The Minnesota State Fair. It was founded in 1859 after Minnesota became a state. It is held on over 322 acres of property in Falcon Heights, a suburb of St. Paul. The Fair, held over 12 days, showcases the state’s agricultural, technological, and artistic accomplishments. Nearly 2,000 employees are required each year to ensure that the fair runs smoothly. Events include car shows, lumberjack competitions, numerous contests for the best livestock or produce, and food. Lots and lots of food (via Minnesota State Fair).
The Fair is held at the end of August each year, and earlier this summer my wife suggested we attend. Having been to the New Jersey State Fair several times (including our most recent trip last month), I failed to see why a state fair would warrant a cross-country trip. I kept my doubts to myself, however, figuring it was a good excuse to at least see family and friends in the Twin Cities area.
How wrong I was! So come along, then, as we head to the Land of 10,000 Lakes and join the nearly two million people who attended the Fair this year. We’ll stand toe-to-toe with cattle, we’ll watch some fancy whittling of wood, we’ll witness a newspaper get printed in front of our eyes, and we’ll eat lots of food served on a stick.
Let’s begin:
The Minnesota State Fair
For the second time this summer, my wife and I would be heading to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to see family and friends… and this time to attend a state fair!Unlike our road trip this summer, time constraints meant that we had to leave my Acura at home and instead hop aboard a flight with Delta Airlines. We departed Newark International Airport on a beautiful late-summer afternoon.As a treat for my birthday, my wife upgraded us to first class! It was a lovely way to travel – I have only flown first class a handful of times, so I am deeply appreciative of being pampered in luxury (also, the in-flight meal was quite tasty).Since I was spending my birthday in the Midwest, might as well kick off the celebration with a latte from Caribou Coffee!After a dear family member treated us to an awesome dinner at a local restaurant, I got the birthday cake of my dreams: homemade apple pie! So good!!The next morning, our alarms went off well before the sun rose and we were out the door, aiming to start our state fair adventure early!With an average of over 150,000 people attending the fair each day, there is simply not enough parking at the fair grounds. Numerous park-and-ride stations are set up throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan region. We parked in the designated lot at Gloria Dei, a Lutheran Church in St. Paul, and took a free coach bus to the fair. Buses run continuously, making for stress-free transportation to the fairgrounds.After checking in with our pre-purchased tickets and then breezing through security, we were at the fair!Pro tip: If you are attending the fair and want to avoid crowds, come early. The later in the day, the busier it gets. Arriving a little after 8:00 am meant that crowds were minimal.Our first stop was for a little snack at French Meadow Bakery, a food stand offering a range of baked goods, including numerous gluten-free items.We ordered the gluten-free “sconut holes,” miniature scones filled with chocolate and hazelnut and topped with powdered sugar. They were absolutely fantastic!Numerous organizations, businesses, and government entities have stands throughout the fair to share their efforts with the public. One of the most innovative was the Minnesota Farm Bureau, whose mission is to promote agriculture and rural communities throughout the state.Grab a game sheet from one of the nice volunteers inside the stand and then go outside and look at the displays to learn about little-known uses for different produce. For instance, did you know that soy is a major component of car tires, or that corn is used in crayon production? Complete the game sheet and go back inside to get a prize! (We won a non-stick spatula that is now proudly in our kitchen!)The state fairgrounds have been in use 1885, so many of the buildings are permanent structures dating back decades. The Agriculture Horticulture building was constructed in 1947 to showcase the crops of Minnesota (via Minnesota Public Radio).The building displays the best produce grown in the state. Minnesota apples? Check.Giant Pumpkin Contest? Check. (I mean, seriously, look at the size of those things!)Enormous waiting line to get in to see crop art? Also check. The line stretched the entire length of the atrium… at 8:50 am.My favorite display was the centerpiece in the atrium. Created by Bachman’s, a local florist, the centerpiece highlights the northern region of Minnesota and the different floral and fauna that grows there.Bachman’s created the centerpiece to celebrate their 140th year in business. I was mesmerized – it was one of my favorite things I saw during our visit.The oldest ride at the fair is Ye Old Mill. Built in 1915, the ride was celebrating its 110th year in operation this year.Ye Old Mill is a water ride – climb on board a boat and take a ride on the oldest “tunnel of love” in existence.Long stretches of inky darkness are briefly interrupted by kitschy dioramas. Fun fact: the ride is still powered by the same 40-horsepower motor that was installed when the ride was new over a century ago (via Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine).Elected officials (and candidates) from across the political spectrum have booths where they and their staff can interact with the public. This booth was for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.Numerous radio and TV stations have booths set up around the fair. We stopped by Minnesota Public Radio. The Current, a station specializing in alternative and indie rock, is operated by MPR and I listen to the station every chance I get. I made a small donation to MPR and received a really cool State Fair-themed bag as a gift.We also stopped by to watch The Jason Show being recorded. Jason Matheson is a