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The most enduring business partnerships stretch so far back in time that it can be difficult to pinpoint their origins.
Such is the case with the Maryland State Fair’s working relationship with Fair Publishing House.
While this partnership is not as old as the fair itself, which dates back to 1878, it began long enough ago that Maryland State Fair General Manager Andy Cashman struggles to identify a starting point.
“I’m not exactly sure when it began, but I suspect it goes back 50 or 60 years,” he says. “I’ve been here 30 years, and my predecessor was in his eighties. He was here long before me, and he used Fair Publishing. For as long as I can remember, they’ve supplied the Maryland State Fair’s ribbons.”
Cashman is more certain about how he feels about Fair Publishing as a partner for the Fair.
“Fair Publishing is a one-stop shop that could meet the needs of any fair,” he says. “They have it all. They do a nice job with their ribbons, which look very professional. They’re great to work with and they’re very dependable.”
The Maryland State Fair awards thousands of ribbons every year, so dependability matters.
In addition to producing a massive amount of ribbons for the Fair’s livestock competitions, horse races, and indoor entries, Fair Publishing also prints food tickets that fairgoers use to purchase tasty fair treats, including the Fair’s famous—and peculiar—pork sundae.
For Cashman, the fair’s food is an invitation to reflect on a bigger picture.
“Our biggest goal here is to teach people about where their food comes from and how important agriculture is,” he says. “People come and ride rides and eat lots of food, but they also get to see that agricultural piece. It’s kind of neat.”
According to Cashman, securing all the ribbons and food tickets needed for the Fair means placing an order with ample lead time.
“Our fair goes from the end of August through the first part of September,” he says. “We always try to order our ribbons by December or, at the latest, by February. It doesn’t take Fair Publishing too long to fill our order.”
If the fair needs a product in the final hour, Fair Publishing always aims to accommodate.
“If we have a problem and we call last minute and say, ‘Hey, we need this by next week,’ they try to get it done for us,” he says. “It’s just a really good working relationship.”
This relationship also involves Fair Publishing producing bookmarks for The Maryland State Fair’s partnership with the Maryland State Library Agency.
“We give bookmarks to every library in the state,” Cashman explains. “It’s a summer reading program, and we give out 10,000 bookmarks—it works out really well.”
Over the course of his three-decade tenure with the Fair, Cashman has come to appreciate more than just Fair Publishing’s products. He speaks fondly of the company’s president, Charlie Doyle, too.
“I've always enjoyed Charlie and his family, and I’ve gotten to know them and several of the employees there over the years,” he says. “Charlie has always been a big supporter and helps us with the ribbons, the bookmarks, and anything else we need.”
This includes “Christmas tree ribbons that are two or three feet long.”
“We put them at the top of the tree and have them stretch down through the tree,” Cashman says.
Cashman has had the opportunity to visit Fair Publishing’s headquarters and meet the people who make the products the Maryland State Fair uses every year.
“My wife and I stopped in Norwalk, Ohio, where the company's located, just to see their operation,” he says. “They have such a neat little factory and a lot of great employees—I think they're really lucky in that respect.”
He recommends Fair Publishing as a vendor partner for any fair that needs awards, supplies, and promotional materials.
“They’re just really good to work with,” he says. “They do a great job for us.”
Every enduring relationship has a beginning—why not start a partnership with Fair Publishing House today?
If you need a reliable source of ribbons, rosettes, and other products for your fair, reach out to us by clicking “Start Planning” on our website today . It’s never too early to prepare for next year’s fair. We would love to help you ramp up your ribbon game in 2026!
Who knows? Perhaps 50 or 60 years from now, your General Manager will marvel at the longevity and fruitfulness of your fair’s partnership with us and say, “I don’t know when it began, but I’m glad it’s still going strong!”