Issue: 64 | June 11, 2024

Summer is here and we're excited for all it brings - including the 2024 Minnesota State Fair! While no one wants to wish the beautiful summer days away, we can't help but get excited during the planning phase. Read on to see how YOU can start planning your trip to the Great Minnesota Get-Together!

Little Book. Big Savings. On Sale Now!

This year’s State Fair Blue Ribbon Bargain Book features:

• 100 coupons - the best deals at the fair - on food, merchandise and attractions.
• Every coupon is worth at least 30% off.
• Coupons valid all 12 days of the 2024 State Fair.
• Use just one or two coupons and you'll cover the $5 price of the book!

Blue Ribbon Bargain Books, sponsored by Minnesota Lottery, are available wherever pre-fair tickets are sold:

• Buy online now at Etix.com, and your book will be mailed to you in early July.
• Stop by Cub stores and other locations in the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota and Hudson, Wis., beginning July 14 (while supplies last).
• Come to the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office beginning July 8.

At the fair, buy Blue Ribbon Bargain Books at State FairWear Gift Shops and Friends of the Fair Carts. Proceeds from books sold at the fair support the mission of the Minnesota State Fair Foundation.

Hundreds of Kickoff to Summer Guests Trained in CPR Skills and AED Use!

In honor of National CPR and AED Awareness Week held June 1-7, a Minnesota State Fair Community Gives Together team trained hundreds of Kickoff to Summer guests in hands-only CPR skills and AED use. Thank you to our partners at the American Heart Association and the Center for Resuscitation Medicine at the University of Minnesota for helping share these life-saving skills!

Visit our Community Gives Together webpage to learn more about past projects.

Free Entertainment Lineup Announced!

With 900 shows and more than 100 acts during the 12 days & nights of the Minnesota State Fair, there is fun for the whole family to be found! Check out the full free entertainment lineup and start planning your visit today.

Urban Ag Day Connects Youth, Farms and Food for Metro-Area Third-Graders

The Minnesota State Fair, Minnesota FFA and local agriculture commodity groups welcomed more than 1,200 Minneapolis and Saint Paul third-graders to connect food back to farms during Urban Ag Day 2024 held May 6-8. This field trip to the State Fairgrounds taught young students that food does not come from the grocery store or refrigerator, but from farmers and their fields.

The day featured an up-close look at live animals, including swine, beef and dairy cattle, dairy goats, turkeys and sheep, plus hands-on learning stations, each with a unique take-away:

• Feed the Cows (what cows eat and how their diet is similar to the human diet)
• Ready, Set, Grow! (growing food in your own garden)
• Busy Bees (a lesson on the importance of pollinators)
• Farm to Fork (how beef becomes lunch)
• The Amazing Soybean (the versatile crop and what it’s used for)

Thank you to the partners who joined the Minnesota State Fair in presenting Urban Ag Day 2024: AgCentric; Ag Country Farm Credit Services; CHS; Culver’s; Como Park FFA; Dassel-Cokato FFA & FFA Alumni; Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA; Hancock FFA & FFA Alumni; Highland Park FFA; Hormel; Land O’Lakes; Melrose FFA; Midwest Dairy Association; Minnesota Ag in the Classroom; Minnesota Beef Council; Minnesota Turkey Growers Association; Morris Area FFA & FFA Alumni; Randolph FFA; Riverview LLP; Rockford FFA; School of Environmental Studies in partnership with the Minnesota Zoo; Stevens County FFA Alumni; Tracy Area FFA; University of Minnesota - College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service; West Central Area FFA; and West Central Cattlemen’s Association.

Mighty Midway and Kidway Fun Cards Now On Sale!

A Fun Card is your pass to all the excitement Mighty Midway and Kidway, sponsored by Kwik Trip, have to offer. These paperless tickets can be used for carnival rides and games, and purchasing advance discount tickets helps you save!

Fun Cards with advance discount tickets are available wherever pre-fair tickets are sold:

• Buy online now at Etix.com, and a voucher to redeem your Fun Card while at the State Fair will be mailed to you.
• Stop by Cub stores and other locations in the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota and Hudson, Wis., beginning July 14 (while supplies last).
• Come to the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office beginning July 8.

After purchasing tickets on a Fun Card and receiving your card from a kiosk at the fair, we encourage you to register your Fun Card online. Registration links your name and contact information to the card so you can view your balance and transaction history and receive quicker customer service if you experience any issues. (Please note that while your card can be used in future years, all unused tickets from previous years will no longer be valid.)

Save even more at the Midway and Kidway with the purchase of a Blue Ribbon Bargain Book!

