Skip to content

Aug. 24 – Labor Day, Sept. 4, 2023

147 Days 19 Hours 50 Mins

4-H

4-H Competitions

All information is subject to change.

The 4-H program offers programming throughout the 12 days of the Minnesota State Fair, serving more than 5,500 exhibitors and showcasing building exhibits, demonstrations, Share the Fun programs, County Arts In programs and other opportunities for youth participation.

4-H livestock departments include:

  • Beef and Dairy Cattle
  • Dairy and Meat Goats
  • Poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, doves, turkeys, pigeons)
  • Rabbits
  • Sheep
  • Swine
  • Llamas & Alpacas (show during the Open Class Llamas Show)

Other 4-H contests include Herdsmanship, Showmanship, Judging Teams, Public Presentations, Non-Livestock Exhibits and County Club exhibits. For more information about 4-H at the State Fair, please visit the University of Minnesota Extension website.

General Information and Rules For Entry

The 4-H premium book is available annually to view and print in early June. For more information, please contact your local 4-H leader, local extension educator or the state’s Center for 4-H Youth Development for further details.

State Fair 4-H Contacts:

Extension Center for Youth Development: 612-624-2116

Amber Greeley: runk0014@umn.edu

Overnight Livestock Parking

Have a confirmed overnight parking reservation for 4-H encampment and need to pay for it? Click the button below to log in to our livestock online registration system. Sign in to an existing account (if you’ve entered in the last three years) or create an account based on your email address. Enter your activation code as part of the process and then be sure to checkout and pay. Check out the FAQ page found here for more information. 

Pay Online for Overnight Parking

Minnesota State Fair Scholarship

The Minnesota State Fair is invested in the educational endeavors of young adults from greater Minnesota. The Minnesota State Fair Scholarship was established in 1994 and awards 22 scholarships of $1,000 each. Since its inception, more than $500,000 has been awarded. All scholarships are available to rural youth or those enrolled in an agriculture program in 2022-23. Applications for the Minnesota State Fair Scholarship must be submitted online. Please read the instructions before applying. Applications will be available in early 2023.

Minnesota 4-H Dairy Showcase

The 14th annual Minnesota 4-H Dairy Showcase awarded more than $67,000 to 35 deserving youth in 2022.

Minnesota 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction

In 2022, the 43rd Minnesota 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction raised more than $1,000,000 benefiting 4-H youth in the form of premiums and scholarships.

For more information on the 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction, please visit: mlbapurpleribbonauction.org