Fall News From the State Fair!

Issue: 68 | Oct. 15, 2026

From indulging in old favorites to discovering new traditions, the 2026 Minnesota State Fair brought people from across the world together and was one to remember. Read on for fall news from the State Fair, and mark your calendars to join us next year, Aug. 26 through Labor Day, Sept. 6, 2027!

25,000+ Pounds of Food Donated by State Fair Vendors

When Minnesota gets together, we give together too! Following the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, Second Harvest Heartland and their partners collected more than 25,000 pounds of remaining food donations from State Fair vendors.

Some of the largest donations included potatoes, cheese curds, pickles and milk. Additional donations included chicken, hot dogs & buns, egg rolls and more! Partner food shelves have been working to distribute these items to those in need throughout our community.

Congratulations to the 2026 Best Award Winners!

On Sept. 3, the Minnesota State Fair presented awards to 12 of the very best of the State Fair’s nearly 1,000 commercial exhibitors, concessions, attractions and food and beverage vendors at the 2026 Great Minnesota Get-Together.

Best Awards recipients were selected because they exemplify these characteristics: Provide exceptional, efficient customer service and an outstanding experience for fair guests; knowledgeable staff with positive attitudes who are courteous, thoughtful and professional; an amazing visual presentation and positive image; present a premium quality product/service; and offer great value.

The America Wheel honoring America250 – The largest transportable Ferris wheel in the world, the America Wheel is 230 feet tall, has 45 gondolas and delivers panoramic views stretching up to 14 miles in every direction.
Big Dog Corndogs – Serves all-beef corndogs in a batter that is made locally.
Break a Plate – This popular game is owned and operated by Thornberry Concessions. It goes through more than 10,000 plates over the 12-day fair.
Cowboy Santa – Sells a wide selection of ornaments with free personalization and other décor and has been at the fair since 2016.
Faithful Contracting – A full restoration and building company, they provide services for garages, insulation, additions, new homes, pole barns and roofing.
iPierogi – Sells pierogi, kielbasa, cabbage rolls, blintzes and more.
Lady Bugs – This popular Kidway ride is owned and operated by Prime Pacific Entertainment.
Origami by Kannika – Sells jewelry inspired by Japanese art, design and craftsmanship, as well as handmade ornaments, cards, magnets and more.
Peachey’s Baking Company – Sells vanilla glazed donuts and became a favorite among fair guests four years ago when they debuted at the fair.
The Starship – This ride is particularly popular because of all the bright lights on it that light up the Mighty Midway at night.
The Straub Store – Sells backpacks, mugs, apparel and more, including best-selling items like the “Babe the Blue Ox: The Great Scavenger Hunt” book and the Babe plush toy.
Strawberries ‘N Creme and Loon Lake Iced Tea – Both of these booths are owned by Kelly Miller and John Gotz. The main staple of Strawberries ‘N Creme is the original fresh strawberry with non-dairy whipped cream parfait. Loon Lake Iced Tea serves the popular color-changing cotton candy iced tea, dill pickle iced tea, caramel apple iced tea among other beverages.

Grab Your Long-Awaited State Fair Recipe Book Today

For the first time since 1994, the Minnesota State Fair has published a recipe book! "50 Years of State Fair Recipes" contains 100 blue-ribbon-winning recipes from the Creative Activities and Bee & Honey competitions at the Minnesota State Fair from 1976 to 2025. The book also features text about the history of these competitions at the fair and endearing stories and memories from the recipe authors.

A limited number of copies have been printed and are available for purchase online through statefairwear.com.

Recipe books are $30 each (tax included), with all proceeds benefiting the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. Online price may differ depending on shipping. No discounts or coupons apply. Purchase limit of 10 books.

Congratulations to Competition Participants!

More than 38,000 entries were judged this year in one of the best State Fair traditions – competing for blue ribbons, bragging rights and nearly $2.5 million in prize money. Here is more information on the thousands who put their best to the blue ribbon test:

Creative Activities

4,423 entries in handcrafts, needlecrafts, collections, garment making and senior citizens categories
4,141 baked goods entries
1,399 preserved foods (canned, pickled, dried, etc.)

