Jerry Hammer, the long-time CEO of the Minnesota State Fair, has spent his entire working life (53 years) at the fair and will retire this coming spring (congratulations!). Jerry’s fondness of this institution beams brightly wherever he goes. The legacy he leaves at the State Fair is immense, including as a founder of the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. Not only did he provide the vision for the Foundation, he has also been a generous supporter and advocate for the over the past 20 years and is a founding member of the Foundation’s 1854 Society.
What are some of your happiest moments/stories at the fair?
Too many to count. Escaping from Zambora the Gorilla Girl at age 4. Winning a giant teddy bear for Debby when we were 16 (we still have it). Every time my grandkids check in at my office. Presenting length-of-service awards to full-time staff. Watching my dad and three other World War II combat veterans raise the flag dedicating our Veterans Garden in 2005. Playing sneaky fair-time gigs with my son’s band at Giggles’ and O’Gara’s. Watching pop-eyed smiling guests stream into the gates, then watching them head home, tired and very happy.
Do you have a favorite place on the fairgrounds?
Wherever I am at that moment.
How long have you been involved with the fair?
Officially for 53 years as an employee. Unofficially for all 68 years of my life.
How did the Foundation come to be?
In the late ‘80s, Bob Anderson, the superintendent of our Education Department, created a fundraising arm to benefit State Vocational schools. I was the fair’s marketing dude at the time, and Bob would stick his head into my office and say, “Hey big shot! When are you gonna start one for the fair?” At that time, it was a tough sell with the fair’s general manager, so we couldn’t move forward. A few years after I became CEO, I pitched the idea to the State Fair board. There was some healthy skepticism, but all soon agreed that a State Fair Foundation would be of great benefit to the fair. Start-up work on creating our fundraising arm was in the early stages when Malcolm McDonald called on behalf of Don McNeeley. Don wished to make some sort of donation to honor his uncle Lee Warner – vice president on the State Fair board from 1919 through 1944 – and his aunt Rose who was a big fair booster. With the Foundation just getting off the ground, the timing of the meeting was remarkably serendipitous. Malcolm was the first non-fair person to join the Foundation board. I was amazed and very gratified with how quickly other rock star community leaders stepped up to serve on the Foundation board and support the State Fair. Once the Foundation was established, it didn’t take long to make a real impact.
Why do you continue to support the Foundation?
As a founder (that sounds strange, but it’s true), I have a strong obligation to support it. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the only thing to do.
Is there a Foundation achievement that you are most proud of?
Everything that the Foundation has done is great. I do need to mention, though, that the Foundation’s first major fundraising campaign was for the CHS Miracle of Birth Center. It was so successful that we built the building a full year ahead of schedule.
What do you think other people should know about giving to the Fair through the Foundation?
Our State Fair gives the world exactly what it needs, which is celebrating the very best of our state and each other. It’s a unique cultural phenomenon with a positive social impact that is enormous. It inspires people to improve their lives in ways great and small. It shows us all, wherever we’re from, that we’re really not that different from each other. At its heart, what the State Fair really does is bring millions of us together to celebrate our common humanity. That’s what we support through the State Fair Foundation.
If you could say one thing to the people who love the fair, what would it be?
I’ll see you at the fair.