A self-professed computer geek will be managing the Nebraska State Fair this year.

On Friday, Joe McDermott was picked by the fair board as interim director. He replaces Pat Lloyd who is resigning in a week to become manager of the Ozark Empire Fair in Missouri.

McDermott had been with the fair for 16 years, after first being hired as a computer programmer. He has been assistant fair manager since 1995.

He says his main task will be selling the fair to the people of Nebraska.

The board accepted Lloyd's resignation without comment. A search will be conducted for a permanent replacement, but no timeline has been established.

McDermott says he does not know if he will apply for the position permanently. He says he does not know if a new manager will be found before this summer's fair.