The 2024 Minnesota State Fair opened yesterday and will continue through Labor Day – September 2nd. The Great Minnesota Get-Together opens at 7 o’clock each morning and is open until 11 p.m., except for Labor Day when it will close at 9 p.m.
State Fair spokesperson Maria Hayden says there are lots of new things to see at the Minnesota State Fair this year, including a cat and dog exhibit at the North End Event Center which will help you learn about your pet’s mind and behavior. She says there’s also a new State Fair app this year.
Hayden says there are lots of new foods and drinks to try at the State Fair this year including deep fried ranch dressing. She says there is a wide range of talented acts performing in the grandstand this year including Nate Bargatze Saturday night, Blake Shelton Sunday evening, the Happy Together Tour on Monday night, Ludacris on Tuesday, Jon Pardi on Wednesday, Motley Crue on Thursday, Matchbox 20 on August 30th and Stephen Sanchez on August 31st.
Hayden says there are several park ‘n’ ride locations around the Twin Cities to help you get to the State Fair as parking at the fairgrounds can sometimes be a challenge. She says you can find more information about the State Fair at mnstatefair.org.
The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau are recognizing 97 Minnesota farms as 2024 Century Farms. Qualifying farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more. Several of them are in our immediate area.
Farms in Meeker County include the Mark and John Hulterstrum farm of Litchfield – established in 1923 and the John Dacy homestead of Darwin – dating back to 1871. In Kandiyohi County, the farms include the Heining Family Farm of Atwater – established in 1877 and the Fixsen Farms of Willmar – originated in 1908. Some of the other local farms include the Bridgeside farm of Kimball in Stearns County – dating back to 1924; the Schneider Farm of Renville in Renville County, established in 1903; the Zimmerman Farm of Brownton in McLeod County, originated in 1919; and the Melquist farm of Cokato in Wright County, dating back to 1882.
Century Farm families receive a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and Governor Tim Walz. Since the program began in 1976, more than 11,000 Minnesota farms have been recognized as Century Farms. Information on all Century Farms is available at the Minnesota Farm Bureau exhibit during the 2024 Minnesota State Fair.
The Wall That Heals exhibit, which includes a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center, is in Hutchinson this weekend at 1150 Benjamin Road South – in the industrial park. The 29th season of The Wall That Heals began in January in Hawaii and is visiting 31 communities this year. The traveling exhibit honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. It’s open 24 hours a day, with “Taps” played at sunset and will end at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 25th, in Hutchinson with a closing ceremony at 1:30.
