Issue: 70 | June 9, 2026

Long-Awaited State Fair Recipe Book Now on Sale    

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 sale at the fairgrounds and online.

Buy in-person at the State Fairgrounds (cash or credit) June 8-13, at the J.V. Bailey House, 1263 Cosgrove St., the yellow house south of the Space Tower and home to the Minnesota State Fair Foundation (enter the main gate on Snelling Ave., take your first left onto Cosgrove Street in front of O’Gara’s, go past the Bandshell and you’ll see the yellow house on your left across from the Space Tower):

• Tuesday, June 9: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 10: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, June 11: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday, June 12: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 13: 9 a.m. to noon

Books will also be available for purchase online through statefairwear.com after June 14.

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.

Books will also be sold at State Fairwear gift shops during the State Fair while supplies last.

2026 Arts A’Fair Performers Announced! 

Each year, through its Arts A'Fair program, the Minnesota State Fair showcases the best of the vibrant performing arts community throughout the state of Minnesota. Local community groups are selected to present short pop-up showcases in select locations on the fairgrounds to highlight our state’s varied and vibrant performing arts community. 

We’re excited to welcome this year’s performers: 

• Ballet Co.Laboratory
• Black Storytellers Alliance
• BLACKOUT
• CAAM Chinese Dance Theater
• Collide Theatrical Dance Company 
• Colombia Live
• Eureka Aerial 
• Jawaahir Dance Company 
• Mexica Yolotl
• Minnesota Ballet Collective
• POWER: Drag Revue 
• Ragamala Training Center Student Ensemble
• Rhythmically Speaking Dance Company
• South Asian Arts & Theater House
• Street Sweeper Cirkus
• The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company 
• Twin Cities Trapeze
• Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre 

Visit the Arts A’Fair webpage for a schedule and to learn more.

4-H Building Renovation Underway!    

The Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota 4-H have partnered to begin a major renovation of the iconic three-story 4-H Building at the State Fairgrounds and an expansion of the statewide 4-H program. This landmark project is the largest of its kind for both the State Fair and University of Minnesota Extension. 

The 85-year-old, 100,000-square-foot 4-H Building has been a cherished space and launching pad for generations of Minnesota youth from all 87 counties since it opened in 1939. That tradition continues with the nearly 5,000 Minnesota 4-H youth who earn trips to showcase their projects at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds each year. The building’s dormitories provide lodging for up to 700 4-H’ers a night during the State Fair, and a cafeteria serves thousands of healthy meals daily to 4-H’ers during the fair and other events. The first floor is open to fair guests during the 12 days of the State Fair to see project displays, demonstrations and live musical performances.

Exterior work is currently underway, including the installation of new windows and a new coat of paint (shown above), with the majority of building renovations beginning immediately after this year’s fair. The updates will be completed in time for the 2027 State Fair. 

Learn more about the 4-H Building renovation and how you can be a part of it here. 

Connecting Youth, Farms and Food Through Urban Ag Day    

The Minnesota State Fair, Minnesota FFA and local agriculture commodity groups welcomed more than 1,400 Minneapolis and Saint Paul third-graders to connect food back to farms during Urban Ag Day 2026. This field trip to the State Fairgrounds teaches 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, 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)

Special thanks to our 2026 Urban Ag Day partners:

AgCentric; Ag Country Farm Credit Services; Blue Earth FFA; CHS; Culver’s; Como Park FFA; Dassel-Cokato FFA & FFA Alumni; Forest Lake FFA; Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA; Hancock FFA; Highland Park FFA; Lake City FFA; Land O’Lakes; Melrose FFA; Midwest Dairy Association; Minnesota Ag in the Classroom; Minnesota Beef Council; Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture; Minnesota Soybean: Minnesota State Fair Foundation; Minnesota State Southern Agriculture Center of Excellence Superior; Minnesota Turkey Growers Association; Morris Area FFA; Nordberg McDonald Fund of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation 4-H; Rockford FFA; School of Environmental Studies in partnership with the Minnesota Zoo; Sleepy Eye FFA; 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; Westmor, Minnesota Soybean; 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 the Mighty Midway and Kidway 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 when you're 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 12 (while supplies last).
• Come to the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office beginning July 13.

