Fair is fowl, fowl are at the Fair
Last year was my long-delayed return to the Great MN Sweat Together, the fairest State Fair in our state. Unlike many people, my interest is neither the food nor the midway. Most of the food I want can be gotten elsewhere and without flies, and most of the carnival prizes are kind of creepy. Instead, I delight in the barns, the agricultural displays, and the associated arts of preserving. Giant pumpkins, yay! Cold-climate fruits, yay! Perfect preserves and golden loaves, hurrah!
My very favorite, as I'm sure I've said before, is the 4-H rabbit array. To see the bunnies, one must be at the Fair within the first 4 days. There are huge Rex rabbits, spotted English rabbits, Dutch lops, fluffy Angoras, and all manner of leporine cuteness. I'm as bad as any kid, hoping to pet the bunnies and maybe take one home. After last year's visit to the Fair I spent a couple of weeks investigating the possibility of acquiring a house rabbit. It was a near miss! If I go this weekend, my resolve may crumble. Maybe I'll go on Llama Day instead...
The Minnesota State Fair opened this Thursday and runs through Labor Day.
http://www.mnstatefair.org/entertainment/ag_exhibits/see_the_animals.html
Judging Schedule/Where & When to see the Animals
This is a must-have schedule of where and when the animals will be on the fairgrounds throughout the 12 days of the fair. The types of animals that we have on the grounds change throughout the 12 days of the fair, so be sure to check the dates and times carefully.
First Thursday - First Sunday: The first four days of the fair are 4-H livestock (cattle, sheep, swine, goats, poultry and rabbits) and open class pigeons, rabbits and sheep. This is also the first part of the English horse show with hunters, jumpers, Saddlebreds, Arabians, Morgans, Miniatures, Drafts (Clydesdales, Percherons, Belgians, Shires) and other breeds.
(Note: All barns, except the Horse Barn and CHS Miracle of Birth Center, close at 3 p.m. on Sunday)
Monday - Second Thursday: The middle four days of the fair are open class dairy cattle, sheep, swine, Boer goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. Most of the English show horses are still here. However, after Tuesday evening's performance, they leave to make room for the rodeo.
Stock Dog Trials are held in the Coliseum on Monday, Aug. 27 at 8 a.m.
The Llamas are here from Wednesday, Aug. 29 to Friday, Aug. 31; they depart at 2 p.m. on Friday.
(Note: All barns, except the Horse Barn & the Poultry Barn and CHS Miracle of Birth Center, close at 5 p.m. on Thursday)
Second Friday - Monday, Labor Day: The last four days of the fair are FFA livestock (cattle, sheep, swine) and open class goats, beef cattle, and the same poultry as the middle four days. Also at this point, the Western horse show horses are here and the rodeo horses are gone. This includes breeds such as Quarter horses, Paint horses and saddle clubs classes, as well as some other breeds.
(Note: All barns close at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3, Labor Day)
Horse Show Schedule
This schedule provides all of the dates and times of the Minnesota State Fair Horse Show performance and halter classes. (A downloadable version will be available this summer.)
PLEASE NOTE: All barns close at:
3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26 (except the Horse Barn and CHS Miracle of Birth Center)
The Horse Barn is closed Wednesday, Aug. 29 until 8 p.m.
5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30 (except the Horse Barn & Poultry Barn)
5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3, Labor Day
My very favorite, as I'm sure I've said before, is the 4-H rabbit array. To see the bunnies, one must be at the Fair within the first 4 days. There are huge Rex rabbits, spotted English rabbits, Dutch lops, fluffy Angoras, and all manner of leporine cuteness. I'm as bad as any kid, hoping to pet the bunnies and maybe take one home. After last year's visit to the Fair I spent a couple of weeks investigating the possibility of acquiring a house rabbit. It was a near miss! If I go this weekend, my resolve may crumble. Maybe I'll go on Llama Day instead...
The Minnesota State Fair opened this Thursday and runs through Labor Day.
http://www.mnstatefair.org/entertainment/ag_exhibits/see_the_animals.html
Judging Schedule/Where & When to see the Animals
This is a must-have schedule of where and when the animals will be on the fairgrounds throughout the 12 days of the fair. The types of animals that we have on the grounds change throughout the 12 days of the fair, so be sure to check the dates and times carefully.
First Thursday - First Sunday: The first four days of the fair are 4-H livestock (cattle, sheep, swine, goats, poultry and rabbits) and open class pigeons, rabbits and sheep. This is also the first part of the English horse show with hunters, jumpers, Saddlebreds, Arabians, Morgans, Miniatures, Drafts (Clydesdales, Percherons, Belgians, Shires) and other breeds.
(Note: All barns, except the Horse Barn and CHS Miracle of Birth Center, close at 3 p.m. on Sunday)
Monday - Second Thursday: The middle four days of the fair are open class dairy cattle, sheep, swine, Boer goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. Most of the English show horses are still here. However, after Tuesday evening's performance, they leave to make room for the rodeo.
Stock Dog Trials are held in the Coliseum on Monday, Aug. 27 at 8 a.m.
The Llamas are here from Wednesday, Aug. 29 to Friday, Aug. 31; they depart at 2 p.m. on Friday.
(Note: All barns, except the Horse Barn & the Poultry Barn and CHS Miracle of Birth Center, close at 5 p.m. on Thursday)
Second Friday - Monday, Labor Day: The last four days of the fair are FFA livestock (cattle, sheep, swine) and open class goats, beef cattle, and the same poultry as the middle four days. Also at this point, the Western horse show horses are here and the rodeo horses are gone. This includes breeds such as Quarter horses, Paint horses and saddle clubs classes, as well as some other breeds.
(Note: All barns close at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3, Labor Day)
Horse Show Schedule
This schedule provides all of the dates and times of the Minnesota State Fair Horse Show performance and halter classes. (A downloadable version will be available this summer.)
PLEASE NOTE: All barns close at:
3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26 (except the Horse Barn and CHS Miracle of Birth Center)
The Horse Barn is closed Wednesday, Aug. 29 until 8 p.m.
5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30 (except the Horse Barn & Poultry Barn)
5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3, Labor Day