|
Issue: 39
|
January 24, 2019
|
|
| |
|
|
New Neighborhood at the Fair's North End Will Welcome Guests to the 2019 State Fair
|
|
Construction of a new exhibit facility at the fair's North End is one of the most significant financial investments
in fairgrounds improvement in recent years. |
|
|
The State Fair's newest neighborhood, located at the North End of the fairgrounds as shown on the black map above,
will include the new exhibit complex, as well as features that opened for last year's fair, including The Hangar food and beverage concession and the Pet Pavilions and Outdoor Demonstration Area located west of Underwood Street. |
A brand-new major exhibit facility with a 12,000-square-foot exhibit hall will be the centerpiece of the State Fair's newest neighborhood, located at the fair's North End, near the north terminal of the SkyGlider. Currently under construction, the $16 million complex will be the fair-time home to annually changing museum-quality exhibits that fair guests can enjoy free with fair admission. The North End development will also have features that recognize Minnesota innovations in agriculture, industry and the arts, along with uniquely Minnesota attractions, food and commercial exhibits. Take a video tour.
This year's North End work expands redevelopment begun last year with the construction of a large restroom facility and new Pet Pavilions and Outdoor Demonstration Area, the addition of The Hangar food and beverage establishment, the creation of a pathway and the relocation of the Giant Sing Along, among other projects along Hoyt and Murphy avenues.
With the North End construction, the 3rd Lair SkatePark, which previously presented skateboard and BMX bike demonstrations north of Murphy Avenue, will relocate to Adventure Park in the center of the fairgrounds.
The $16 million exhibit facility is part of nearly $20 million in improvements and maintenance work planned for the fairgrounds this year. Additional projects include: upgrades to the stalling and technology equipment in the Swine Barn; installation of a new overhead cover for the Exercise Ring in the livestock area; improvements to the restrooms in Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum; upgrades to the lighting and fire suppression system in the DNR Building; replacement of the third-floor restroom fixtures in the 4-H Building; installation of water bottle refill stations; and dozens of paint, sewer, electrical, street light, street and sidewalk repair, tree care and landscape projects throughout the 322-acre State Fairgrounds.
All projects will be funded through State Fair operating revenue and grants from the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. The fair is financially self-supporting and does not receive any government aid or taxpayer dollars.
|
Last Chance to Buy 2019 Admission Tickets at 2018 Prices!
If you're on the hunt for a wintertime gift, a Valentine's Day surprise, or just
want to get a head start on State Fair savings, now is the time to get your tickets through
etix.com or by phone at 800-514-3849. Maximum of 12 tickets per order.
|
Critically Injured Youth Dreams of Owning a Cattle Ranch
|
|
| Eighth-grader Macy Rohner lives on a small beef cattle farm with her mom, older brother and sister in Pennock, Minn. Her career goal is to "own my own ranch with beef cattle and horses. I want to be a world champion barrel racer and travel to all the big name cattle shows to show my cattle." She received a heifer to start her herd as part of the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program. Her mentor is Chad Zehnder. |
Six years ago, Macy Rohner's mom purchased a beef heifer for her to care for, train and exhibit at 4-H shows. "I worked very hard with that calf and had it so well trained that it was perfect and would follow me anywhere I went," Macy said. But, before Macy was able to participate in her first show, she was critically injured in a horse-riding accident and spent several weeks recovering at Minneapolis Children's Hospital.
Macy told her story as part of her application to the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program (MYBEP), part of the Minnesota Beef Expo, produced and sponsored by the Minnesota State Fair. "The day we left the hospital ... I wanted to see my heifer (Mosley), which was now at the State Fair because my sister was showing her for me. My mom pushed me in the barn to see my Mosley. I dove out of my wheelchair on top of her as soon as I saw her and just hugged her and held her. ... To this day, no one would even know I was in an accident. Doctors say that I am a complete miracle. I believe it was my willpower to be with my animals."
Each October, as part of MYBEP, cattle producers from across the region donate heifers to help young cattle enthusiasts get their feet wet in the beef business. Each youth is responsible for raising, breeding and maintaining complete records on the care of the animal while providing monthly progress reports to the original owner and the Minnesota Beef Expo. The breeders who provide heifers also serve as mentors to the MYBEP youth.
