MVF names new General Manager

The Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds has a new general manager. The fair’s board of directors has named longtime fairgrounds employee Shawn Loter to replace Bob Fox, who is retiring Dec. 31.

Loter will assume his new duties Jan. 1. Fox has agreed to serve as a consultant to the fairgrounds through next summer.

“I am pleased that Shawn has accepted this new role and challenge,” said Mississippi Valley Fair Board president Mike Vondran. “I and the entire board are confident he will continue to move our grounds and events, including the fair, in a positive direction.”

Loter, who has extensive knowledge of the fairgrounds, worked in maintenance at the fairgrounds from June 1989 to May 2006 when he became maintenance manager.

Since then he has been heavily involved in all aspects of fairgrounds operations, including the fair and interim events.

In addition to his work at the fairgrounds, Loter has owned and operated two companies in recent years, Wild Meadows Tree Farm and Haunted Feargrounds.

Loter, a 1993 graduate of Davenport West High School, lives in Bettendorf. He was selected following a nationwide search for Fox’s replacement.

Said Vondran: “He has a real passion for the Mississippi Valley Fair and its mission, and we applaud it.”