Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*
Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol
Already have an account?
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?

State Fair

The 2024 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 22 to Sept. 2. For all of the events at the MPR booth and Dan Patch Park, go to mpr.org/statefair.

At State Fair, Walz, Jensen try to make campaigns stick

At State Fair, Walz, Jensen try to make campaigns stick

With a little more than two months left before Election Day, the frontrunners in the race for Minnesota governor took different tacks to making their presence known at the annual end-of-summer event.
by Dana Ferguson

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: What happens to all the money at the State Fair?

Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: What happens to all the money at the State Fair?

There’s a lot of money at the fair. Beyond the cash and cards used by visitors, vendors have to pay for their business spaces. In this edition of Infrequently Asked Questions, MPR News Reporter Tim Nelson traces the fair-wide money flow.
by Tom Crann and Tim Nelson

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

A year's worth of work takes center stage at state fair's high school FFA competitions

A year's worth of work takes center stage at state fair's high school FFA competitions

Nearly 1,000 high school students have moved into the barracks at the State Fairgrounds for the big weekend of Future Farmers of America competitions. Cathy Wurzer talked with T.J. Brown, FFA superintendent, about the changing FFA and what all those young people are up to this last weekend of the fair.
by Melissa Townsend and Cathy Wurzer

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: Where do the 4-H kids sleep?

Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: Where do the 4-H kids sleep?

Most people associate 4-H kids at the Minnesota State Fair with animals. When you go to the fair, you see these hard-working farm kids prodding pigs, shearing sheep and cozying up with cows — all in hopes of earning a ribbon. The animals stay in the barns. But where do the kids that brought them go at night?

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Appetites live at the state fair with Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

Appetites live at the state fair with Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

On the last Appetites, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl made some predictions about which new state fair foods will get the glory. She returns to see how they held up and fields questions from fairgoers in a special live broadcast from the fairgrounds with MPR News host Tom Crann.
by Tom Crann and Megan Burks

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: What happens to all the manure at the Minnesota State Fair?

Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: What happens to all the manure at the Minnesota State Fair?

Hundreds of farm animals are shown every year at the Minnesota State Fair — and where you find farm animals, you know you’re going to find something else. Manure. Lots and lots of manure. Where does it all go?
by Tim Nelson and Tom Crann

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

How to manage the MN State Fair if you are sensitive to over-stimulation

How to manage the MN State Fair if you are sensitive to over-stimulation

Jillian Nelson, Community Resource and Policy Advocate with the Autism Society of Minnesota, talks with Cathy Wurzer about strategies to find places of calm at the fair, particularly for those who are neurodivergent.
by Cathy Wurzer and Britt Aamodt

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

The tight competition for this year's State Fair top baker award

The tight competition for this year's State Fair top baker award

The best bakers of Minnesota submitted their breads, cakes, cookies and pies and this year there was a tie for Supreme Baker — or so they thought. Chad O'Leary and Kimberly Maize both were named the Supreme Bakers for this year. But then in a twist, competition organizers realized they made a mistake. Cathy Wurzer talks with runner-up Chad O’Leary.
by Cathy Wurzer, Ellen Finn and Melissa Townsend

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.