After purchasing tickets on a Fun Card, 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 Mighty Midway and Kidway with the purchase of a Blue Ribbon Bargain Book! 

BELLE Grant Recipients Announced!     

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 2026 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 2026. 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.

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

• Hazel Aubart – Milaca, Minn. (Sheep)
• Willow Bartlet – Owatonna, Minn. (Sheep)
• Lily Beissel – Hampton, Minn. (Beef Cattle)
• Kathleen Bendickson – Pennock, Minn. (Sheep)
• William Deyle – Browerville, Minn. (Dairy Cattle)
• Madelyn Donnelly – Hastings, Minn. (Sheep)
• Axel Gruber – Glencoe, Minn. (Llamas)
• Hannah Hanks – Northome, Minn. (Sheep)
• Briceyn Kurth – Cosmos, Minn. (Dairy Cattle)
• Jacob Lutgen – Avon, Minn. (Dairy Cattle)
• Brooks Marthaler – Hastings, Minn. (Beef Cattle)
• Mary McAndrews – Sauk Centre, Minn. (Dairy Cattle)
• Cale Pease – Chatfield, Minn. (Poultry)
• Mason Quam – Kenyon, Minn. (Dairy Cattle)
• Abby Wingert – Dover, Minn. (Poultry)

Learn more about the BELLE Grant on our website.

(Pictured above: 2025 BELLE Grant recipients.)

Join the Minnesota State Fair Summer Team!      

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

• Background Check Assistant 
• Recruiting Intern

To view job descriptions for these positions, please visit our career portal.

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 will open on June 22, and at that time you can visit in person to inquire about fairtime positions. 

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.

Show Off Your Talents During Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Auditions!       

The ever-popular Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest, sponsored by Chase, 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 Monday, July 27 through Sunday, Aug. 2. If selected, semifinalists will perform at the Luther Auto Bandshell during the fair. Then, finalists will compete at the Grandstand on Sept. 6 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 29. Everyone who auditions receives a commemorative Amateur Talent Contest T-shirt.

If your talent is being part of a supportive audience, stop by the Luther Auto 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!

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

Buy Now and Save!

2026 fair admission tickets are on sale now at the pre-fair discount price of just $17! 



• 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 12 (while supplies last).
• Come to the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office beginning July 13.

Outstanding Young Adults to be Recognized with Minnesota State Fair Scholarships

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 2025-26; these scholarships are available for students entering any field of study. Two $2,000 scholarships will also be awarded to a person 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.

Register today for Minnesota State Fair Competitions! 

We have a competition for almost everything and everybody! Entering is free, and online registration is open now. 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. 

• 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; Computer Graphics; Photography; Welding; Robotics; CO2 Cars; Supermileage 

Coming to the Fairgrounds

MSRA Back to the 50's Car Show: The 52nd 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 June 19-21!

Other Upcoming Events

June

• 8-14: Region 10 AHA Championship Show in Warner Coliseum 
• 11: Run More, Judge Less 5K & 1 Mile at the State Fairgrounds 
• 12-13: Viking Motorcycle Show in Progress Center
• 13-14: Minnesota Autosports Club Autocross MOWOG Series at the West Blue Lot
• 14: North Star Flea Market at the State Fairgrounds
• 19-21: MSRA Back to the 50's Car Show at the State Fairgrounds
• 24-27: Tanbark Cavalcade of Roses Horse Show in Warner Coliseum
• 26-28: International Gem & Jewelry Show in Progress Center 
• 27: Minnesota Antiquarian Book Fair in North End Event Center
• 27-28: Minnesota Autosports Club Autocross MOWOG Series at the West Blue Lot

July

• 7-11: World Percheron Congress 2026 in Warner Coliseum
• 11: Inbound BrewCo Book Fair for Grown Ups in Education Building 
• 17-19: Street Machine Nationals at the State Fairgrounds

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!

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.