Kickoff to Summer, Milk Run 5K, Fairgrounds Construction & More

Issue: 62 | January 23, 2024

More Food, More Fun!

Our popular Kickoff to Summer at the Fair event returns for its fourth year over Memorial Day Weekend! This slice-of-the-fair event features more food and fun things to do than ever before – but with the laid-back patio vibe we all love about Minnesota summers. Favorite fair food and brews at nearly 40 vendors, music and entertainment free with admission, shopping at 20+ specialty Minnesota merchants, Giant Slide rides, games, history tours, free parking, and so much more!

To make this event experience extra special, attendance for each day is limited.

Thursday, May 23: 4-9 p.m.

Friday, May 24: 4-9 p.m.

Saturday, May 25: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 26: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Complete event details and ticket information will be announced in early April. Save the dates!

Proudly Sponsored By

Don't Miss Out!

For the second year, the Minnesota State Fair Milk Run 5K will be held in conjunction with the Kickoff to Summer at the Fair event. Join the fun on Saturday, May 25, at 9 a.m., as this certified course takes runners throughout the entire fairgrounds, winding its way amongst the iconic buildings and attractions.

Interested? Don’t let this info go in one ear and out the udder! Mark your calendar - online registration for the 2024 Minnesota State Fair Milk Run opens Tuesday, March 5, at 10 a.m. This popular race is limited to the first 2,000 entrants, so early registration is recommended. Deadline for entry is Tuesday, March 26, or when the race reaches capacity, whichever comes first.

To get Milk Run reminders delivered to your inbox, sign up for our Milk Run email list.

Find more details, including the online registration link (once registration opens), on the Milk Run website page.

Proudly Sponsored By

Fair Plans $10.2 Million in Fairgrounds Improvements

Touching nearly every corner of the 322-acre State Fairgrounds, $10.2 million in capital and maintenance work is planned before guests arrive at the 2024 State Fair in August. The upgrades were approved by the State Fair’s board of managers during the 165th annual meeting of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society held Jan. 12-14.

The long to-do list includes:

New windows and doors in the Fine Arts Center
Upgrades to the Kidway lot
Construction of a new ticket office outside the Grandstand
Installation of new doors and additional fans in the Horse Barn
Upgrade to the fiber optic system
Safety and security investments
Tree care and landscaping
Purchase of additional bike racks
Installation of water bottle fill stations
Improvements to outdoor lighting
Addition of shade umbrellas to Dan Patch Park
East Grandstand elevator work
Miscellaneous paint, electrical, roofing, ventilation, sewer, street and sidewalk projects

All projects are funded through State Fair operating income and grants from the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. The fair is financially self-supporting and receives no government aid.

(Photo by Andy Berndt)

No Ticket Price Increase in 2024

In other business at the annual meeting, the fair board of managers voted to keep ticket prices at their 2023 levels. “The Great Minnesota Get-Together is proud to be an annual tradition for so many Minnesotans, partly because a day at the fair is such an incredible value,” State Fair CEO Renee Alexander explained. “In 2024, we are making it a priority to hold ticket prices the same while continuing to invest extensively in exceptional programming, guest experience enhancements, the historic fairgrounds and improvements to our operation.”

Pre-fair discount admission tickets are $15 and currently on sale. Regular fair-time prices: Adults 13-64 will be $18; kids 5-12 and seniors 65+ will be $16; children 4 and under are always admitted free. For a complete list of pricing and to purchase tickets, visit Minnesota State Fair Admission Tickets.

Fair Leaders Receive Society’s Highest Honors

The Minnesota State Agricultural Society’s highest honors are election to its Hall of Fame and to life membership in the Society. Retired CEO Jerry Hammer and retired board member Joe Fox are this year’s Hall of Fame honorees. Retiring board president Joe Scapanski is the newest life member.

The State Fair career of Jerry Hammer spanned 53 years including 27 as general manager. He was the longest-serving leader in the 169-year-old institution’s history. Starting in 1970 at the fair’s greenhouse as a 15-year-old, he joined the full-time staff in 1977 and served in a variety of positions in events, media, marketing, public relations and senior management before being named general manager in 1997. During his tenure, nearly $180 million was invested in capital and maintenance work. Notable projects include renovating the century-old Grandstand, rebuilding the International Bazaar, constructing a new Miracle of Birth Center, establishing the Transportation Hub and West End Market, redeveloping the north end and building the North End Event Center, constructing AgStar Arena, and making numerous improvements to the livestock area and countless infrastructure upgrades – all with no public funding. Much was accomplished through the State Fair’s bonding authority along with the Minnesota State Fair Foundation – both launched during Hammer’s first years as general manager.

