Aug. 21 – Labor Day, Sept. 1, 2025
243 Days 0 Hours 41 Mins
The Century Farm recognition program, sponsored by the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau, recognizes farms that have been in continuous ownership by a family for 100 years or more. Since the program began in 1976, more than 11,000 Minnesota farms have been recognized. Each year, 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. Check out a list of 2024 Century Farms.
Have a farm celebrating 150 years or more of continuous ownership and operation? Applications for Sesquicentennial Farm recognition are available from Minnesota Farm Bureau. For additional information or questions about the Sesquicentennial Farm recognition program, contact Pam Debele at pam.debele@fbmn.org
Applications are due March 3, 2025, and can be found here.
The state level Outstanding Senior Citizens Award and recognition program held during the State Fair was discontinued in 2022. We have loved honoring these deserving individuals nominated by their county fairs, but over the years, participation statewide has declined. County coordinators are encouraged to continue the recognition program at the county level, and the State Fair will continue to provide up to two honorees from each county with a Minnesota State Fair Outstanding Senior Citizen pin and two free tickets to the State Fair. Please send an email to outstandingsr@mnstatefair.org with the names and mailing addresses of your two nominees by Aug. 1, 2024.
The 50 Year Award is presented annually to individuals who have actively participated in the Minnesota State Fair for 50 years as an employee, exhibitor, vendor and/or volunteer. Recipients will be honored in a special award ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m., at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell. Their names are also added to a permanent plaque located in the State Fair’s Administration Building. For more information, contact fiftyyearaward@mnstatefair.org.
Applications for the 2024 50 Year Award are now closed.
The Minnesota State Fair is committed to showcasing our state’s finest agriculture, and we recognize the importance of cultivating youth experiences in the livestock industry. We also understand that exhibiting at the Minnesota State Fair can stretch the family budget. Thanks to support from the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, we are proud to provide the Minnesota State Fair Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience (BELLE) Grant! This grant program will gift $500 each to large-animal exhibitors and $250 each to small-animal exhibitors who commit to participating in the Minnesota State Fair for the first time. Up to fifteen grants will be awarded.
The Minnesota State Fair is also seeking peer-to-peer mentors to help guide BELLE participants. Each mentor will be paired with a grant recipient who exhibits the same species as the mentor. Mentors will be asked to meet with their mentee once in person or via video conference and be available throughout the summer to answer any questions that may arise. Mentors will receive two State Fair admission tickets and a certificate of participation.
Applications for the 2024 BELLE Grant program are now closed.
Learn more and access applications.
The Minnesota State Fair is invested in the educational endeavors of young adults from greater Minnesota. The Minnesota State Fair Scholarship was established in 1994 and awards up to 22 scholarships of $1,000 each for students entering any field of study and two scholarships of $2,000 for students of any age entering a skilled trade career or furthering their training. Since its inception, more than $600,000 has been awarded.
Applications for the 2024 Minnesota State Fair Scholarships are now closed.
Learn more and access application.
The Minnesota State Fair awards its most outstanding vendors with a “Best Award.”
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