For 12 days every February, the employees of the Florida State Fair Authority arrive at work to the sound of screams.
Delighted fairgoers shriek from the rides, a sound that carries almost as far as the decadent smell of frying oil.
It’s a big job managing 337 acres filled with food stalls, eccentric performers, fun houses, Ferris wheels, livestock and neon-flashing games, all of which make Tampa their temporary home for less than two weeks. The fairgrounds serve as a place of ritual for many families who return every year. They also become dense neighborhoods of recreational vehicles, as the workers who follow the fair circuit nestle into the parking lots for exhausted nights of sleep after long days.
The Florida State Fair Authority was named one of the Top Workplaces in the Tampa Bay Times’ 2026 survey of employees across the region, which the Times conducts through a partnership with software company Energage. The fair authority is quasi-governmental because the fairgrounds are state property, though it does not receive taxpayer dollars to operate, its leaders said.
“It’s very rewarding because we work to provide fun for people,” said Cheryl Flood, the authority’s chief executive officer, who was appointed by the Florida commissioner of agriculture in 2016. “That’s what life’s about, is enjoying and making memories with people you love.”
A particular point of pride for the Florida State Fair is its food. That’s because it’s the first of the state fairs nationwide, so Tampa gets to debut each year’s new, zany creations by the traveling vendors.
Flood (favorite fair food: soft pretzels) said other fair managers flock to Florida to check out the trends for the year. But her favorite part is driving a golf cart late at night to help visitors find their cars, when she gets to hear about how they enjoyed their time.
Peyton Moritz (favorite fair food: deep-fried Oreos) handles the fair’s social media presence as a marketing engagement specialist. On the last day of the fair this February, she aimed her camera at a stack of apple fries topped with a mountain of ice cream, perched next to a blue Jolly Rancher-flavored slushy. She sampled both after the pictures were done.
Moritz has personal experience in the family rituals shaped around the fair: She first started attending as a kid in 2002, when her mom began working as a ticket-taker. Now they both get to work together.
“Handling our social media accounts, we get messages all the time about traditions,” she said. “People talk about how it’s a tradition for their family. They share photos of them bringing their little kids, and now they’re bringing their grandkids. It’s fun to hear their stories.”
Marcos Hernandez (favorite fair food: steak sundae) is the inventory supervisor, which means he makes sure the fairgrounds are fully stocked with everything from umbrellas to signage. One day, his job entailed dashing to Publix to buy emergency cookies for an eating contest after the sponsor dropped out.
“What’s awesome is there’s not a dull moment,” Hernandez said. “People will pop in and say (they) need a part I haven’t seen before in my life. There’s always a little curveball that keeps it interesting.”
As a newer employee, this year was his first fair. He was shocked at the quantities of supplies required: About 10,000 zip ties. More than 4,000 rolls of toilet paper.
But he’s rarely stressed because of the positive workplace atmosphere, Hernandez said, where teamwork is the focus.
“Everybody takes their jobs very seriously, but we’re relaxed in the sense where we know what we’ve got to do,” he said.
James Stephens (favorite fair food: sirloin tips) is an event services supervisor, which means his job revolves around facilities — keeping them clean, but also transforming the fairgrounds for different events.
Many of the Florida State Fair Authority’s employees work year-round, kept busy outside of fair season by a constantly rotating schedule of events on the property.
As soon as the fair was taken down, staff started setting up for a gun show and a reptile convention. Horse shows followed, plus a festival called Dream Asia that attracted tens of thousands of people to sample different Asian cuisines, belt out karaoke and dress up like anime characters.
Stephens said it fills him with pride to set up for a major event with his small team and then see people have a great time.
“I like to see it go from something empty to something amazing,” he said.
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Florida State Fair Authority
Location: Tampa
Employees: 100
Website: https://floridastatefairgrounds.com
Employee comments:“I feel appreciated and part of something important.”
“I feel like I make a difference at the Fairgrounds. Even when others disagree with me, I believe my input is valued. I always look forward to my workday and feel accomplished when I leave to go home.”
“Our managers are the very best and my fellow team is like family.”