2024 Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Grants Awarded!

Committed to showcasing our state’s finest agriculture and recognizing the importance of cultivating youth experiences in the livestock industry, the Minnesota State Fair is proud to announce recipients of the 2024 Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience (BELLE) Grants. Since 2021, funding from the Minnesota State Fair Foundation has supported grants awarded to youth livestock exhibitors who commit to participating in the Minnesota State Fair for the first time in 2024. Large-animal exhibitors will receive $500 and small-animal exhibitors will receive $250 each to help offset feed, animal care, transportation, supplies, lodging and other costs of exhibiting livestock at the Minnesota State Fair. Participants will also be paired with a peer-to-peer mentor to help guide them through their experience.

Pictured above is Katie Barclay of Albert Lea, Minn., one of this year’s recipients. Katie is a first-time livestock showman excited to be leasing a beef calf. She has plans to participate in 4-H, FFA and open class shows at the Freeborn County Fair and Minnesota State Fair. Katie hopes to learn about having a good work ethic, how to be patient with her animal and the dedication it takes to raise an animal through her time in the BELLE Grant program. Although she has never shown livestock before, Katie says, “I believe livestock shows are important because it shows the heart of the people raising the animals.”

Congratulations to these Minnesota youth who were selected to receive BELLE Grants:

• Isaac Albers of Dundas, Minn. (Dairy cattle)
• Katie Barclay of Albert Lea, Minn. (Beef cattle)
• Grace Colville of Silver Lake, Minn. (Goats)
• Sydney Deyle of Browerville, Minn. (Dairy cattle)
• Trevin Dicke of Goodhue, Minn. (Beef cattle)
• Jordyn Dingels of Northfield, Minn. (Dairy cattle)
• Elyzah Erickson of Mankato, Minn. (Horse)
• Miley Hanks of Northome, Minn. (Goats)
• Tanner Howe of Hutchinson, Minn. (Dairy cattle)
• Max McGunegill of Jasper, Minn. (Beef cattle)
• Maddie Meyer of Sauk Centre, Minn. (Dairy cattle)
• Levi Nelson of Glencoe, Minn. (Dairy cattle)
• Jordan Pease of Chatfield, Minn. (Poultry)
• Renly Quiram of Morris, Minn. (Rabbits)
• George Stockman of Backus, Minn. (Beef cattle)

Learn more about the BELLE Grant on our website.

Help Us Make the 12 Best Days of Summer Possible!

We're searching for the perfect candidates to join our summer team! Several internships & office positions are now available including:

• Competition & Horse Show Intern
• Home Improvement & Creative Activities Annex Assistant Superintendent
• Office Assistant
• Operations Intern
• Staffing Assistant

To learn more about the types of positions available, visit the Summer Job Opportunities page of our employment web page.

If you're interested in working the 12 days of the fair, visit our employment web page to learn more about registering for an employment center appointment. The employment center is tentatively scheduled to open on June 24!

If you have questions about Minnesota State Fair employment, visit our employment webpage. Or feel free to contact us at employment@mnstatefair.org or 651-288-4475.

You can view all opportunities at the career portal, or get hiring news in your inbox by signing up for our employment email list.

Take the Stage for the Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Auditions!

The ever-popular Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest is searching for dancers, singers, actors, jugglers, poets, beatboxers, pizza throwers, guitar players, yo-yo-ers and more to audition for this year’s show! Auditions will be held at the fairgrounds on July 22-28. If selected, semifinalists will perform at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell during the fair. Then, finalists will compete at the Grandstand on Sept. 1 for more than $20,000 in cash awards.

If you or anyone you know has been perfecting a talent, register for auditions by 4 p.m. July 24. Everyone who auditions receives a commemorative Amateur Talent Contest T-shirt.

If your talent is being part of a supportive audience, stop by the Bandshell during auditions to cheer on the performers – it’s free to watch and a fun way to spend time outdoors on a summer day. Auditions start at 5:30 p.m. weekdays and at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets on sale now online at Etix or by calling 800-514-3849.

Our final Grandstand Concert Series announcement is coming soon – stay tuned!

Become an Official Friend of the Fair!

The Minnesota State Fair Foundation invites you to become an official 2024 Friend of the Fair! Not only does being a Friend of the Fair show your support for the Minnesota State Fair, it also comes with great perks. The deadline to become a Friend of the Fair for this year is approaching quickly! Sign up before July 31 to receive a variety of benefits through the Foundation. Membership levels start at $25 per year. Be sure to renew or sign up for your membership today to be ready for the fair! More information about the Friends of the Fair program can be found on their website.

Buy Now and Save!

