State Fair’s general manager marks last year in charge of event

State Fair General Manager Chris Wiseman is finishing his last year in charge of the annual event, now in its 143rd year.

Wiseman spoke with KRDO NewsChannel 13 Monday, hours before the fair came to an end for 2015. He called the day “bittersweet,” but spoke candidly about the challenges his successor faces, including the ongoing debate about whether the fair should stay in Pueblo or move to Denver.

Wiseman says in the 18 years he’s worked at the fair — 11 of them as general manager — it’s been an annual topic of conversation among state leaders.

“I don’t think the fair is going to move. We are now going through a study to help us improve business here at the fair, and not just the annual event — because it always does well — it’s to improve the non-fair business,” Wiseman said.

He told KRDO NewsChannel 13 that improving the non-fair business remains difficult.

“That’s a challenge that I didn’t quite meet. We’re doing better than we were 18 years ago with non-fair business but we can do a better job,” Wiseman said. “And that really will be the challenge for whoever that person is.”

Wiseman will begin the nationwide search for a new general manager this week. He will continue working in the fair in some capacity as deputy commissioner of agriculture.