Minnesota State Fair
minnesota state fair state fair u state minnesota also known slogan great minnesota gettogether largest state fair united state average daily attendance secondlargest state fair united state total attendance trailing state fair texas generally run twice long minnesota state fair state fairground adjacent saint paul campus university minnesota falcon height minnesota midway state capital city saint paul adjacent city roseville near como park saint anthony park neighborhood saint paul resident state region come fair entertained exhibit best livestock show ability variety field including art cooking learn new product service eat many different type food—often stick minnesota state fair named best state fair united state reader usa today fair run twelve day late august early september ending labor day around two million people attend fair annually attendance record people highest daily attendance history fair visitor saturday september minnesota territory first held territorial fair although first minnesota state fair didnt occur year statehood early year th century fair held many different location far current site others held greater minnesota including year held rochester owatonna winona time twin city minneapolis st paul held competing fair minneapolis younger city pair eventually outdid neighbor staging larger fair help william king committee put together minnesota state agricultural society select permanent site one site considered area around minnehaha fall final site chosen ramsey county poor farm fair current site politically neutral site halfway minneapolis st paul fair first opened door september site acre ha stand acre ha fair ran six day eight day ten day day day long since one first annual event occur creation butter sculpture year new princess kay milky way selected promote minnesota dairy industry part job involves posing several hour walkin glasswalled refrigerator pound kg block butter carved head likeness butter maker started sculpting product fair far back although headsculpting tradition begin main entrance fair snelling avenue head onto road named dan patch avenue pacer horse every race ran retired spanish american war broke state requested provide volunteer minnesota quickly enough form four regiment initially numbered – gar veteran felt continue numbering civil war became th–th minnesota infantry regiment four mustered organized state fair ground camp ramsey machinery hill encampment site one significant date fair history september thenvice president theodore roosevelt visiting first uttered famous phrase speak softly carry big stick roosevelt became president day later william mckinley assassinated minnesota state fair site norseamerican centennial celebration appearance norseamerican centennial president calvin coolidge gave recognition contribution scandinavianamericans noted leif erikson discoverer america attendance well million people record day year visitor attendance neared million record day quartermillion people another record year fair overall attendance record set along alltime singleday attendance record second saturday since fair run annually except six different year fair held civil war dakota war scheduling issue fair world columbian exposition chicago illinois caused fair cancelled fair held fuel short supply due world war ii cancelled outbreak polio fair recently cancelled time due covid pandemic decision announced may fair manager jerry hammer previously stated fair would postponed scaledback event would either run unchanged cancelled decision cancel hammer stated time year thing really need take cant there time instead food parade featuring several wellknown state fair vendor held several date october make cancellation fair management hosted firstever spring event entitled kickoff summer featuring scaledback concession attraction also served test fair eventual return kickoff summer event returned positive reception large portion fairground occupied livestock barn various farm animal displayed animal owner take part livestock show compete award show take place lee rose warner coliseum large indoor arena fairground coliseum constructed replace hippodrome rendered structurally unsound use propeller plant ao smith corporation wwii razed completed use fair open class livestock competition held horse beef cattle dairy cattle swine sheep dairy goat llama poultry chicken duck goose turkey pigeon rabbit stock dog august bull escaped handler charging several fairgoers fatally injuring charging fire hydrant people seriously injured mishap food served annual minnesota state fair traditionally included watermelon pickle baked bean buffalo burger deepfried cheese curd cotton candy glazed ham australian battered potato chimichangas homemade apple pie food reflect minnesota agriculture including cheese curd milk shake corn dog many food fair deepfried come stick classic corn dog alligatoronastick lobsteronastick deepfried candy bar stick new fair hotdish stick variant classic staple minnesotan cuisine one new food spaghetti stick new food included two type bacon one called pig lickers chocolate covered called big fat bacon pound kg mapleglazed bacon another staple state fair “sweet martha’s cookies” stand serf fresh warm chocolate chip cooky bucket new food introduced minnesota state fair including firecracker shrimp stuffed avocado honey cream soda float mangonada shaved ice messy giuseppe nordic waffle smoked soft serve ice cream upnorth puff pastry new food included fried taco stick stuffed cabbage roll feta bite shrimp grit fritter blueberry key lime pie buffalo chicken chimichanga assorted dessert selection machinery hill large area fairground several decade held largest annual display farm equipment world many company showing tractor combine various attachment however modern display generally focus car truck lawn mower hot tub recreational machine like motorbike farm implement dealer tend direct effort targeted farm show abandoning state fair urban suburban type exhibitor machinery hill also contains interactive exhibit kid called little farm hand exhibit child get experience life farm planting seed selling good farmer market machinery hill gradually rebranded north end new main entrance gate created addition new north end event center host traveling event exposition inaugural event angry bird universe exhibition state fair host concert comedy show product demonstration state fair talent contest show grandstand large outdoor concert venue also