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Exhibiting at the Fair

 
Exhibitor Handbook cover

Exhibitor's Handbook

The Carver County Fair Exhibitor's Handbook is your guide to entering your animals or items in the fair, deadlines, and premiums paid.

View/Download the 2023 Handbook (.pdf)

Individual Exhibitor Department PDFs available below

Please note: Upon publication of this year's Exhibitor's Handbook, all previous years' Exhibitor's Handbooks are null and void.

 
 

Save time! Pre-register

Pre-registration is required for livestock entries.

Online registration form

If you need assistance with online registration, call the Fair Office at 952-442-2333 or email entries@carvercountyfair.com and we will respond to you as quickly as possible.

All exhibits require an entry tag. Pre-registration allows your tags to be prepared in advance and available for you at your time of entry. We highly recommend anyone with 10 entries or more to pre-register.

Pre-registration Deadlines:

Agriculture Building (Departments 17–27 & 117) and Education Building (Departments 28–30):
Wednesday, August 2, midnight
See specific division information for additional entry time after August 2.

Livestock:
Wednesday, August 2, 4:00 p.m. (Fair office)
Wednesday, August 2, midnight (online)
Note: If your exhibit requires an entry fee, you can pay it using the online registration form.

On-site Registration & Exhibit Drop-off

Agriculture and Education Buildings only.

If you do not pre-register, you may register on-site during the drop-off times below. All exhibits require an entry tag. Please be prepared to wait while your entry is processed.

AGRICULTURE BUILDING EXHIBITS (Departments 17–27 & 117):
Entry Days:
Monday, August 7, 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Building opens: Wednesday, noon

EDUCATION BUILDING EXHIBITS (Departments 28–30):
Entry Days:
Monday, August 7, noon to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, August 8, 8 a.m. to noon
Building opens: Wednesday, noon

LIVESTOCK EXHIBITOR INFORMATION

Livestock Exhibitor Gate/Car Pass Policy:

  • A gate pass will be provided to each livestock exhibitor when entry information and required papers are submitted to the fair office by Wednesday, one week prior to the fair opening.
  • One car pass will be provided per residence/family exhibiting livestock.
  • 4-H exhibitors will receive a gate pass at entry time in the 4-H building. No additional gate passes will be issued to 4-H livestock exhibitors by Carver County Agricultural Society.
  • Horse trailer passes will be issued at the request of the 4-H office.

Animal Health:

All animals will be inspected by the official veterinarian Wednesday, opening day, and throughout fair week. The official veterinarian will order the immediate removal to a quarantine facility or removal from the exhibition premises of any animal showing clinical signs of any infectious, contagious or communicable disease, including ringworm and warts. Any animal showing evidence of any disease, abscesses, or any open contagious lesions will not be allowed to exhibit or show and will be subject to isolation or expulsion depending on the nature and seriousness of the disease, abscess or lesion in question. If illness of any nature is suspected in any animal, said animal is subject to examination by the official veterinarian and fair superintendent. The owner/exhibitor of said animal must abide by the decision of this veterinarian and the designated fair superintendent. Animals with warts or ringworm may not be shown. A statement from a veterinarian that an animal is being treated for these diseases is not acceptable. Animals known by the exhibitor to have an infectious, communicable disease or to have been exposed to an infectious, communicable disease, or to be from a quarantined flock may not be entered in an exhibition.

Please read:
Minnesota Board of Animal Health – Exhibitions
Minnesota Board of Animal Health – Livestock Exhibitor Handbook
Carver County Fair – Livestock Rules and Regulations

Prizes & Pickup

Special Ribbon Recognition

Bring more exhibits and receive a special ribbon recognition.
Each year the challenge of the competitive exhibits departments is to:

  1. Include new people to exhibit
  2. Increase or maintain the number of exhibits
  3. Value exhibitors who bring a large number of exhibits

Again this year, a large colorful Special Ribbon will be awarded in different departments and divisions to individuals exhibiting the most exhibits (6 or more in any one division) in the given department. For example, the most poultry entries, the most canning entries, the most flower entries, etc.

How do I know if I've won?

Find out how your entires did by visiting your exhibit at the fair.

How do I claim my ribbon or prize?

Prizes can be claimed during the exhibit release times listed below. Feel free to contact the Superintendent for your department if you need more information.

When can I pick up my exhibit?

AGRICULTURE BUILDING EXHIBITS (Departments 17–27 & 117):
Exhibits can be picked up on:
Sunday, August 13, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday, August 14, 9 a.m. to noon

EDUCATION BUILDING EXHIBITS (Departments 28–30):
Exhibits must be picked up on:
Sunday, August 13, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Premium Checks

NEW: Premium checks will be available Sunday evening in the respective buildings/barns and will have a 30-day validation period. Exhibitors may have one or more checks based on the departments entered.

Checks will be issued in four groups:

  • Beef and Dairy Cattle (Dept. 3 & 4); FFA Beef and Dairy Cattle (Dept. 103 & 104)
    Superintendents: Klein, Lenzen, Yetzer; Clerk: Suzanne
  • Small Livestock (Dept. 5–16); FFA Small Livestock & Crops (Dept. 105, 107 & 108)
    Superintendents: Knight, Dietzel; Clerk: Mary Ann
  • Agriculture Building (Dept. 17 -27 & 117)
    Superintendent: Strube; Clerk: Jennifer
  • Education Building (Dept. 28–30)
    Superintendent: Bisek; Clerk: Melissa

Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota State Fair logo

If you're interested in exhibiting at the MN State Fair, visit www.mnstatefair.org/competitions/

The site contains detailed info regarding each department, downloadables (including premium books) and links to online registration (where applicable).