ST. PAUL — The expanded redevelopment of the North End neighborhood, a 12,000-square-foot state-of-the-art exhibit hall, nearly 15,000 animals (including 189 newborns), a dozen Grandstand shows, scores of rides and attractions, hundreds of educational exhibits, thousands of food and beverage offerings, and more than 2 million people celebrating the very best of each other at their State Fair made the 2019 Great Minnesota Get-Together the best ever.
Labor Day record attendance of 184,740 brought this year’s cumulative attendance total to 2,126,551, setting a new overall attendance record. The previous record of 2,046,533 was set last year. This year’s edition of the Great Minnesota Get-Together had six daily record attendance days set on:
Thursday, Aug. 22, with 133,326 visitors
Friday, Aug. 23, with 157,224 visitors
Tuesday, Aug. 27, with 136,987 visitors
Friday, Aug. 30, with 209,789 visitors
Sunday, Sept. 1, with 245,243 visitors
Monday, Sept. 2, with 184,740 visitors
The attendance announcement is proudly sponsored by the 2020 Census and We Count Minnesota.
The Minnesota State Fair’s agricultural and creative competitions drew more than 42,000 entries this year, with competitors vying for a share of ribbons, trophies and more than $1.6 million in prize money. Competitions included events for livestock, horses, school projects, dog trials, baked and canned goods, fruit, vegetables, crafts, bee and honey products, fine arts, farm crops, flowers, butter, cheese and more.
The State Fair’s Fine Arts Exhibition featured the largest juried art show in Minnesota. The 2019 People’s Choice Award – Adults’ Choice went to “Prince,” re-purposed magazines and hand-dyed sheet music on board
by Toni Dachis of Minneapolis, Minn. Ivan Gilbert of Arden Hills, Minn., won the Kids’ Choice Award for “Sea Turtle,” a sculpture.
The Purple Ribbon Auction on Saturday, Aug. 24, set 12 new record prices and raised more than $775,000 to benefit youth programs statewide, of which $65,000 was awarded to 41 youth in scholarships.
In open class livestock competitions, supreme champion titles were awarded to the best grand champions out of all beef and dairy breeds, and breeding sheep and swine:
Open Class Supreme Champion Dairy Female: Valley Gem Farm, Cumberland, Wis.
Open Class Supreme Champion Beef Female: Jarrin Goecke, JayKey Farms, State Center, Iowa
Open Class Supreme Champion Beef Bull: Cale Jensen, Jensen Angus Farm, Plainfield, Iowa
Open Class Supreme Champion Boar: Jon Clothier, Clothier Showpigs, Clinton, Wis.
Open Class Supreme Champion Gilt: Griffan Merchlewitz, G and J Farm, Winona, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Ram, Wool Breeds: Isaiah Bauck, New York Mills, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Ewe, Wool Breeds: Isaiah Bauck, New York Mills, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Ram, Meat Breeds: Caskey Family, Pine Lawn Farms, Holland, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Ewe, Meat Breeds: Anna Ridenour, Northern Exposure Livestock, Dodge Center, Minn.
Open Class Supreme Champion Dairy Goat Herd: Randy Adamson, Marran, Milton, Wis.
FFA Supreme Champion Breeding Female premiums were also awarded:
FFA Supreme Beef Champion Breeding Female: Payton Cech, Glenville-Emmons FFA Chapter
FFA Supreme Dairy Champion Breeding Female: Isabelle Lindahl, Chisago Lakes FFA Chapter
FFA Supreme Sheep Champion Breeding Female: Riley Donkers, Kenyon-Wanamingo FFA Chapter
FFA Supreme Swine Champion Breeding Female: Jordann Schneekloth, Jackson Country Central FFA Chapter
FFA Supreme Market Lamb Overall: Matthew Wiebe, Mountain Lake FFA Chapter
Supreme and Signature winners in the Minnesota State Fair Horse Show were:
Supreme Champion English Pleasure: Rider: Eva Haskins, Hugo, Minn.; Owner: Katie Haskins, Hugo, Minn.
Supreme Champion Western Pleasure: Rider: Mallory Storm, Princeton, Minn.; Owner: Elizabeth Nordquist, Plymouth, Minn.
Supreme Champion Western Horsemanship: Bailey Eisinger-Saterbak, Big Lake, Minn.
Supreme Champion Stallion Draft Horse: Linda Klinger, Glenview Percherons, Glenwood City, Wis.
Supreme Champion Mare Draft Horse: Albert Cleve & Jim Day, Blue Ribbon Days, Farmington, Mo.
Supreme Champion Gelding Draft Horse: LaVerne Steffen, Steffen Belgians, Plainview, Minn.
Draft Horse Supreme Six-Horse Hitch (North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series Qualifying Show): Bryce Smith, Double S Belgians, Menan, Idaho
Draft Horse Supreme Cart Classic Series: Johnson Belgians, Unity, Saskatchewan, Canada
Signature Tandem Bareback Champion Team: Jackie Thayer and Kendyl Bennet, Ridgeland, Wis.
Signature Northwoods Trail Cup Challenge: Heather Coughlin, Webster, Minn.
Signature Mounted Costume: Rider: Clarissa Giefer, New Ulm, Minn.; Owner: Suzette Johnson, Lake Crystal, Minn.
Signature Youth Western Pleasure: Paige Newcomb, White Bear Township, Minn.
Supreme Champion Light Horse Stallion: Kimberlee Brown, New Richmond, Wis.