K-12 Competition

The work of talented Minnesota students in kindergarten through grade 12 was showcased in the Education Building. The ribbon winners were selected from:

2,753 entries in drawing, painting, sewing, jewelry, reports, creative writing and more, completed at home or at school
640 technology education entries, including architectural drawings, photography, welding, woodworking, CO2 cars, solar boats and more, completed at school

Fine Arts

The State Fair’s Fine Arts Exhibition featured the largest juried art show in Minnesota. Artists submitted 3,185 pieces to be considered, and 343 were accepted for this year’s exhibit. Of these, a record number of 121 pieces were sold with proceeds going to support Minnesota State Fair Foundation projects and programs focused on art at the fair.

The 2026 People’s Choice Award went to "The Lee A. Tregurtha (1942) Enters the Icy Duluth, Minn. Harbor" by Nathan Klok of Burnsville, Minn. (pictured). View the fine arts exhibition catalog here.

For competition results in Ag-Hort-Bee, Creative Activities and K-12 competitions, visit the Official MN State Fair App (click the hamburger menu button on the left side bar and scroll to results) or the competition pages on our website.

Ag-Hort-Bee

Showcased in the Agriculture Horticulture Building, sponsored by Old National Bank:

211 Christmas tree entries
1,636 entries in bee and honey divisions
203 farm crop entries
998 crop art and scarecrow entries
1,363 flower entries
400 fruit and amateur wine entries
635 vegetable entries

Livestock & Horse

Congratulations to this year’s Open Class Livestock Supreme Champions!

Open Class Supreme Champion Dairy Female: Jacob Timmer, Mat-Ar-Dor Holsteins, Ellsworth, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Dairy Junior Female: Roger Riebe, Meadow Ridge Jerseys, Cumberland, Wis.
Open Class Supreme Champion Beef Female: Max Fredrickson, Glenville, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Beef Bull: Cale Jensen, Jensen Angus Farm, Plainfield, Iowa
Open Class Supreme Champion Beef Cow/Calf: Avery Kohls, Kohls Land and Cattle, Hutchinson, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Boar: Mike Patterson, Country Girls Show Pigs, Kenyon, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Gilt: Brian Zimprich, Four Star Livestock, Milnor, N.D.
Open Class Supreme Champion Ram, Wool Breeds: Isaiah Bauck, New York Mills, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Ewe, Wool Breeds: Tatum Goetz, Everwood Farms, Shakopee, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Ram, Meat Breeds: Riley Donkers, Big Woods Babydolls, Faribault, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Ewe, Meat Breeds: Charles Bobendrier, Bobendrier Hampshires, Pipestone, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Dairy Goat Herd: Garrett Moorse, Moorse Goats, Minneota, Minn.

FFA Supreme Champion honors were also awarded:

Breeding Beef: Nate Crouch, Spring Grove FFA
Dairy: Alex Schroeder, New Ulm FFA
Breeding Sheep: Tatum Goetz, South West Metro FFA
Breeding Swine: Olivia Vorpagel, Southland FFA
Douglas K. Baldwin Award for FFA livestock show participation and leadership: Julia Patterson, KenyonWanamingo FFA

And finally, a big congrats goes to the champions of the Minnesota State Fair Horse Show!

Supreme Champion Stallion Draft Horse: Country Classic Clydesdales, Winthrop, Minn.
Supreme Champion Mare Draft Horse: Riverrun Percherons, Grygla, Minn.
Supreme Champion Gelding Draft Horse: JKA Belgians, Strawberry Point, Iowa
Draft Horse Supreme Six-Horse Hitch: Ames Percherons, Jordan, Minn.
Draft Horse Supreme Cart Classic Series: Heritage Hill Farm LLC, Albion, Minn.
Youth Cart Classic Series: Levi Schreiber driving for Schreiber Percherons, Plainview, Minn.
Signature Tandem Bareback Champion Team: Kendra Dietz and Michelle Reynolds, R Ranch Riders, Princeton, Minn.
Signature Mounted Costume: Annie Mickelson, Loretto, Minn.
Four-In-Line Barrels Champion Team: Pine Creek Saddle Club (Camella Whalen, Jack Whalen, Maverick Belanger and Major Belanger)

More Competition Results and Information

4-H Building Renovation Continues!

