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Aug. 22 – Labor Day, Sept. 2, 2024

37 Days 10 Hours 39 Mins

4-H

4-H Competitions

All information is subject to change.

The 4-H program offers programming throughout the 12 days of the Minnesota State Fair, serving more than 5,500 exhibitors and showcasing building exhibits, demonstrations, Share the Fun programs, County Arts In programs and other opportunities for youth participation.

4-H livestock departments include:

  • Beef and Dairy Cattle
  • Dairy and Meat Goats
  • Poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, doves, turkeys, pigeons)
  • Rabbits
  • Sheep
  • Swine
  • Llamas & Alpacas (show during the Open Class Llamas Show)

Other 4-H contests include Herdsmanship, Showmanship, Judging Teams, Public Presentations, Non-Livestock Exhibits and County Club exhibits. For more information about 4-H at the State Fair, please visit the University of Minnesota Extension website.

General Information and Rules For Entry

The 4-H premium book is available annually to view and print in early June. For more information, please contact your local 4-H leader, local extension educator or the state’s Center for 4-H Youth Development for further details.

State Fair 4-H Contacts:

Extension Center for Youth Development: 612-624-2116

Amber Greeley: runk0014@umn.edu

Overnight Livestock Parking

The reservation request system closed May 28, 2024, at midnight, and no more requests will be accepted. 

Click here for more info.

For further information, contact the competition department at competition@mnstatefair.org or call 651-288-4417.

Daily Auto Passes

Daily auto passes can be purchased through the online registration system. You must enter a 4-H class in order to view the parking passes. You can select any species when choosing a class. Just make your best guess as to what you will be bringing to the fair.

Daily auto passes will go on sale June 24 when the livestock and horse registration system opens.  Passes are sold by day on a first-come, first-serve basis and are limited to two per exhibitor.  Once we’ve reached capacity for the lots for each day of the fair, no additional passes will be sold.

This document provides step-by-step instructions for how to purchase a daily auto pass. For further information, please view our parking FAQ page or contact the competition department at competition@mnstatefair.orgor 651-288-4417.

Register Online and Purchase Daily Auto Pass

Minnesota State Fair Scholarship

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. Since its inception, more than $600,000 has been awarded. Two $2,000 scholarships will also be awarded students of any age entering a skilled trade career or furthering their training.

Applications are now open and due July 15, 2024. Find more information here.

Minnesota 4-H Dairy Showcase

The 15th annual Minnesota 4-H Dairy Showcase awarded more than $57,000 to 35 deserving youth in 2023.

Minnesota 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction

In 2023, the 44th Minnesota 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction raised more than $1,000,000 benefiting 4-H youth in the form of premiums and scholarships.

For more information on the 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction, please visit: mlbapurpleribbonauction.org