The Monthly Lunch & Learn is a high-energy, coast-to-coast broadcast created to inspire and equip the fair and exhibition community across Canada.
As part of the You Make THE Difference initiative, this live-streamed event happens on the last Thursday of every month at 12:00 PM Central Time.
Each session brings together fair board members, agricultural society leaders, and community builders for an hour of meaningful insight, practical strategies, and inspiring stories from across the country.
You can watch live on the Fairs.com Facebook page or right here on the You Make THE Difference website.
Whether you’re tuning in from the fairgrounds, your home office, or your kitchen table—this is your chance to get recharged, reconnected, and reminded of the incredible difference you make in your community.
Hosted by award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill
In volunteer-led organizations like Fair Boards, Ag Societies, and nonprofits, we often carry too much—because we care too much. But leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about building others up to do meaningful work alongside you.
In this high-impact session, Ian , brings decades of grassroots leadership experience to help you shift from overwhelmed to empowered. You’ll learn how to delegate with clarity, inspire ownership, and create the kind of team that gets things done—without burning out.
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start multiplying your impact, this one’s for you.
Learning Outcomes:
Hosted by award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill
Toxic behavior and poor performance don’t just hurt feelings—they drain your energy, stall your mission, and drive away good volunteers. Whether it’s a negative board member, a consistently unreliable volunteer, or someone who dominates and discourages others… ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.
In this no-fluff session, Ian Hill shares the tools, mindset, and real-life strategies to address the hard stuff head-on—without losing your integrity or the mission. You’ll learn how to set boundaries, confront poor behavior constructively, and protect the culture you’ve worked so hard to build.
Because your fair, ag society, or nonprofit deserves a team that lifts it up—not tears it down.
Learning Outcomes:
Whether you lead a Fair Board, Ag Society, or nonprofit, strategy isn’t just paperwork—it’s your compass. A clear, community-driven plan unites people, aligns resources, and brings purpose to every meeting, event, and decision.
In this powerful session, Ian welcomes Tim Carson, CEO of AAAS and recipient of the 2024 IAFE Executive of the Year Award. Tim has helped guide strategic planning across Alberta’s 290+ ag societies—and he’ll share how local leaders like you can move from maintenance to momentum. This isn’t theory. It’s tools, frameworks, and practical guidance that works in real-world, volunteer-led organizations like yours.
Learning Outcomes:
Hosted by award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill
Volunteers are not just helpers — they are community builders, tradition stewards, and difference makers. Recognition is not a bonus; it’s a key leadership strategy for loyalty and retention.
In this session, you’ll learn how to celebrate and recognize volunteers consistently, using simple gamification techniques, social media highlights, and grassroots connections.
You’ll leave ready to build a culture where volunteers feel honored year-round — not just at the annual banquet.
Learning Outcomes:
Join award winning Fair and Ag Society advocate Ian Hill as he shares how to build a volunteer experience plan!
Today’s volunteers expect more than tasks — they expect a meaningful experience. Without an intentional plan, even the best volunteers can drift away.
In this session, we’ll show you how to design a 12-month Volunteer Experience Plan that builds loyalty, strengthens your volunteer community, and keeps people engaged year after year.
Learn how to use monthly touch points to inspire, educate, and celebrate volunteers, creating a culture where they feel seen, valued, and proud to stay involved.
Learning Outcomes:
Passion fuels fair boards, but with increasing demands, volunteer shortages, and financial pressures, burnout is a real challenge. When burnout goes unchecked, it not only impacts personal well-being but also threatens the long-term success of fairs and agricultural societies.
Join us for our February Lunch & Learn, where we’ll equip you with practical strategies to prevent burnout, sustain motivation, and keep your team engaged
What You’ll Gain:
Social media isn’t just a marketing tool—it’s a community-building powerhouse. For fair boards and societies, it’s not about selling tickets or promoting events; it’s about creating meaningful engagement that builds trust, fosters relationships, and strengthens community involvement. When done right, social media doesn’t just spread awareness—it mobilizes supporters, attracts volunteers, deepens donor relationships, and sustains engagement long after the event ends.
This session will dive into how fair boards and Ag societies can use social media strategically to cultivate an online presence that resonates with their audience, increases participation, and strengthens community bonds.
Learning Outcomes:
The landscape of volunteerism is shifting, and organizations must adapt to thrive. Today’s volunteers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, seek purpose, flexibility, and clear impact. They are no longer motivated by obligation alone—they want to see the difference they are making. This session will dive into the strategies needed to recruit and retain volunteers effectively, ensuring they feel valued, engaged, and connected to the mission.
Learning Outcomes:
Fundraising isn’t about just securing dollars—it’s about building relationships, earning trust, and connecting people to a purpose that matters. People don’t give to projects; they give to people and a compelling ‘why’, not just a ‘how.’ When fair boards and ag societies approach fundraising as community-building rather than just financial transactions, they unlock long-term support and sustainable revenue streams.
This session will explore the five distinct revenue streams that drive financial success and how to create a tailored strategy for each:
