functions of the Arkansas Fairgrounds off Roosevelt Road year-round.
In a news release, Wilkerson said she is prepared to build on the traditions of the fair while growing the fairgrounds’ use as an event venue throughout the year. “I am thrilled at this opportunity,” she said. “My entire career as part of the Arkansas Livestock Show Association has been full of exciting challenges.”
She said her 20 years of experience will help her build on recent successes at the fairgrounds. The fair has set attendance records for the past two years. “The sky’s the limit for the Arkansas State Fair and our Association,” Wilkerson said.
Bruce Maloch, chairman of the Arkansas Livestock Show Association, said Wilkerson was familiar with all aspects of the fairgrounds and was just the leader that the association was looking for. “Tiffany’s historical knowledge, experience and expertise make her the perfect choice to serve as general manager of the Arkansas State Fair,” he said in the release, calling the fairground’s “the premier entertainment and livestock exhibition venue in the state.”
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