The State Fair has ended, and many of the doors around the grounds will close for the winter…but not at the 4-H Building! Directly after the fair, every item was removed from the building and construction crews got right to work inside the space. After decades of dreaming, the 4-H Building is finally preparing to come back better than ever with this once-in-a-lifetime transformation — and will be ready to welcome 4-H'ers at the 2027 Minnesota State Fair! Watch the video above to learn more about the unique events happening in the 4-H Building during the State Fair.

The community support has been strong as the fundraising campaign moves forward. As of Oct. 1, generous donors have committed over $24 million toward our $35 million goal. Learn more about the 4-H Building renovation and how you can be a part of it.

MSF Scholarships Awarded to 25 Outstanding Young Adults

The Minnesota State Fair established the Minnesota State Fair Scholarship program in 1994, annually awarding up to 22 scholarships of $1,000 each to recognize young adults from greater Minnesota or those enrolled in an agriculture program. Since its inception, more than $584,000 has been awarded. Three $2,000 scholarships were also given to students who are continuing training in a skilled trade career.

This year’s scholarships were funded by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and presented by members of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society board during a program in the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum during the fair and during the FFA Awards Ceremony.

Congratulations to these outstanding recipients.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Hosts Fan Mail for Farmers

As a part of the Minnesota Farm Suicide Prevention Campaign, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture hosted Fan Mail for Farmers during the 2026 State Fair. This initiative provided a simple way for fair guests to write a thank you note and remind farmers that their work is seen and appreciated. With the help of organizations representing Minnesota’s dairy, corn, soybean, wheat, beef, pork, turkey, dry bean, potato and sugar beet farmers, approximately 1,500 postcards were mailed to farmers across the state. From everyone at the Minnesota State Fair, thank you farmers for all you do!

Annual MSF Amateur Talent Contest Showcases Minnesota’s Best

In an evening of top talent and piano, vocal, dance, juggling and yo-yo performances, winners of the 53^rd Annual Amateur Talent Contest, sponsored by Chase, were crowned on the Grandstand stage Sept. 6.

Melina Solo-Cruz won the open division with a vocal performance of “No Good Deed,” taking home the $10,000 top prize. Danica Scofield won the teen division with her piano performance, “Grieg Piano Concerto in A Minor.” With a vocal performance of “Girl on Fire,” Charles Foster won the preteen division.

Held the last Sunday of the fair, the Amateur Talent Contest Finals is a free event in the Grandstand. Auditions for the 54^th MSF Amateur Talent Contest will be held next July.

Complete List of 2026 Amateur Talent Contest Winners

Congratulations to the 73^rd Princess Kay of the Milky Way!

Surrounded by 90-pound blocks of butter on Day 1 of the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, butter sculptor Gerry Kulzer began carving the likeness of Jena Hanson of Owatonna, Minn., representing Steele County, who was crowned the 73^rd Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Hanson will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for nearly 2,500 Minnesota dairy farm families this year. Throughout the fair, all Princess Kay finalists had their likenesses sculpted in butter in the rotating cooler in the Dairy Building and made appearances at the Moo Booth at the Cattle Barn and at other fair programs. Princess Kay candidates are judged on their knowledge of the dairy industry, communication skills and enthusiasm for dairy. The program is sponsored by Midwest Dairy.

Thank You Employees, Volunteers and Fundraising Groups!

Thank you to our dedicated team of State Fair employees - barn attendants; greenhouse assistants; IATSE employees; parking and park & ride attendants; police; ticket sellers and takers; workers in educational programs, entertainment, guest and information services, operations, public safety, sales, sanitation and transportation; and interns in competition, employment services, finance, the ticket office, marketing and more.

