The Arts & Crafts Association announced that Brenda Walls will be its new fair director.

Walls, who started in November, will be taking over for Penni Schroeder, who held the position six years.

“I’m excited about it,” Walls said. “It’s something I’ve done as a vendor for at least 20 years, so from that side of it I have some experience.”

Walls, a Marion High School graduate and long-time Hillsboro resident, is employed with Leppke Realty & Auction as office manager, sales agent, and auction clerk.

One meeting between Walls and the Arts and Crafts Association has happened since her hiring, and will pick up again in January to begin preparing for the 2017 crafts show.

Walls hopes to keep the show at the level it has been at for the past several years.

“It’s a well run show and I hope I can keep that reputation going,” Walls said. “It has a pretty widely- known recognition as being one of the top shows in the country, so I definitely want to stay on the cutting edge of what’s out there and keep our show at that level of reputation.”