In her MYBEP application, Macy wrote: "It would be such a great experience to raise and show my very own heifer. There is something really special when you walk into that show ring knowing you did all the hard work yourself."
Macy was selected as one of 11 youth to receive a 2018 MYBEP heifer. She recently submitted her first report to the Minnesota Beef Expo, writing, "I was presented with a beautiful Charolais heifer, Twizzler. This was the start of our incredible year together. ... She loves to go on walks with me around our farm. With the cold weather, our walks don't happen as much as I would like right now, but any warmer day we are out there together."
|
We're Honored to Have Received These Accolades
-
 |
|
|
Our award-winning "set" was the perfect photo backdrop for a proud rider, her horse and trainer Alex McKay from Harvest Hill Farm.
|
The Minnesota State Fair was awarded recognition in 2018 from the International Association of Fairs & Expositions for these projects: Horse show photo backdrop (1st place); addition of the Minnesota craft beer bread baking competition (1st place); series of YouTube videos giving tips and tricks on how to enter State Fair Creative Activities competitions (1st place); black and white newspaper advertising (1st place); commemorative poster by Kristi Abbott (1st place); among others.
- The readers of The Growler magazine selected the Minnesota State Fair as recipient of a 2018 Kind-of-a-Big-Deal Readers' Choice Award for favorite community festival (Minneapolis & St. Paul).
- TripAdvisor has recognized the Minnesota State Fair as a 2018 Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame recipient, presented to qualified businesses that receive Certificate of Excellence recognition for consistently high ratings from travelers for five consecutive years.
|
Prestigous State Fair Honors Awarded at
Annual Meeting
The Minnesota State Agricultural Society, governing body of the State Fair, held its 160th annual meeting Jan. 20 and recognized two individuals for their outstanding contributions to the State Fair.
|
|
|
|
Kay Cady, Minnesota State Fair Hall of Fame inductee
|
|
Retired Executive Director of the
Minnesota State Fair Foundation
Kay Cady is the newest member of the Minnesota State Fair Hall of Fame. Cady served as Foundation executive director from 2004 to 2017. During the last three years of her leadership, grants to the State Fair exceeded $1 million annually. Thousands of State Fair fans have become Foundation Friends of the Fair - a program she founded - contributing to operations, capital campaigns, endowments and special programs. Some of the projects Cady brought to fruition were improvements to the J.V. Bailey House and Warner Coliseum, and construction of the CHS Miracle of Birth Center and FFA Chapter House, Compeer Arena (formerly AgStar Arena), the History & Heritage Center and Schilling Amphitheater. Recognizing every donor's desire for involvement at every level of giving, Cady also led efforts to create the Taste of the Fair fundraiser event, the recognition brick paver and bench program, endowment giving and more. The State Fair Hall of Fame was founded in 1966 to recognize individuals whose outstanding service has had a lasting impact on the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Induction into the Hall of Fame is the State Fair's highest honor.
|
|
|
Dr. Thomas J. Hagerty, Honorary Life Member, Minnesota State
Agricultural Society
|
Retired Minnesota State Fair Veterinarian
Dr. Thomas
J. Hagerty was elected to honorary life membership in the Minnesota State Agricultural Society. Hagerty was born and raised on a livestock farm in Waseca County and graduated from the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1959. He served as the State Fair's Official Veterinarian from 2001 to 2017, the State Veterinarian for the Minnesota Board of Animal Health from 1984 to 2001, and had a general veterinary practice in St. Michael, Minn., for 25 years. He also served as president of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), chair of the MVMA Government Affairs Committee, and president of the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA), among others. His significant contributions to public health and regulatory veterinary medicine span six decades. The Minnesota State Fair annually elects one individual for honorary life membership in the Society.
|
|
|
|
Retired State Fair board member Sharon Wessel, IAFE Heritage Award recipient
|
|
Sharon Wessel
of Hamel
, Minn., received a 2018 Heritage Award from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) in recognition of her volunteer service. Wessel served on the Hennepin County Fair Board for 33 years and was active in 4-H for 37 years as a youth participant and adult leader. She was first elected to the Minnesota State Fair board of managers in 2006 and served as president from 2016 to 2018. The IAFE Heritage Awards are presented each year to recognize achievements of exceptional volunteer fair managers.
