Category Archives: On The Job

Entry by Courtney Sampson, Marketing and Communications Intern, Indiana State Fair

Our Great Indiana State Fair is all about food, family, fun, and farmers – I added the farmers. We’re more than just sweet corn and midway rides – although I enjoy both! Education is one of the values the Indiana State Fair holds near-and-dear – the young, the old, and everyone in-between can learn something while attending the fair. I’m 2 ½ weeks into my internship with the fair, and I’d love to share with you some of the things I have learned thus far!

Top Ten Things I’ve Learned Working for the Indiana State Fair

10.) There’s such a thing as deep-fried butter & deep-fried sushi. On the other hand, the Indiana State Fair was the first state fair in the nation to eliminate trans-fat cooking oil.
9.) Horses (and their trainers) are weather-resistant…or maybe weather resilient
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Entry by Ashley Cashen, Talent Acquisition and Retention Coordinator, digitalKnowledge

Several things can lend to a negative experience for an intern – in my opinion, one of the biggest pitfalls can be isolating your intern from the rest of the company. One of the intern’s expectations is to dive deeper into your company and the industry – to get an insider’s look at how your company operates. Companies who treat their interns like temporary employees who come in and work on tasks that quite frankly, no one else wants to do, are neglecting their interns of valuable experiences.

There are several ways that we have chosen to involve Bart in the company and allow him to feel like he is a true member of the dK team. The first being very simple, but important – his location in the office. A lot of the work that Bart is participating in …

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Entry by Courtney Sampson, Marketing and Communications Intern, Indiana State Fair

Between researching and writing press releases, blogging about Indy Premier Cage Fighting, engaging with the community via social media, attending various meetings, and learning about mission and vision statements, I built a house. Yep, you heard me – a real-life, five-bedroom, two-bathroom home.

OK, for all you skeptics out there, I didn’t exactly build the house with my own two hands, but I did work up a sweat by hammering some nails, dragging a few 2 x 4’s, and helping to carry the “walls.” Last week, Indiana State Fairgrounds commission, board, and staff members, along with hundreds of volunteers from sponsor companies, helped construct a Habitat for Humanity Ag House.

Several Indiana agriculture businesses and organizations have stepped up in a BIG way to make Tamika Allen’s dream of home ownership a reality, showcasing the impact of Indiana’s agriculture, …

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Entry by Courtney Sampson, Marketing and Communications Intern, Indiana State Fair

I’d like to consider myself a “research queen.” Really, I love reading and surfing the Internet; this trait bodes well for me when researching potential internships or future jobs. When I stumbled across the Publicity/Media Relations internship for the Indiana State Fair, I learned that it is the “Year of Pigs.” I’m a Hoosier gal, so the idea of celebrating pork didn’t faze me much. After all, Indiana pork production contributes $3 billion to Indiana’s economy annually! See – told you I like research. Needless to say, my first day on the job really brought the “Year of Pigs” to life…so-to-speak.

One of my responsibilities is to assist Andy Klotz, Director of Publicity & Media Relations for the State Fair, escorting the media to various events at the fairgrounds. My first day coincided with the Indiana …

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