Joe Fox, retired Minnesota State Fair board vice president, representing the Society’s fourth regional district, was elected to the Minnesota State Agricultural Society in 1997 and held his

position for 27 years. One of his most profound board contributions was his role in establishing the Minnesota State Fair Foundation in 2002. As a youth, Fox exhibited swine and dairy cattle at the county level, earning many trips to the State Fair. After serving 37 years as a faculty member, he retired in 1992 from University of Minnesota Extension as professor emeritus. His lifelong work in and around fairs includes serving as a 4-H agent in Hennepin and Ramsey counties, as district supervisor in east central and southeast Minnesota, and as judge of 4-H exhibits at eight different county fairs. He retired as a district director in 1992. Beginning in 1966, he has served continuously on the Ramsey County fair board, primarily as fair secretary and manager. Fox has also been active in several Maplewood community organizations for decades.

Retiring Board President Joe Scapanski of Sauk Rapids, Minn., was elected to honorary life membership in the Society. Scapanski served on the State Fair board of managers from 2010 to 2023 and was president in 2022 and 2023. He has farmed in Benton County since his youth. Besides farming, he has been a township supervisor for 30 years, a real estate broker for 35 years, and a member of the Central MN Arts board and the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs board. He received the 2014 International Association of Fairs and Expositions’ (IAFE) Heritage Award.

The Society also held board elections during its annual meeting, Jan. 12-14. Wally Wichmann of Balaton, Minn., was elected president of the Society. Steve Storck of Morris, Minn., was elected to a three-year term representing the Society’s seventh regional district vacated by Wichmann. Kent Harbison of Roseville, Minn., was elected to fill the remaining one-year term of the retiring Joe Fox’s two-year term as State Fair board vice president representing the Society’s fourth regional district. Sara Donaldson of Minneapolis was re-elected to a two-year term as State Fair board vice president representing the Society’s fifth regional district. Dan Grunhovd of Gary was re-elected to a three-year term representing the Society’s ninth district.

The Minnesota State Agricultural Society is made up of delegates from each of the state’s county fairs, plus representatives of more than 40 statewide associations involved in agriculture, horticulture and education. The Society is charged exclusively with the production of the annual Minnesota State Fair and management of the historic State Fairgrounds.

#1 Music Brand For Kids Launches 2024 Grandstand Concerts

Billboard Magazine’s “#1 Kid Artist” for more than a decade with 24 million albums sold and 11 billion (yes, with a “b”) streams – KIDZ BOP brings today’s biggest global pop hits “sung by kids for kids” to the Grandstand on Labor Day, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m.

The first show announced as part of the 2024 Grandstand Concert Series sponsored by Sleep Number will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26. Get ticket info at KIDZ BOP LIVE 2024.

Fun Fact: Only The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Barbra Streisand have had more Top 10 albums than KIDZ BOP!

The Fight to Get Back in the Show Ring

At the Minnesota Beef Expo in October 2022, Brenden Bryce was awarded a heifer as part of the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program (MYBEP). Each year, cattle producers from across the region generously donate heifers to help young cattle enthusiasts get their feet wet in the beef business. Each MYBEP winner is then responsible for raising, breeding and maintaining complete records on care of the animal, and providing monthly progress reports to the original owner and the Minnesota Beef Expo. These are excerpts from Brenden’s reports over the past year:

“I named my heifer Legacy after the Legacy Cattle Company in LeRoy, Minn., where she was from. Legacy is a Foundation Simmental and was donated by the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association.

“The next two months were great. I would do chores, brushing, walking and just spending time with her so she would get used to her new home. Legacy and I were getting along great. Towards the end of November, I started wrestling season (I am a varsity wrestler at 138 pounds for Alexandria Area High School), so it took a lot of planning and prioritizing to make sure I got schoolwork, wrestling and working with Legacy in each week. I was busy but got to spend time doing all my favorite things.

“On Jan. 9, 2023, my life changed drastically. I sustained a concussion during wrestling practice. At first my symptoms were typical – bad headache and dizziness. By the end of the week, I found myself in the emergency room and then a four-day stay at Sanford Hospital in Fargo. I had a traumatic brain injury that left me unable to walk, see correctly or read. I have been completing outpatient therapy at the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic at Hennepin County Medical Center. Each week we travel there two to three days for physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. I am currently in a wheelchair, learning to walk again, recognize print and read.

“My aunt got me an old wheelchair just for the barn. The first couple days I was home from the hospital, it was hard to be outside for a long time, so my parents and sister would walk Legacy up to the garage so I could pet and see her. I was not sure what she would think of me in a wheelchair, but as soon as she heard my voice, she came to me right away.

“My therapists asked what my wish for the summer was, and I stated that the most important thing to me is getting back to working cattle and being able to show again. At my next therapy session, my therapist showed up with a stick and makeshift halter; she was to be the “heifer” and I was to practice showing her! It was quite the sight! Since that time, part of my at-home therapy has been a specially designed plan I do in the barn with my heifer to work on improving my walking and getting her used to responding to my movements.