2024 fair admission tickets are on sale now at the pre-fair discount price of just $15!

• Buy online now at Etix.com, and choose the free print-at-home/mobile download delivery option for a quick and easy way to get your tickets.
• Stop by Cub stores and other locations in the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota and Hudson, Wis., beginning July 14 (while supplies last).
• Come to the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office beginning July 8.

Minnesota State Fair Scholarships Recognize Outstanding Young Adults

Invested in the education endeavors of young adults from greater Minnesota, the Minnesota State Fair established the Minnesota State Fair Scholarship program in 1994. This year, up to 22 scholarships of $1,000 each will recognize outstanding youth from greater Minnesota or those enrolled in an agriculture program in 2023-24; these scholarships are available for students entering any field of study. Two $2,000 scholarships will also be awarded to people of any age entering a skilled trade career or furthering their training.

Since its inception, more than $600,000 has been awarded. All Minnesota State Fair Scholarships are funded through donations to the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. The application deadline is July 15. Learn more.

Minnesota State Fair Police Officers Recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving

The Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Statewide Recognition Awards highlight individuals and entities that embrace MADD's mission to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. Award recipients and nominees are recognized for their hard work and dedication to keeping our roadways and communities safe.

Congratulations to the following officers, deputies and troopers from law enforcement agencies from across the state who also serve fair-time as part of the Minnesota State Fair Police Department!



• Trooper Luke Dohman, Minnesota State Patrol, Bronze Pin Recipient
• Sergeant Adam Moore, South Lake Minnetonka Police Department, Outstanding Service and Bronze Pin Recipient
• Officer Jake Nelson (pictured), South Lake Minnetonka Police Department, Vision Award and Gold Pin Recipient
• Deputy Nick Moberg, Kandiyohi County, Bronze Pin Recipient

Put Your Best to the Blue Ribbon Test!

We have a competition for almost everything and everybody – kimchi, homemade vinegars and fermented pickles (all NEW this year!), busy bee-themed gift baskets, cookies decorated like hats, beeswax cosmetics, wearable crop art, robotics, quilts on-a-stick featuring Minnesota mascots, giant pumpkins, fine art sculptures, naan, poems written by first graders, and hundreds more!

Learn more about the variety of categories, rules for entering, judging criteria, registration and drop-off processes by clicking the links below to get more information. Or, take a look at the premium books online and contact our competition department with your questions - reach us at competition@mnstatefair.org or 651-288-4417. Entering is free, and online registration is open now!

• Ag-Hort-Bee: Bee & Honey; Christmas Trees; Crop Art & Scarecrow; Farm Crops; Flowers; Fruit & Wine; and Vegetable & Potato 
• Creative Activities: Baked Products; Canned & Preserved Foods; Collections; Garment Making; Handcrafts; Needlecraft; Work of Senior Citizens
• Fine Arts: Oil/Acrylic/Mixed Media; Sculpture; Watercolor/Gouache/Casein/Tempura; Drawing/Pastel; Prints; Ceramics/Glass; Textiles/Fiber; Photography
• K-12: Drawings; Paintings; Sewing; Jewelry; Reports; Creative Writing; Architectural Working Drawings; Photography; Welding; Robots; CO2 Cars; Supermileage

Coming to the Fairgrounds

MSRA Back to the 50's Car Show: The 50th Annual Back to the 50's Car Show will feature over 10,000 street rods and custom cars along with commercial vendors, swappers, crafters, entertainment and much more from June 21-23!

Other Upcoming Events

June

• 11, 25: Machinery Hill Criterium Series Cycle Races at the State Fairgrounds
• 21-23: MSRA Back to the 50's Car Show the State Fairgrounds
• 26-29: Tanbark Cavalcade of Roses Horse Show at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum

July

• 9, 23: Machinery Hill Criterium Series Cycle Races at the State Fairgrounds
• 10-14: MAQHA Corporate Challenge at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum
• 13-14: Minnesota Autosports Club Autocross MOWOG Series at the Robin Lot
• 19: Street Machine Nationals at the State Fairgrounds
• 27: Totally Rad Vintage Fest in the Grandstand

Check out our State Fairgrounds Event Calendar for event details and updates. Information subject to change. 

Watch This Website Page for Updates

Need a go-to source for important fair news? Visit the Updates page on our website as the starting point to find announcements. This page will be updated as needed. Check back throughout the summer and during the Great Minnesota Get-Together!

We think summer nights are best spent at the fair, don't you? Add a ride on the Great Big Wheel, sponsored by Samsung, to your fairtime to-do list and catch some of the best views of the fair at night from above!