feature three floor interior exhibition space host largest fair concert also site stock car race run small oval track facility completed first phase million remodeling project removed large section bleacher increased seating capacity local television radio station set temporary studio state fair permanent building booth fair began holding walker art center internet cat video festival grandstand fairgoers watch year popular cat video meme award best video cat trophy prized golden kitty guest appearance included grumpy cat lil bub two internet star well creator nyan cat christopher torres fair display annual art exhibition result juried competition work fine art medium include watercolor oil acrylic painting photograph sculpture pastel ceramic glass textile entrant must living resident state total piece submitted work accepted one unusual display fair consists entrant crop art competition artwork must made plant matter seed stem flower fruit etc suitable growing minnesota decade display dominated owatonna native lillian colton – created seed portrait professionally effectively captured score celebrity ernest hemingway barbra streisand franklin roosevelt prince princess diana willie nelson crop art winning nine purple ribbon stopped competing continued displaying work fair competition dozen category needlecraft garmentmaking woodworking model painting dollmaking taxidermy stampcollecting scrapbooking baking canning others annual km run begin fairground wind way saint paul campus university minnesota saint anthony park neighborhood end back fairground h significant presence fair h building animal barn arena contest include herdsmanship horse showmanship judging team public presentation county club exhibit popular llama alpaca costume contest livestock display include beef dairy cattle dairy market goat poultry chicken duck goose turkey pigeon rabbit domestic sheep swine half h project entered animal science project h building opened dedicated state fairgoers visit every year nonlivestock project include photography performing art craft food nutrition clothing textile recent year progress center housing eco experience exhibit feature activity exhibit including design construction ecofriendly house rain garden exhibit addressing climate change energy conservation renewable energy biodiesel fuel vehicle organic farming exhibit received award western fair association international associate fair exposition minnesota environmental initiative austin mcfadden michigan entrepreneur approached fair building first roller coaster fair ground turned next year back offered throw merrygoround get fair board approval price mcfadden got ton wood steel decorated hand carved horse chariot organ philadelphia toboggan company carousel became state fair institution minnesota thought belonged fair ground sign indicating ownership public installed public land without disclosure fair board refused extend carousel lease public learned owner dismantled carousel sent auction new york price wanted million idea state fair carousel would lost minnesota prompted public effort save fair ground today remains intact como park close named largest contributor remaining minnesota gerard cafesjian musical venue include grandstand capacity free entertainment venue several ride permanent fixture fair including giant slide fairgoers ride large fiberglass slide burlap sack skyride aerial lift ride carry fairgoers across ground gondola space tower gyro tower rotates lift people foot air giving view minneapolisst paul area also haunted house around since located judson ave fair oldest existing ride ye old mill opened located near food building tunnel lovestyle ride age midway carnivallike setting contains ride state fair attraction include several funhouses roller coaster thrill ride well numerous game skill located across street midway part kidway carnival area fairground geared toward child kidway located dan patch wright avenue north end fairground minnesota state fair state governmentrelated entity operated minnesota state agricultural society management fair handled board manager state fair accepted governmental fund since revenue fair reinvested maintenance next year fair minnesota state fair foundation organization work improve preserve historic state fair building foundation c organization also support state fair agricultural scientific educational program foundation provided funding new miracle birth center fair employ fulltime staff member entire year summer seasonal staff hired fair time around temporary employee hired state fair area policed minnesota state fair police department chief police paul paulos appointed replaced art blakely chief year authority given section minnesota statute police officer dismissed required reapply position requiring college degree number longerserving officer prompting lawsuit state fair ground age discrimination since ramsey county sheriff office patrol security fair j v bailey house cosgrove street one oldest building fairground built restoration completed connected greenhouse occupied yearround greenhouse superintendent state fair foundation operates residence fair mascot two anthropomorphized gopher choice gopher mascot homage university minnesota mascot also gopher historical reference expansion railroad minnesota town popping across state like gopher reason minnesota sometimes referred gopher state fairchild original mascot suggested statewide contest gladys anderson brown honor henry fairchild advocated using former ramsey county poor farm permanent site fair dressed like early barker midway straw hat striped jacket fairchild represented fair since joined promotional material nephew fairborne fairground host several event throughout year event include horse show lee rose warner coliseum horse barn minnesota horse expo minnesota beef expo gymnastics meet sporting event dog show antique hotrod car show motorcycle show model railroad show clothing jewelry show gun weapon collector show comic book convention flea market swap meet building ground frequently rented commercial event appliance sale computer electronics sale boat car sale earlier summer fairground road used host annual series bike race week called state fair affair criterium series many building fair ground rented winter storage boat camping trailer similar equipment minnesota state fair official site minnesota state fair foundation minnesota state fair origin tradition mnopedia minnesota 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