Find out where and when to see Extension at the fair. Please check Extension's calendar for updates, as activities are subject to change.
4-H Building: 1412 Cosgrove St.
Minnesota 4-H and the Minnesota State Fair are working in partnership to reinvent the 4-H Building. Learn how to help create a space where leaders can grow. 4-H alumni volunteers will be in the front entrance to share opportunities.
Thousands of youth participate — sharing what they learned in 4-H throughout the year — taking on leadership roles and performing in shows.
Highlights below are just a sampling of the many 4-H Building activities. Keep up with 4-H at the State Fair, or use the free 4-H at the Minnesota State Fair app for event schedules, results and maps.
- Ongoing: 4-H Chef for a Day cook-off, 4-H Building.
- Ongoing: State Arts-In performances. Dates and times in the calendar at the link.
- Aug. 29, 6:30 p.m.: Share the Fun performing arts showcase, 4-H Building second floor. See Share the Fun for several additional dates.
- Aug. 30-Sept. 7: Project Talks. Hear 4-H'ers share the behind-the-scenes work of their state fair projects. What did they learn? What would they do differently?
- 2026 4-H Engineering Design Challenge: Marvelous Midway Edition. This exciting statewide event (see link for dates) invites youth to work in a team to design and build a Rube Goldberg™ type machine that completes a two-part fair-themed task.
Find 4-H results and photos after the fair.
4-H Barns, northwest corner of the fairgrounds
More than 2,500 youth exhibit livestock in the animal barns. See "Barns Area Map" on Minnesota State Fair maps web page.
Thursday-Saturday: Volunteers will share information and opportunities about the campaign to reinvent the 4-H Building, 4-H alumni booth outside of the cattle barn.
Thursday, Aug. 27 - Fair day 1 highlights
- 1 p.m.: Beef Cow/Calf Show, Compeer Arena
- 1 p.m.: Poultry Show, Judging Arena of Sheep and Poultry Building
- 7 p.m.: Lamb Lead Show, Christensen Pavillion (both arenas)
Friday, Aug. 28 - Fair day 2 highlights
- 8 a.m. Dairy and Meat Goat Shows, Compeer Arena
- 8:30 a.m.: Swine Show, Christensen Pavillion
- 10 a.m.: Minnesota Meats Contest - poultry, east side outdoors of Warner Coliseum
- 2 p.m.: Beef Championship, Warner Coliseum
- 4 p.m: Minnesota Meats Contest - beef, east side outdoors of Warner Coliseum
Saturday, Aug. 29 - Fair day 3 highlights
- 8 a.m. Rabbit Show, Judging Arena of Sheep and Poultry Building
- 9 a.m.: Dairy Show, Warner Coliseum
- 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Sheep Showmanship, Christensen Pavilion
- 3:30 p.m.: Minnesota Meats Contest - pork, east side outdoors of Warner Coliseum
- 6 p.m.: Purple Ribbon Livestock Auction, Compeer Arena
Sunday, Aug. 30 - Fair day 4 highlights
- 10:30 a.m.: Dairy Showcase. See dairy cattle shine their best for their exhibitors as dairy competitors are awarded prizes. [1, 2, 3]Compeer Arena
- Noon: All 4-H livestock released according to schedules
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.: Minnesota Master Naturalists, as well as Extension volunteers in forestry and wildlife, and Pollinator Ambassadors, 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 a polished Lake Superior agate if they answer correctly.
Eco Experience building
1615 Randall Ave
- Daily, noon-6 p.m.: Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) staff and partners will be at the Energy Information Center to connect visitors to affordable energy and innovative examples, including air source heat pumps and energy battery storage units. Staff can explain how these products function, as well as ways to save energy at home with an energy efficiency house display.
- Daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m. except for Sept. 7 Labor Day 9 a.m.-7 p.m: Tree Care Advisors take questions.
- Sept. 1, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.: StormWise Minnesota - Emergency Preparedness for All. Visit with University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership educators to learn about the most common emergencies in Minnesota. Leave with tips on preparing your household and community for the next emergency.
- Sept. 6, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.: Take Action to Prepare for a Changing Climate. Visit with University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership educators and learn what climate actions you can take to protect your health, home and community.
- Date TBD.: Gabi Bolwerk and Bailey Tangen, Extension educators, will be a part of the Dig It! soil health exhibit. She and others will have an interactive station, a rainfall simulator display and more.
Agriculture-Horticulture building
1271 Underwood St
- Daily, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.: Let’s Talk Plants! Get answers to your gardening questions from Master Gardeners volunteers. CFANS wing.
- Daily: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.: Turfgrass science and sustainable lawn care that works for you and the environment. CFANS wing.
- Sept. 1, 3-6 p.m.: Learn about scavengers at hunter-provided gut piles and Minnesota food webs with Extension's Offal Wildlife Watching project.
- Sept. 3, 3 p.m.: Gary Wyatt, Extension natural resources educator, will discuss Fruits and Nuts from the Woods or Back Yard. Learn how to gather foods and decoratives from Minnesota woodlands (know the laws). Fruit and nut producing plants can also be planted in your own yard. Wyatt covers hazelnuts, aronia berry – black chokeberry, juneberry, elderberry, honeyberry/haskap, dogwoods, willows and more. Dirt Stage.
- TBD, Addtional horticulture presentations, Dirt Stage.
WCCO booth
Corner of Carnes and Nelson
- Aug. 29, 8-9 a.m.: Julie Weisenhorn, retired Extension horticulture educator; and Jon Trappe, Extension turfgrass educator, will broadcast Smart Gardens live.
- Sept. 5, 8-9 a.m.: Mary Hockenberry Meyer, professor emeritus, will broadcast Smart Gardens live.
MPR stage and tpt
Near the corner of Judson and Nelson
- Aug. 28, 10 a.m..: Mark Seeley, Extension climatologist emeritus, will appear on tpt Almanac, broadcasting live from MPR stage.
- Sept. 4, 10-11 a.m.: At Dan Patch Park (across from the Grandstand and down the street from the MPR stage) Seeley will host the 30th Annual MPR State Fair Weather Quiz with Cathy Wurzer in front of a live audience, with prizes from the Bell Museum and Planetarium and the Freshwater Society.
U of M Crossroads Building
1673 Dan Patch Avenue
- Sept. 3, 10 a.m.: Gary Wyatt, Extension natural resources educator, will discuss Fruits and Nuts from the Woods or Back Yard. Learn how to gather foods and decoratives from Minnesota woodlands (know the laws). Fruit and nut producing plants can also be planted in your own yard. Wyatt covers hazelnuts, aronia berry – black chokeberry, juneberry, elderberry, honeyberry/haskap, dogwoods, willows and more.
U of M Driven to Discover Research Facility
1367 Cosgrove Street
- Aug. 28, 2:30-9 p.m.; Sept. 1: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sept. 3: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. : Extension is partnering with the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain to improve access to mental, emotional, developmental and behavioral health (MEDB) care for rural and military-connected families. Based out of the North Central Research and Outreach Center in Grand Rapids, a Telehealth Outreach Center serves as the hub for this work across the northeast region. Stop by and visit with team members, who will connect families to resources and educational opportunities.