Supreme Champion Light Horse Mare: Kimberlee Brown, New Richmond, Wis.
Supreme Champion Light Horse Gelding: Lexi Hansen, Good Thunder, Minn.
The Douglas K. Baldwin Award for FFA livestock show participation and leadership went to Madeline Patterson, Kenyon, Minn. (Kenyon-Wanamingo FFA Chapter).
Amy Kyllo of Byron, Minn., representing Olmsted County, was crowned the 66th Princess Kay of the Milky Way and will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for nearly 3,000 Minnesota dairy farm families this year.
The award-winning CHS Miracle of Birth Center welcomed 189 newborn animals, including 140 piglets, 13 calves, 34 lambs and two kids (goats).
Total Grandstand attendance was 115,427 (not including MSF Amateur Talent Contest Finals). Hootie & The Blowfish: Group Therapy tour with special guest Barenaked Ladies (Aug. 22), Dierks Bentley with special guest Caylee Hammack (Aug. 24), “Weird Al” Yankovic Strings Attached Tour (Aug. 27), Daryl Hall & John Oates with special guest G. Love & Special Sauce (Aug. 28), Lionel Richie with special guest Lauren Jauregui (Aug. 30) and The Current’s Music On-A-Stick featuring Brandi Carlile with special guests Mavis Staples and Savannah Conley
(Aug. 31) were sold-out shows.
Nearly 8,000 fans cheered on the best amateur talent in the state at the 47th Annual MSF Amateur Talent Contest Finals, sponsored by JACK’S ® Pizza, held Sept. 1, at the Grandstand. Contestants were competing for more than $20,000 in cash awards and JACK’S ® Pizza prize packs. Winners were:
Open Division
First place: Shawnessy Lau of Rochester, Minn., vocal solo, “Alto’s Lament”
Second place: Jacob Taggart of Blaine, Minn., piano solo, “Chopin Etude Opus 10 #4”
Third place: MKDC of Minneapolis, Minn., dance group, “Crown”
Teen Division
First place: Kathleen Thompson of Rochester, Minn., piano solo, “Fly Me To The Moon”
Second place: Brody Merila of Albertville, Minn., dance solo, “Come Dance With Me”
Third place: Logan Johnsrud of Duluth, Minn., vocal solo, “Try Me”
Preteen Division
First place: Danica Scofield of Blaine, Minn., piano solo, “Minute Waltz/Sweet Caroline”
Second place: Sofia Morales of Maple Grove, Minn., dance solo, “The Greatest”
Third place: Caleb Abea of Woodbury, Minn., dance solo, “Glory”
Jeremy Reichenberger of Minneapolis, Minn., and Kim Robinson of Bloomington, Minn., were the overall male and female 5K Milk Run winners with times of 16:22 and 19:02, respectively.
The 2019 Outstanding Senior Citizen Awards were presented to Judy Popp-Anderson of Freeborn County and Lowell Johnson of Crow Wing County. A ceremony was held at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell on Thursday, Aug. 29, to honor 60 seniors representing 33 Minnesota counties. This year’s ceremony was sponsored by Humana.
New additions and highlights for 2019 included: The expanded redevelopment of the North End featuring the North End Event Center and Minnesota Corn Fairstalk; three new rides; The Sioux Chef® Presents the Indigenous Food Lab at Dan Patch Park; the Goat Booth; a Healing Garden; the unveiling of the Robert A. Christensen Pavilion (formerly the swine barn); three new Park & Ride locations; and more.
The State Fair’s 2019 Best Awards recognized outstanding vendors, attractions and commercial exhibits. Winners were: Adam Turman Gallery; Arnold Amusements, operator of the Scooter, a Midway ride; Batten Industries Nellie’s Laundry – Green Heat; Fair Ride Entertainment, operator of the Wave Swinger, a Kidway ride; Glitter Glamper; Juanita’s Fajitas; Midwest Concessions, operator of the Break a Bottle Game; Northland Ford Dealers; Northwood Industries; Que Viet Concessions; Sisters Heritage; and Summer Lakes Beverage.
The 2019 fair featured 31 new foods: Bada Bing Sandwich, Blueberry Key Lime Pie, Boozy Berries & ‘Barb Trifle, Breakfast Potato Skin, Carnitas Taco Cone, Carolina Pit-Smoked Brisket Taco, Cheesy Sriracha Funnel Cake Bites, Cuban Fusion Fajita, Deep-Fried Dilly Dog, Duck Drummies, Feta Bites, Fried Tacos On-A-Stick, Grilled Sota Sandwich, Halo Cone, The Hot Hen, Irish Whiskey Boneless Wings, Jamm’in Brisket Grilled cheese, Joey Mary, Lamb T-Bone Chops, Lavender Lemonade, Mini Donut Latte, No Bologna Coney, Nordic Waffles: Pebbles & Bam Bam and Al Pastor, Peaches n’ Cream Nachos, Shrimp & Grits Fritters, Snow Cap Mini Waffle Sundae, Stuffed Cabbage Roll, Tailspin, Tipsy Pecan Tart, Turkish Pizza and Warm Cheesecake Tart. The seven new food vendors included: Blue Ox Burger Bar, Brim, Funky Grits, iPierogi, Kora’s Cookie Dough, Strawberries ‘n Crème and Thelma’s Handmade Ice Cream Sandwiches.
The 2020 Minnesota State Fair will run Aug. 27 through Labor Day, Sept. 7. For more information, visit mnstatefair.org.
— Minnesota State Fair
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