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State fair offers a lot

Slideshow: Great Minnesota Get-Together runs through Labor Day.

Kevin Schulz, Editor

August 28, 2024

20 Slides
 A crowd of people walking through the Minnesota State Fair entrance
WELCOME ONE AND ALL: The Minnesota State Fair is always a big draw, and Day 1 of the 2024 fair didn’t disappoint. Photos by Kevin Schulz

Almost everything Minnesota has to offer can be found at the state fair.

Most people come to the fair for the food, feasting on everything from chocolate chip cookies by the bucket to corn dogs to deep-fat-fried whatever. The-12-day run that ends on Labor Day is truly a glutton’s paradise.

But there’s so much more than mere delicacies to gorge yourself on; there are also barns full of animals of all sizes and shapes as more than 8,000 livestock competitors exhibiting more than 20,000 animals shooting for the grand prize, which may come with big prize money. FFA and 4-H members, along with open class showmen with bring their best livestock to get bragging rights and high honors.

Livestock are not the only projects that all ages will be exhibiting, as attendees will be able to browse through buildings of 4-H and open class exhibits from needlepoint to seed art to award-worthy vegetables and flowers. Be sure to check out all of Minnesota’s finest.

Along with all that is a dose of state history, as the state fair predates the state itself with the first territorial held in 1854, four years before it became the 32nd state admitted to the Union.

With anything that endures since the mid-19th century, history is bound to be made somewhere along the way. The Great Minnesota Get-Together, as it has been labeled, has had its share of firsts in its history. In 1901, U.S. Vice President Teddy Roosevelt delivered his “Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick” speech; five years later, pacer horse Dan Patch set the world harness racing record in the grandstand, and in 1910 the first Minnesota airplane flight took place.

In 1927, the American March King, as John Philip Sousa was monikered, composed and performed “Minnesota March,” as it was dedicated to University of Minnesota faculty and students.

Will history be made at the 2024 edition of the state fair? Time will tell, but it definitely will make memories for attendees. If you can’t make it to the fair this year, take a walk through this slideshow from Day 1.

About the Author

Kevin Schulz

Editor, The Farmer

Kevin Schulz joined The Farmer as editor in January of 2023, after spending two years as senior staff writer for Dakota Farmer and Nebraska Farmer magazines. Prior to joining these two magazines, he spent six years in a similar capacity with National Hog Farmer. Prior to joining National Hog Farmer, Schulz spent a long career as the editor of The Land magazine, an agricultural-rural life publication based in Mankato, Minn.

During his tenure at The Land, the publication grew from covering 55 Minnesota counties to encompassing the entire state, as well as 30 counties in northern Iowa. Covering all facets of Minnesota and Iowa agriculture, Schulz was able to stay close to his roots as a southern Minnesota farm boy raised on a corn, soybean and hog finishing farm.

One particular area where he stayed close to his roots is working with the FFA organization.

Covering the FFA programs stayed near and dear to his heart, and he has been recognized for such coverage over the years. He has received the Minnesota FFA Communicator of the Year award, was honored with the Minnesota Honorary FFA Degree in 2014 and inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame in 2018.

Schulz attended South Dakota State University, majoring in agricultural journalism. He was also a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and now belongs to its alumni organization.

His family continues to live on a southern Minnesota farm near where he grew up. He and his wife, Carol, have raised two daughters: Kristi, a 2014 University of Minnesota graduate who is married to Eric Van Otterloo and teaches at Mankato (Minn.) East High School, and Haley, a 2018 graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is married to John Peake and teaches in Hayward, Wis. 

When not covering the agriculture industry on behalf of The Farmer's readers, Schulz enjoys spending time traveling with family, making it a quest to reach all 50 states — 47 so far — and three countries. He also enjoys reading, music, photography, playing basketball, and enjoying nature and campfires with friends and family.

[email protected]

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