Maria Hayden is the Marketing & Social Media Supervisor for the Minnesota State Fair, heading into her seventh fair this year. She manages the fair’s social media year-round, leading strategy, content, and real-time coverage for an audience of more than 730,000 followers. In 2025, the fair earned nearly 40 million organic impressions over a two-month period. During her time at the fair, she launched the fair’s TikTok and Threads accounts, expanding its digital storytelling. She also coordinates major announcements, including new foods and specialty sips, and serves as a spokesperson in media interviews. At the heart of her work is a commitment to highlighting the stories, traditions, and moments of the nearly two million guests, vendors, and staff who bring the Great Minnesota Get-Together to life.