radio and TV host for Fox 9, a station in the Twin Cities. “The Jason Show” is a one-hour news show that is syndicated nationally (via Fox9).The segment we watched involved various exotic reptiles, including this alarmingly-large python. Jason, apparently, is no fan of reptiles, so his reactions to the various creatures made the segment all the more entertaining.The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has a robust presence at the park. Given our enjoyment of state and national parks, we stopped by to check it out.The DNR focused this year’s exhibits on features that make Minnesotan parks more accessible for guests with disabilities. I thought this accessible blind, used to view wildlife unobtrusively, was very cool. A wheelchair rider could easily enter and exit this blind with few issues – a far cry from many blinds that require stairs to enter.Minnesota has also rolled out a program to loan all-terrain track chairs to visitors at a number of state parks. For individuals who ride a wheelchair, the track chair provides a way to further explore nature.All that exploring makes a guy (and a girl) hungry! Our next stop was to Greater Tater! Founded by a gentleman with Down Syndrome, Greater Tater specializes in jumbo stuffed, deep-fried tater tots. The best part? Everything they offer is gluten-free.These aren’t tater “tots,” these are known as tater kegs! We opted for the breakfast skillet – tater kegs filled with eggs and sausage. So good!Filled up with tater kegs, it was time to go visit some livestock!The Cattle Barn was built in 1920, and every year for the past century has housed up to one thousand head of cattle during the fair. The dairy industry is critical to Minnesota’s economy, so its no surprise to see so many cows!The livestock compete for the coveted best in show award and each animal is painstakingly groomed by their owners. Ever see a cow get a haircut?We next headed to the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum to watch a cattle judging competition… add it to the list of things this Jersey kid had never seen before!The competition was absolutely fascinating. I look at these animals and see no differences, but the judges are to discern who qualifies for best in show.Time for food-on-a-stick! Enjoying a deep-fried snack served on either a popsicle stick or a skewer is a time-honored state fair tradition. We tried the gluten-free corndog from Auntie M’s Gluten Free. How was it? Deeee-licious!!The bottom two floors of the Grandstand Building are filled with vendors selling food, appliances, video games, and of course, souvenirs! I’ve had food on a stick… so of course I purchased a T-shirt on a stick!Every state fair has rides, and one of the most popular is the Giant Slide. It has been a state fair staple for over 50 years, and is fun for kids of all ages. (Editor’s note: This daredevil, who routinely climbs mountains and rides rollercoasters, totally chickened out.)No Minnesota State Fair experience is complete without visiting the lumberjack competition.One of my favorite exhibits was located in the 4-H Building – the Minnesota Newspaper Museum.Newspapers have played a critical role in the development of Minnesota, and the museum preserves that history. Several vintage printing presses print newspapers each day. It was the first time in my life I ever have received a newspaper “hot off the press.”Constructed in 1968, the Education Building showcases the art, creative writing, science projects, photography, woodworking, and other school achievements of Minnesota’s K-12 students.It took me a minute to realize that the wooden chairs were made by high school students – that is some serious skill! Also, the artwork on display was lovely.As was the case with the New Jersey State Fair, numerous employers seek to recruit potential employees at the fair. The Minnesota Air National Guard brought an entire forward section of an F-4 Phantom fighter jet with them. It was certainly eye-catching!No fair would be complete without some historic farm equipment, such as this 1912 John Deere Plow Company Big Four “30” tractor. When new, it cost $2,800 – about $198,000 today. That’s a relative bargain when you consider that modern John Deere tractors can run to over one million dollars.Before leaving, I stopped by Sweet Martha’s, a veritable institution at the state fair. First opening in 1979, Sweet Martha’s serves one thing, and one thing only: freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies. They are served warm, gooey, and delicious!And what goes well with cookies? How about some milk! West End Creamery boasted of having the best milkshakes at the fair, so I decided to see for myself.Best milkshake at the fair? More like one of the best milkshakes I’ve ever had anywhere. West End Creamery also offers a dairy-free milkshake for individuals with allergies to dairy products. If you’re at the fair, it is worth a stop!Greetings from the Minnesota State Fair! After a lovely day, it was time to head out.After taking a coach bus back to our car, it was time to head home. It was a long day, but so very, very fun!All too soon, it was time to head back to New Jersey. Before closing, however, I wanted to make special mention of our ride for the week: our family member’s 2019 Honda CR-V. It continues to tirelessly put in faithful service. The CR-V recently passed 47,000 miles – onward!After an uneventful flight back to New Jersey, we were home. Our cat Betty certainly seemed excited to see us!
Wrapping Up
The Minnesota State Fair was like no fair I have ever experienced before. Between the food, the attractions, the live performances, the educational opportunities… I had an amazing time. If you are visiting the Twin Cities area at the end of August, please make it a point to attend the Minnesota State Fair at least once. Or go once, and then go back again, like I plan to do!
Thanks, as always, for coming along on another journey down the open road ahead.
The Open Road Ahead 
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