Fun fact: About 76 percent of our employees this year returned from last year - what an amazing retention rate!

In a long-standing tradition, summer and fair-time employees, nominated as State Fair MVPs by full-time staff and department superintendents for their exceptional work and commitment, were recognized at the Grandstand on Sept. 6. Congratulations to this awesome group (pictured).

Our many education experiences would not be possible without the help of thousands of volunteers. Many thanks to everyone who helped fair guests experience the activities or were presenters at Alphabet Forest, Christensen Farms Stage, CHS Miracle of Birth Center, The Common Table, The DIRT stage, EquiMania!^TM, Kemps Little Farm Hands, Math On-A-Stick and more.

And, of course, thank you to the fundraising groups who pitched in year-round and during the State Fair! Sports teams, community organizations, clubs, schools, churches and other groups provided much-needed help with barn clean-up, sanitation, parking lots and other tasks.

Thank you for making the 2026 Great Minnesota Get-Together the best!

Recognizing 50 Years of State Fair Participation

In a ceremony held Sept. 5 at the Luther Auto Bandshell, the Minnesota State Fair recognized individuals who have actively participated in the fair for at least 50 years. Recipients’ names were added to a permanent plaque located in the Administration Building. Congratulations to the 2026 recipients of the 50 Year Award for their commitment and continued involvement at the fair.

Sandra Anderberg, creative activities competitor
Pamela Botten, creative activities competitor
Gary Boutiette, admissions department
Leah Faiad, admissions department
Robert “Bubba” Jackson, sales department
John Jameson, concessionaire
Rosetta Jameson, concessionaire
Midwest Dairy, Dairy Goodness Bar, All You Can Drink Milk booth and Princess Kay sponsor
Laurel Olson, Hamline Dining Hall volunteer
Joan Rutten, finance department
Turkey To Go, concessionaire
Steven Smith, admissions department
Richard Werner, concessionaire
Nora Whiteman, concessionaire

Outstanding Year for Bus Ridership to the Fair!

Did you know that more than 60 percent of this year’s guests traveled to and from the fair on the bus? That's an increase from last year's ridership of 44 percent.

The free State Fair Park & Ride service, with free parking and free rides from 32 lots closer to the fairgrounds, provided an estimated 1.6 million one-way rides to and from the fair. That's an incredible 57 percent increase from 2025!

Our three Express Bus partners - Metro Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and SouthWest Transit, which provide free parking and rides to the fair for a small fee from farther-out suburbs, provided more than 610,000 one-way rides, and Metro Mobility provided approximately 1,700 rides - both increases over last year. Plus, thousands arrived via Metro Transit's regular route service each day.

Thank you to our transit partners for providing exceptional service to and from the fair each day.

Another fun fact: During the fair, 29,600 bikes were parked in the fair's free bike parking corrals!

Crop Art Exhibit Sprouts at MSP Airport

There is no doubt that the quintessentially Minnesotan pastime of creating art from seeds is growing in popularity. As a fun, exceptionally local way to welcome and send off travelers to and from our region, the Minnesota State Fair is partnering with the Arts@MSP program of the Airport Foundation MSP to showcase 31 selections from the 2025 Minnesota State Fair Crop Art Exhibition. The artwork is on display through January 2027 at MSP Terminal 1 in the eight pillars of the G Colonnade Gallery on the G Concourse.

Thank You, Sponsors!

Your support makes the Great Minnesota Get-Together truly GREAT!

