Retired Colorado Department of Agriculture veteran Chris Wiseman is returning to his old job as general manager of the State Fair until a new one be hired.

He held the job from 2004 until he was named deputy ag commissioner in 2015. Wiseman retired in November. Wiseman will hold the job in the interim.

Sarah Cummings stepped down last month. She had held the job since 2015 but left to become executive director of the Western Fairs Association.

The fair this year is from Aug. 24 to Sept. 3.

“We are working through the hiring process but, until the position is filled, the Colorado State Fair staff needs leadership and there’s work already underway for the summer rental season and preparations for the 2018 Colorado State Fair,” Don Brown, the state’s agriculture commissioner, said in a statement this week.

“Chris has graciously agreed to come back for a short term and will assist us with these duties until a general manager is hired. His experience with the fairgrounds will help make this a seamless transition.”

The 2018 Colorado State Fair will mark the Fair’s 146th year as Colorado’s premier celebration of agriculture. The Fairgrounds provides nearly $34 million in economic activity to Colorado throughout the year; $29 million of that activity is driven by the annual State Fair event. In addition to showcasing Colorado agriculture, the annual event features one of the country’s largest traveling carnivals, artwork, crafts, food competitions, thrilling rodeo action, and a wide variety of food and merchandise booths.- The Colorado Department of Agriculture.

Wiseman said he had been associated with the annual event in Pueblo most of his career.

“Managing the fairgrounds is a tremendous undertaking, and I am thrilled to help out while the Department works through the hiring process,” he stated.

Of his 23 years with the state, 18 of them were at the state fair.