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Minnesota State Fair: Origins and Traditions

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Colored postcard of the Minnesota State Fair Domestic Arts and Handicrafts building, c. 1910.

Colored postcard of the Minnesota State Fair Domestic Arts and Handicrafts building, c.1910.

The Minnesota State Fair is a yearly celebration of agriculture, crafts, food, and community. In the twenty-first century, nearly 1.8 million people attend the twelve-day event every year, making it the second-largest state fair in the nation. The gathering is a Minnesota tradition that has more than earned its nickname, "The Great Minnesota Get-Together."

Agricultural societies held fairs in Minnesota Territory during the early 1850s. They were designed to showcase the crops, livestock, produce, and handiwork of Minnesota's territorial residents. Fair organizers hoped that displaying proof of Minnesota's productive farms and active social life would encourage immigration to the territory. The first state fair was held in Minneapolis in 1859, and the fair's governing body, the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, was officially chartered the next year.

In its early years the fair had no set location. Between 1860 and 1884, it was held in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Redwing, Owatonna, and Winona. Some of these fairs were more successful than others. Between 1874 and 1876, displays were greatly diminished by a grasshopper plague that destroyed many Minnesota crops. When fairs were held outside of their city, Minneapolis citizens organized a competing fair. The traveling state fairs were difficult to organize and often poorly attended.

By the 1880s, the Minnesota State Agricultural Society had decided that the fair needed a permanent home. In 1885, Ramsey County donated land from the county poor farm as a site for the fair. Later that year, the first fair was held on the new fairgrounds situated between St. Paul and Minneapolis, in what would become Falcon Heights. The site ushered in a new era for the Minnesota State Fair.

The State Fair placed the bounties of Minnesota at center stage. In an attempt to lure farmers to the young state, early fairs introduced new breeds of livestock and crops. Exhibits proudly displayed the bushels of wheat and pounds of creamery butter that Minnesota produced. Prized livestock, giant vegetables, and elaborate arrays of farm produce became highlights of each year's fair. These displays were not restricted to agricultural products. The 1876 fair featured an exhibition of ore from the newly established mines on Minnesota's Iron Range.

New agricultural technology often debuted at the fair. The 1860 fair was the first to feature a display of farm machinery. Early state fairs often featured reaper trials and plowing matches that demonstrated the potential of new farm equipment. By 1909, the Machinery Hill area had its own building and space to display a widening range of agricultural equipment. At its height, Machinery Hill took up eighty acres and featured 100 manufacturers.

In addition to agriculture and manufacturing, the Minnesota State Fair celebrated art, craft, and culinary skill. Early fairs set up displays of needlework, handicrafts, and cookery to draw women visitors. Quilt competitions celebrated the artful reuse of textiles. They quickly became an artistic showcase of color, fabric, and embroidery. These exhibits and contests celebrated the essential work of the home—from sewing and quilting to jam-making and bread baking—as an important part of Minnesota life.

In its long history, the Minnesota State Fair has played host to momentous historical events. Theodore Roosevelt delivered his famous line "speak softly and carry a big stick" during a fair speech in 1901. Legendary racehorse Dan Patch set a new record for pacing the mile at the fair's racetrack in 1906. In 1927, the fair made musical history when John Philip Sousa debuted one of his most famous compositions, "The Minnesota March."

The State Fair upholds many longstanding traditions. The Minnesota Dairy Industry has sponsored the Princess Kay of the Milky Way competition since 1954. Nightly grandstand shows and fireworks displays have been a much-loved part of fair life since 1899. But perhaps nothing is more evocative of the Minnesota State Fair than its food. Foods on a stick (including Pronto Pups, introduced in 1947) embody the whimsical spirit that gives the fair its unique character.

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© Minnesota Historical Society
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Hayes, Gordon. "Minnesota's Wandering State Fair and How it Settled in St. Paul." Ramsey County History 11, no. 1 (Spring 1974): 12–17.

Jarchow, Merrill E. "Early Minnesota Agricultural Societies and Fairs." Minnesota History 22, no.3 (September 1941): 249–269.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/22/v22i03p249-269.pdf

Koutsky, Kathryn Strand and Linda Koutsky. Minnesota State Fair: An Illustrated History. Minneapolis: Coffee House Press, 2007.

Marling, Karal Ann. Blue Ribbon: A Social and Pictorial History of the Minnesota State Fair. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1990.

Related Audio

Ampers Podcast: MN90: My State Fair is Bigger than Your State Fair | Details

Minnesota State Fair employee Brienna Schuette considers whether the Great Minnesota Get-Together can claim to be the biggest state fair in the United States.

Related Images

Woman's Building, State Fair
Colored postcard of the Minnesota State Fair Domestic Arts and Handicrafts building, c. 1910.
Colored postcard of the Minnesota State Fair Domestic Arts and Handicrafts building, c. 1910.

Colored postcard of the Minnesota State Fair Domestic Arts and Handicrafts building, c.1910.

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View of Crowd at the State Fair
Black and white photograph of crowd at the Minnesota State Fair, c. 1910.
Black and white photograph of crowd at the Minnesota State Fair, c. 1910.