“At the end of June, I tried my first show with Legacy since my accident. I made it most of the way through the show with her, then my legs collapsed, and I needed help to finish the show. A couple of weeks later, I was able to show again and made it through the entire show with only one little accident. Even though these shows were not entirely smooth, I had a lot of support from people I knew and lots I had never met. The support pushed me to keep going.

“The MYBEP program started out as just a way to learn more about the beef industry, but turned into something else. When my accident happened, it was devastating. I was not sure if I would be able to recover soon enough to show again. I quickly found out that the beef and show industries are full of amazing, supportive people who just show up when it matters, even without asking them to. The amount of help that other people have done for my family and me has been huge.

“Then there is Legacy and my other cattle. They seemed to know that something wasn’t right, so they helped me get through every day. If I was ever having trouble with something, I would go sit outside with the cattle, and it would help me realize that it all will be fine. The experience has taught me so much about the beef industry, but also the character of the people in the beef industry; they are good, honest, kind people, the kind of people I want to be around and be associated with. The experience has really taught me how hard it is to receive help when you need it and how much easier it is to help someone else. I will be forever grateful for this experience and the people I have met throughout it.”

Brenden’s journey came full circle when he returned to the State Fairgrounds to show Legacy at the 2023 Minnesota Beef Expo last October.

The Minnesota Beef Expo, established in 2000 and held annually at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, is one of the premier beef industry events in the Midwest, welcoming nearly 5,000 participants and visitors each year.

Join Our Team!

Even though temperatures are still sub-freezing, we’ll start building our summer team next week. A variety of departments will be hiring summer employees and interns – many begin work in the spring or early summer and continue through September. For examples of summer positions, check out the employment page on our website. Plus, sign up to receive employment email updates. When details are available, we'll send you information on open opportunities and how and when to apply.

Beginning Jan. 29, visit the State Fair career portal for job postings. Available opportunities will be updated throughout the summer.

(Photo: Andy Berndt)

Group Fundraising Is Easy, Fun & Profitable at the Fairgrounds

The Minnesota State Fair offers a great way for sports teams, community organizations, clubs, schools, churches and other groups to team-build while raising funds. Companies looking to earn money to donate to a favorite nonprofit are also welcome.

We coordinate all the details – you just need to round up your volunteers and then show up for your shift! Available opportunities include working on fairgrounds clean-up teams, in the Coliseum, barns, Grandstand or with our Parking and Park & Ride services. No prior experience is needed - we provide training, equipment and supplies to do the work. Group members can work alongside friends or teammates and enjoy the fair before or after their shift. In return, groups earn money to put toward whatever they're fundraising for – equipment, uniforms, travel expenses, facility maintenance, and more.

If you’re part of a group of at least 10 who are age 16+, visit State Fair Fundraising Opportunities for more information.

Program Honors Multi-Generation 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. Each year, typically more than 100 farms are honored as Century Farms, bringing the total to more than 11,000 farms that have been recognized since the program began in 1976. Century Farm recipients receive an outdoor sign designating the farm as a “Century Farm” and a certificate signed by the governor of Minnesota and presidents of the Minnesota Farm Bureau and the Minnesota State Fair.

Applications for recognition in 2024 as a Century Farm are due March 4, 2024.

Farms celebrating 150 years or more of continuous ownership are invited to apply through the Minnesota Farm Bureau for Sesquicentennial Farm recognition. To date, more than 450 farms have been honored as such.

Upcoming Events at the Fairgrounds

Looking for snow?! The Vulcan Snow Park – featuring the Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition, Small-Block Snow Sculpting Contest, a snow maze and more – brings Snow Much Fun to the State Fairgrounds during the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Jan. 26 to Feb. 4. Located at the Kidway lot between Underwood and Cooper streets.

New to the State Fairgrounds! At The Sneaker Travelers Sneaker Convention, you’ll discover the latest trends, connect with fellow sneakerheads, and swap stories about your favorite kicks. From iconic classics to cutting-edge designs, you'll find an incredible variety of sneakers – plus trading cards, art, toys, video games, vintage merch and more – to admire and potentially add to your own collection. Located in the North End Event Center on March 2.

More Events

January

26-28: Legacy Luau Gymnastics Invitational

26-Feb. 4: Vulcan Snow Park and Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition

28: Saint Paul Winter Carnival Fire & Ice Run/Walk

February

Thru Feb. 4: Vulcan Snow Park and Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition

4: Cold Blooded Expos (Reptile Show)

10: North Star Roller Derby Season 18 – Bout 4

24: Winter Beer Dabbler

March

1-3: Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs