ASSOCIATION • From the OABA Chair Chair’s Message Blake Huston, OABA Chair 2025 A s I look back on my term as Chairman of the


Outdoor Amusement Business Association, I’m struck by how quickly a year can move when the


work is big, the mission is clear, and the stakes are high for the people you care about. Serving this association has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. The OABA exists for showmen, for families, for small businesses, for the midway — and it has been a privilege to help guide it through another pivotal year. This past season wasn’t without its challenges, but show- men have never been defined by what knocks us down. We’re defined by how we pull together, rebuild, and keep the lights burning. And that’s exactly what we did. Advocacy remains the


backbone of the OABA andin2025, we sawour voicegrowstrongerin Washington. Whether it was educating legislators on the essentialroleofseasonal labor, supporting the RIDE Act, or pushing back against policy proposalsthatmis- understand our industry, we showed up — united, in- formed, and determined. Our efforts weren’t just noticed — they made a difference.


STRENGTH INTEGRITY UNITY


The OABA’s presence on Capitol Hill continues to expand and the relationships built this year will pay dividends for seasons to come. We also strengthened partnerships with allied organi- zations, ensuring that fair partners, suppliers, and legislators all understood what every showman already knows: our industry matters, and it is worth fighting for. The OABA’s leadership on safety remains second to none.


We don’t wait for challenges to find us — we stay ahead of them. And the work we’ve done this year keeps our midways strong, credible, and respected from coast to coast. From small family shows to the largest operations, from con-


cessionaires to suppliers, our members are what make this as- sociation special. This year, I watched countless members step up — helping each other, sharing resources, offering advice, and showing the kind of camaraderie you simply don’t find out- side the outdoor amusement business. We expanded membership benefits, strengthened educa-


tional resources, and continued delivering the kind of hands-on support that only an association built by showmen can provide.


   | 


Whether you’ve been a member for 40 years or four months, this association is stronger because of you The midway has always been a blend of old and new — tra-


dition and innovation living side by side. This year, we honored our past while laying important groundwork for the future. We continued modernizing communication, expanding outreach, and building up the next generation of showmen — those who will one day run the fairs, operate the rides, and carry forward the legacy we inherited. If there’s one message I hope this year has reinforced, it’s this:


Our industry isn’t fading — it’s evolving. And the OABA is com- mitted to leading that evolution with strength, integrity, and unity. To the Board of Directors, our Executive Director, our tire- less staff, our volunteers, our sponsors, and every member who reached out, stepped up, or shared a piece of wisdom —I thank you. Your support made this work meaningful and your trust made it possible. Most importantly, thank


you to the men and women on the ground — the show owners, concessionaires,


ticket sellers, ride operators, mechanics, electricians, driv- ers, office staff, and seasonal workers who make this industry move. You are the heartbeat of the American midway. As I pass the gavel to my good friend Michael Doolan, I do


so with confidence in the leadership stepping forward. The OABA is in strong hands, guided by strong values, supported by strong members. Our challenges will continue, but so will our resilience. So will our unity. And so will the spirit of the midway that has carried generations before us and will carry generations after. I may be stepping aside as chairman, but I remain committed


— now and always — to the mission, the people, and the legacy of this great association.


Thank you for the honor of serving you. For Showmen. For Tradition. For Tomorrow.


— Blake Huston Outgoing Chairman, Outdoor Amusement Business Association


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