2026 Conference Speakers

Tasha Hyder is the Executive Director of the Clay County Fair in Florida, where she’s spent the past ten years transforming the fair into one of the most beloved community events in the South. With over 15 years in the event industry—including her early days running events for the Town of Orange Park—Tasha has built a reputation for creativity, authenticity, and a touch of quirky charm. She’s known for her “out-of-the-box” ideas that somehow always seem to involve goats (even though she swears she doesn’t actually like them).

Armed with a master’s degree in education from the University of North Florida, Tasha brings heart, humor, and a dose of Southern charm to everything she does—making her a natural fit to speak on Southern Hospitality. When she’s not planning the next fair, you’ll find her with her four dogs and four cats, paddling the waterways, or traveling to fairs across the country in search of fried food and inspiration.