|
|
|
Paul Merkins, president, Minnesota State
Agricultural Society
|
In other business conducted during
the annual meeting, Paul Merkins of Stewart, Minn., was re-elected to a second one-year term as president of the Society. Merkins has served on the State Fair board of managers since 2009. He is a crop farmer north of Stewart and has served in various roles for the McLeod County Fair since 1975, serves as chairman of the Lynn Township Board in McLeod County and vice chair of the McLeod County Planning Advisory Commission, and has served since 1996 on the board of the Minnesota State Poultry Association, where he is currently the president.
J
oe Fox
of Maplewood was re-elected to a two-year term as State Fair board
vice president, representing the Society's fourth regional district. Jeff Hawkins of Inver Grove Heights and Ron Oleheiser of Grand Rapids were each re-elected to three-year terms representing the Society's second and eighth districts respectively.
The State Agricultural Society is made up of delegates from each of the state's
87 county fairs, plus representatives of 43 statewide associations involved in agriculture, horticulture and education. The Society is a quasi-state agency charged exclusively with the production of the annual Minnesota State Fair and management of the historic 322-acre State Fairgrounds.
|
We Owe You TONS of Thanks!
The numbers are in! With the help of fair guests, employees, exhibitors, vendors and partners, we recycled and composted tons in 2018:
- Cardboard: 223 tons
- Construction materials: 152 tons
- Food waste: 73 tons
- Glass, plastic, aluminum: 56 tons
- Grease: 76 tons
- Scrap metal: 41 tons
- Waste water: 74 tons
- Wood pallets: 49 tons
- Misc. (including auto oil, concrete, electronics, oil filters, tires, vehicle batteries): 5 tons
In addition, 3,500 tons of livestock manure was hauled to Hastings, Minn., where it was composted, mixed with dirt and used as fertilizer on more than 1,000 acres of farm field.
As the State Fair works to continually improve our sustainability efforts, we thank you for your help!
|
Century Farms Program Honors Family Farms
Century Farms, a partnership between the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau, recognizes Minnesota farms that have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years, are 50 acres or more, and are currently involved in agricultural production. More than 10,500 Century Farms have been honored since the program began in 1976.
|
|
Looking for a Summer Job or Internship?
The Minnesota State Fair is currently searching for applicants to join our summer staff! Our goal is to provide fun-filled summer job opportunities for applicants to expand their networks and gain valuable skills they can use in any career.
The State Fair has summer jobs and internships running from late May/early June through Labor Day, Sept. 2. Opportunities include working in a variety of departments, including employment, finance, operations, greenhouse, competition, sign shop, ticket office and marketing.
Check out our
employment webpage for available job and internship opportunities and to
sign up to receive email updates about employment with the Minnesota
State Fair. Positions are added throughout the spring and summer.
|
The Can't-Miss Impact of Fairgrounds Environment Fund Projects
|
|
|
Through its Fairgrounds Environment giving area, the Foundation granted funds to the State Fair in 2016
to plant vines along the fencing on the east and south edges of the fairgrounds.
|
There's still a chill in the winter air, but we're already thinking green gardens, trees and vines and beautifying one of our most treasured assets, the 322-acre fairgrounds. Donors who give to the Minnesota State Fair Foundation can ask that their gifts be used for projects of the Fairgrounds Environment Fund, which supports visitor amenities; energy efficiencies; landscaping such as plazas, shade, seating and gardens; and other initiatives that promote a more universally accessible, green and welcoming fairgrounds. Past improvement projects have included landscaping DNR Park, converting the Grandstand Marquee to energy-efficient lighting, planting trees, growing vines on the fence lines, and adding seating and plazas.
In addition to the Fairgrounds Environment Fund, Foundation donors can specify that their gifts be given to any of these impact areas: Agricultural Education, Arts & Culture, Education, and History & Heritage. Call the Foundation at 651-288-4323 or email
[email protected]
to learn more about how you can support these areas and make a difference for future generations of fair guests.
|
|
|
|
|
Friends of the Fair Grand Champions gather together throughout the year for unique behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn more about the State Fair.
|
|
Special Invitations, Commemorative Pins, Discounts, Tickets & More - Enjoy Great Benefits When You Become a Friend!
