See U of M Extension at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu

Find out where and when to see Extension at the fair. Please check Extension's calendar before heading to an event. 

U of M Crossroads Building

1673 Dan Patch Avenue

• Aug. 24, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.: Want to take action on climate and be a leader in your community? Come learn how! The University of MInnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership will showcase the new Community Climate Leaders program. Learn about easy steps you can take to start making an impact on climate today. 
• Aug. 29, 11 a.m.: Gary Wyatt, Extension natural resources educator, will discuss natural foods and decoratives from the woods or backyard on the outdoor stage.
• Aug. 30, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. : Extension Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Detector volunteers will show common AIS and answer questions about how you can protect Minnesota waters.

U of M Driven to Discover Research Facility

1367 Cosgrove Street 

• Aug.  23, 2:30-9 p.m., and Aug. 28 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Trish Olson, Mary Jo Katras, Silvia Alarez de Davila, Gabriela Burk and Elizabeth Johnson of Extension's Family, Health and Wellbeing department, along with the Medical School, Family Medicine & Community Health, will share "Unmasking COVID: To vaccines and beyond!" and survey fairgoers 18+ to learn about their perspectives on vaccines and their safety. 10K Families booth. 

4-H building and barns

4-H building: 1412 Cosgrove St. Barns are in the northwest corner of the fairgrounds.

Keep up with 4-H at the State Fair, or use the free 4-H at the Minnesota State Fair app for event schedules, State Arts-In performance times, results, announcements and maps. The first weekend of the fair is livestock encampment. Highlights below are just a sampling of the many 4-H activities.

• Ongoing: Thousands of youth participate, showing exhibits, performing in shows and showing livestock. These activities feature the knowledge and skills 4-H'ers have acquired throughout the year. More than 2,500 youth exhibit livestock in the animal barns. 
• Ongoing: Exciting scientific activities to try in the 4-H building include virtual reality and engineering challenges.
• Ongoing: 4-H Chef for a Day cookoff, 4-H building, see list for county-specific times
• Ongoing: State Arts-In performances. Dates and times in the calendar at the link.
• Aug. 22, 8 a.m.: Rabbit judging contest, Compeer Judging Arena.
• Aug. 23, 2 p.m.: Rabbit quiz bowl, 4-H building.

• Aug. 23, 2 p.m.: 4-H beef championship, Warner Coliseum.
• Aug. 23, 1 p.m.: Poultry judging contest, Poultry Barn judging ring.
• Aug. 24, 8:30 a.m.: Chicken BBQ contest, outside northeast corner of Warner Coliseum.
• Aug. 24, 6 p.m.: Purple Ribbon livestock auction, Compeer Arena.
• Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m.: Share the Fun performing arts showcase, 4-H building second floor. See Share the Fun for several additional dates.
• Aug. 25, 10:30 a.m.: Dairy showcase, Compeer Arena.
• Aug. 26, 4 p.m.: Fashion revue, 4-H building
• Aug. 28, 6 p.m.: Llama and alpaca costume contest, Warner Coliseum.

Watch the 4-H live cam

Watch 4-H events, like livestock judging, on the fair's live-streaming camera (the link will become active when the fair begins). Choose "4-H Building Harkness Stage" to watch performing arts shows.

DNR building

Corner of Carnes and Nelson

Daily, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.: Volunteer Minnesota Master Naturalists, Aquatic Invasive Species Detectors, as well as Extension volunteers in forestry and the Offal Wildlife Watching team will be outside the DNR building on the southwest side, near the fish pond. Fairgoers can play a trivia game to receive a collectible card for playing and polished Lake Superior agate if they answer correctly. 

Eco Experience building

1615 Randall Ave

• Daily: Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) staff and partners will be at the Energy Information Center to display energy-efficient home appliances including heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, heat pump clothes dryers, energy-efficient windows and electric panels. Staff can discuss how they function, as well as ways to pay for them, including eligible rebates and tax credits. 
• Aug. 28, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.: Visit the Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlas table to learn about the atlas, data collected and how you can participate to support bumble bees. 
• Aug. 29, 2 p.m.: Gary Wyatt, Extension natural resources educator, will discuss natural foods and decoratives from the woods or backyard on the food stage.
• Sept. 1, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.: Visit Extension's volunteer Aquatic Invasive Species Detectors to see examples, learn how you can prevent the spread and be part of detection efforts.

Agriculture-Horticulture building

1271 Underwood St

• Daily: Let’s Talk Plants! Get answers to your gardening questions from Master Gardeners volunteers. CFANS wing.
• Aug. 25, 4-5 p.m.: Elise Bernstein and Stephen Tolentino will talk about why pollinators are important, how diverse their populations are and what can be done to support them. Dirt Stage.
• Aug. 27, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Nikki Crowe, Extension family resiliency educator for  American Indian communities, will be answering questions at the booth for the Emerging Farmers Office, part of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
• Aug. 28, 1 p.m.: The Honey Bees program team's Gary Reuter, Extension entomologist, will wear a 10,000-bee "bee beard." Bees and Honey exhibit.
• Aug. 29, 4 p.m.: Gary Wyatt, Extension natural resources educator, will discuss natural foods and decoratives from the woods or backyard. Dirt Stage.

WCCO booth

Corner of Carnes and Nelson

• Aug. 24, 8-9 a.m.: Julie Weisenhorn, Extension horticulture educator, and Jon Trappe, Extension turfgrass educator, will broadcast Smart Gardens live.
• Aug. 31, 8-9 a.m.: Mary Hockenberry Meyer, Extension horticulture specialist emeritus, will broadcast Smart Gardens live.

MPR stage and tpt

Near the corner of Judson and Nelson

• Aug. 23, 11 a.m.: Mark Seeley, Extension climatologist emeritus, will appear on tpt Almanac live from the Fair. 
• Aug. 26, 10 a.m.: Ben Winchester will appear for a live recording of the Rural Voice project with Tim Penny and Kerri Miller. Must register to attend live https://ruralvoice.org/. 
• Aug. 28, noon -1 p.m.: Seeley will host the 28th Annual MPR State Fair Weather Quiz with Cathy Wurzer in front of a live audience, with prizes. The program will be recorded, then broadcast on Minnesota Now,  noon-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29.