AAA, sponsor of the Information Booths
Allina Health | Aetna, sponsor of the Cosgrove Stage
AmazeWorks, sponsor of Alphabet Forest
AT&T, sponsor of Charging Stations
Cal Spas, sponsor of Ramberg Center
Cargill, sponsor of the Little Farm Hands Tractor Shed & Tractor Repair Station
Chase, sponsor of the MSF Amateur Talent Contest
Cub, official grocer and sponsor of the Little Farm Hands Grocery Store
DragNFly Wireless, sponsor of the Wi-Fi Hotspots west of the Grandstand and in the Veranda
e.l.f Cosmetics, sponsor of the Skyride
Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, sponsor of the Food Building
Erie Home, sponsor of the Trolleys
Good Health Saunas, sponsor of The North Woods and North Woods Stage
Google, sponsor of the SkyGlider
Graza, sponsor of Eat Together
Green Mill Restaurant, sponsor of the Family Fair Stage at Baldwin Park
Human Touch, sponsor of the Deals, Drawings & Giveaways Guide
KaiBi Mobile Family Care Center
Kemps, title sponsor of Kemps Little Farm Hands and sponsor of the Kemps Little Farm Hands Dairy Barn
LeafFilter, sponsor of the Home Improvement Building
Luther Automotive Group, sponsor of the Luther Auto Bandshell
Mad City Windows, sponsor of The DIRT Demo Stage
Mall of America, Day Sponsor of Aug. 27
Mattress Firm, sponsor of the Official New Foods Announcement
Mazda, sponsor of the Nightly Fireworks Spectacular
Midwest Motorcycle Lawyers | Nicolet Law, sponsor of the Motorcycle Parking Lot
Minnesota Aging Pathways, Day Sponsor of Aug. 31
Minnesota Corn Growers Association, sponsor of the Little Farm Hands Grain Bin
Minnesota Historical Society Press, sponsor of Alphabet Forest
Minnesota Kids Rise, Day Sponsor of Sept. 2
Minnesota Lottery, sponsor of the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book
Minnesota Manufactured, Day Sponsor of Sept. 5
The Minnesota Star Tribune, sponsor of the official State Fair Maps
Mintahoe Catering & Events, sponsor of the Sponsor VIP Tent
Momentum Refresh, sponsor of the Accessibility Guide
Old National Bank, sponsor of the Agriculture Horticulture Building and FFA Awards Ceremony
Paddle North, sponsor of the Dairy Building
Pryes Brewing Company, sponsor of the Pryes Stage at Schilling Amphitheater at the West End
Sleep Number, sponsor of the Grandstand Exhibit Building & Concert Series
Starlink, sponsor of Online Gate Admission Tickets
State Farm, sponsor of the Selfie Spots
Summit Brewing Co., sponsor of the Summit Stage at the Bazaar
T-Mobile, sponsor of the Christensen Farms Stage
TGK Automotive, Day Sponsor of Sept. 4
Thrivent, Day Sponsor of Aug. 28-29
Treasure Island Resort & Casino, sponsor of The Garden and The Garden Stage
United Rentals, sponsor of the Sponsor VIP Tent
United Sugar Producers & Refiners, sponsor of Supreme Baker Award and Grand Cake Sweepstakes
Xcel Energy, sponsor of Eco Experience
Xfinity, sponsor of FAN Central

More Information About Sponsorships

Coming to the Fairgrounds

The Minnesota Beef Expo, supported and hosted by the Minnesota State Fair annually, will welcome nearly 5,000 participants and visitors to the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum on Oct. 15-18. This premier Midwest beef industry event has been bringing together beef producers, youth and industry leaders since 2000 for cattle shows, youth activities and more.

October

15-18: Minnesota Beef Expo at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum

16-17: Woodworkers Expo at the Progress Center

24: Booktoberfest for Grown-ups at the Grandstand

31-Nov. 1: Brick Cities Lego Convention at the North End Event Center

November

8: Girls on the Run Minnesota Fall 5K at the Fairgrounds

21-22: Horse Crazy Holiday Market at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum

December

5-10 (Saturdays and Sundays only): Minnesota Merry Market at the North End Event Center

January

9-10: Winter Antique Show at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum

15-17: 2027 Ironmaiden and Ironman Invitational at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum

For more information, see our State Fairgrounds Event Calendar.

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The Minnesota State Fair is financially self-supporting and does not receive government funding. Revenue from ticket sales, percentages and fees paid by vendors, facility rental, sponsorships and other sources brings the fair to life - powering memorable experiences, world-class year-round operations, and exceptional care of the historic fairgrounds.