A view of the crowd at the Minnesota State Fair, c.1910.

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State Fair at Fort Snelling
Black and white photograph of the Minnesota State Fair at Fort Snelling, 1860.
Black and white photograph of the Minnesota State Fair at Fort Snelling, 1860.

Photograph of 1860 State Fair at Fort Snelling, 1860–1863.

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Kittson County horticulture exhibit, State Fair
Black and white photograph of Kittison County horticulture exhibit, 1916.
Black and white photograph of Kittison County horticulture exhibit, 1916.

Kittson County horticulture exhibit, second premium winner at the 1916 Minnesota State Fair.

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Calf Club champion, State Fair
Black and white photograph of 4H Calf Club champion and his calf, 1923.
Black and white photograph of 4H Calf Club champion and his calf, 1923.

4H Calf Club champion, Minnesota State Fair, 1923.

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The Minnesota State Fair, At St.Paul.
Black and white advertisement for the Minnesota State Fair, 1878.
Black and white advertisement for the Minnesota State Fair, 1878.

1878 advertisement featuring the Minnesota State Fair.

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Swine, State Fair
Black and white photograph of swine on display, 1905.
Black and white photograph of swine on display, 1905.

State Fair display swine, 1905.

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Watermelon display, Minnesota State Fair
Black and white photograph of watermelon display at the Minnesota State Fair, 1895.
Black and white photograph of watermelon display at the Minnesota State Fair, 1895.

Watermelon display, Minnesota State Fair, 1895.

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Steer being exhibited
Black and white photograph of a steer being exhibited at the Minnesota State Fair, 1947.
Black and white photograph of a steer being exhibited at the Minnesota State Fair, 1947.

Steer being exhibited, Minnesota State Fair, 1947.

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Woman with prize-winning quilt.
Black and white photograph of woman with prize-winning quilt, 1926.
Black and white photograph of woman with prize-winning quilt, 1926.

Woman with prize-winning quilt, 1926.

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Boy holding squash from Anoka County; entered in 1934 State Fair
Black and white photograph of boy holding squash entered in the 1934 State Fair.
Black and white photograph of boy holding squash entered in the 1934 State Fair.

Boy holding squash from Anoka County; entered in 1934 State Fair, 1934.

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The races, Minnesota State Fair
Colored postcard depicting harness-racing at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, c. 1910.
Colored postcard depicting harness-racing at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, c. 1910.

Postcard depicting harness-racing at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, c.1910.

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Midway, Minnesota State Fair
Black and white photograph of crowds at the Midway, Minnesota State Fair, 1963,
Black and white photograph of crowds at the Midway, Minnesota State Fair, 1963,

Crowds at the Midway, Minnesota State Fair, 1963.

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Dress made out of butter cartons used at the Minnesota State Fair
Color photograph of a dress made out of butter cartons used at the Minnesota State Fair, 1965.
Color photograph of a dress made out of butter cartons used at the Minnesota State Fair, 1965.

Dress made out of butter cartons used at the 1965 Minnesota State Fair to promote the American Dairy Association of Minnesota. The dress has a Bertha collar and center back zipper; hook-and-eye closure at the collar; and a matching lined cape-let with a center front opening and plain rounded neckline edged in rick rack. A band with hidden buttons and snaps holds the cape and neckline in place. The A-line skirt has a waistline band with two plastic buttons and buttonholes in front and an inverted front pleat edged in rick rack. Round-cornered squares have been cut out from one-pound butter cartons representing various Minnesota creameries and machine-stitched onto the cape and skirt in horizontal rows to a stiffened interfacing.

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State Fair ticket book
Ticket allowing admittance to the Minnesota State Fair, 1895.
Ticket allowing admittance to the Minnesota State Fair, 1895.

Book of three complimentary tickets permitting Roger Sherman Mackintosh and a female guest to attend the 1895 Minnesota State Fair, held between September 9th and 15th. The book originally contained six tickets; tickets 1, 2, 3 and 5 have been removed.

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Turning Point

In 1885, the Minnesota State Agricultural Society holds the first fair at the newly built permanent fairgrounds, midway between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Chronology

1854

Minnesota holds its first territorial fair in Minneapolis.

1859

Minnesota's first state fair is held in Minneapolis.

1861

Because of the social disruption of the Civil War, there is no state fair.

1862

In the wake of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, the state fair is cancelled.

1885

After years of traveling state fairs, the first Minnesota state fair is held on its now-permanent site near St. Paul.

1893

Due to a conflict with the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago, the state fair is not held.

1901

Theodore Roosevelt utters the famous line, "Speak softly and carry a big stick" in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair on September 2.

1927

The Tilt-A-Whirl, invented and manufactured in Faribault, makes its debut at the Minnesota State Fair.

1945

Because of fuel shortages due to World War II, the fair is not held.

1946

A polio epidemic causes the state fair to be cancelled for the second consecutive year.

1947

Pronto Pups are first served at the Minnesota State Fair.

1954

Eleanor Maley of Grand Meadow is named the first Princess Kay of the Milky Way. The tradition of sculpting the winners in butter, however, does not begin until 1965.

2020

The COVID-19 pandemic leads fair organizers to cancel the event.