Friends of the Fair, the annual membership program of the
Minnesota State Fair Foundation, gives fair fans an opportunity to receive great perks and help the nonprofit Foundation preserve and improve State Fair buildings, grounds and educational programs.
At the $25 level, benefits include a State Fair annual pin, a Blue Ribbon Bargain Book of coupons, invitation to the J.V. Bailey House during the fair and discount at State FairWear Shops on the fairgrounds. Additional benefits at higher membership levels may include admission tickets, access to Friends of the Fair Fan Club seating for Grandstand shows, personalized recognition bricks and benches, and more.
Friends of the Fair who make annual gifts at the $1,000 level and higher are
Grand Champions. Grand Champions get an inside look at the State Fair through special presentations and get-togethers held throughout the year and are given prominent recognition annually on the fairgrounds.
|
"Weird Al" Yankovic Strings Attached Tour
Tuesday, Aug. 27, 7:30 p.m.
$31 (all reserved seating)
From the biggest-selling comedy recording artist in history comes an evening of legendary musical satire and parodies. His hilarious hits include "Eat It," "Like a Surgeon" and more!
For tickets, go to
Etix.com
or call 800-514-3849.
Watch for more Grandstand shows to be announced in the coming months!
|
Versatile Dairy Building Is an Ideal Space for Your Informal Large Group Event
|
|
What do 40,000 quirky fashion items, 350 volunteers and the Dairy Building have in common? It's a
Celebration of Sorts, where donations to the nonprofit The Arc Greater Twin Cities are sorted and tagged in
preparation for the Halloween BOO-tique sales at Arc Value Village stores. |
Youth events, sales, production space, displays, mini fairs and expos - the Dairy Building offers 22,000 square feet of open, versatile space ideal for a wide range of informal events. Located just off Como Avenue with access to ample parking, the facility is available in the fall, spring and summer. We offer affordable rates, free parking, friendly and professional event staff, a convenient location easily accessible from anywhere in the Twin Cities, and an a la carte menu of rental equipment and catering services. For more information on renting this facility and others, call 651-288-4400 or email
[email protected]
. Let's start planning!
|
Event Spotlight: 10th Annual Winter Beer Dabbler
On Saturday, Feb. 23, hearty Midwesterners will leave behind the warmth of their homes to join in the biggest outdoor beer festival in Minnesota. With 180 breweries and cideries pouring 600 beers and ciders, plus live music, a silent disco and more, this 10th Annual Winter Beer Dabbler is a true celebration of winter in Minnesota. Tickets often sell out, so get yours soon!
|
Upcoming Events at the State Fairgrounds
|
|
Indoor Flat Track Racing returns to the Warner Coliseum! This year's "War of the Twins"
features hours of racing in Pro Twin, Pro Single, Hooligan, Vintage and Mad Dog classes
and thousands of dollars up for grabs. Get info and tickets here.
|
January
- 25-27: Legacy Luau Invitational Gymnastics Meet
- 25-Feb. 3: Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition and Vulcan Snow Park, part of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival
February
- 9: North Star Roller Derby
- 16-17: Gina Morri Memorial Invitational Gymnastics Meet
- 23: Winter Beer Dabbler
March
- 1-2 Twin Cities Regional Science Fair
- 8-10: Outdoor News Deer & Turkey Classic
- 16-17: Minnesota Weapons Collectors Association Show & Sale
- 17: Riders & Ribbons Horse Show
- 22-23: Indoor Flat Track Motorcycle Racing
|
Watch for more State Fair news and Grandstand announcements! If you're receiving this email, you're on our list and will be among the first to get the news. Forward this email to your friends, so they can sign up for the inside scoop, too!
|
|
|
| At the 2018 State Fair, for the 20th year, the University of Minnesota Department of Entomology Bee Lab presented the daring bee beard demonstration with 10,000 honeybees. Don't miss this at the 2019 State Fair in the Buzz Booth located in the Agriculture Horticulture Building. |
|
Mark Your Calendar!
The 2019 Minnesota State Fair runs
Aug. 22 - Labor Day, Sept. 2!
|
|
| |
|
