ST. PAUL — The State Fair invites all to join in the tradition of competition by putting their best to “Minnesota’s Blue Ribbon Test” at the 2017 Great Minnesota Get-Together. With a category for everyone and almost everything, the State Fair encourages perennial competitors and those who have never entered their work in the past to become part of the showcase of the very best our great state has to offer in creative activities, fine arts, school projects, flowers, vegetables, fruits, wine, livestock, farm products and more. As part of this annual competition ritual, entrants will compete in hundreds of different State Fair competitions for ribbons, trophies and more than $1 million in total prize money. Those interested in putting their best to “Minnesota’s Blue Ribbon Test” should visit mnstatefair.org/competition/
Deadlines for entering Minnesota State Fair competitions are as follows:
Fine Arts – July 10
Horses – July 24 (mail entries); August 11 (online entries)
Amateur Talent Contest – July 26
Beef and Dairy Cattle (Open Class and FFA) – July 31 (mail entries); August 7 (online entries)
Poultry – August 2
Rabbits – August 2
Minnesota State Fair Scholarship – August 4
Dairy, Boer and FFA Meat Goats – August 7
Llamas – August 7
Sheep (Open Class and FFA) – August 7
Stock Dog Trials – August 7
Swine (Open Class and FFA) – August 7
Agriculture Technology (FFA) – August 8
Creative Activities (baked, canned & preserved food,
special contests, needlecraft, garment making,
work of senior citizens, handcrafts and collections) – August 8
K-12 Competition (school projects) – August 8
Christmas Trees – August 9
Crop Art & Scarecrow – August 11
Crops (FFA) – August 11
Farm Crops – August 11
Minnesota State Fair Flower Show – August 14
Fruit & Wine – August 14
Bee & Honey – August 14
Vegetable & Potato – August 14
Safe Tractor Operators Contest (FFA) – August 21
New Corn – August 31
Minnesota 4-H members should visit http://www.extension.umn.edu/
The Minnesota State Fair is one of the largest and best-attended expositions in the world, attracting nearly 1.9 million visitors annually. Showcasing Minnesota’s finest agriculture, art and industry, the Great Minnesota Get-Together is always 12 Days of Fun Ending Labor Day. Visit mnstatefair.org for more information. The 2017 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 24 – Labor Day, Sept. 4.
— Minnesota State Fair