Minnesota Public Radio, which started reporting from the Minnesota State Fair as far back as 1972, began a yearly tradition of live broadcasting from its booth at the corner of Judson and Nelson in 1991 (taking over the old WLOL-FM spot). The location has since become an important community spot for sharing ideas, intercultural representation, and topics unique to the Fair itself. MPR was the first media organization to have an entire day dedicated to them in the form of MPR Day, held the Friday before Labor Day in Dan Patch Park (formerly known as Carousel Park). The MPR booth has featured Gubernatorial debates, appearances by senators and important public figures, and live performances by a wide range of local musicians and writers. MPR hosts Gary Eichten, Cathy Wurzer, Kerri Miller, Bob Potter, Beth Friend, and numerous others, have filled the air over the past three decades with live Fair broadcasts that both informed and entertained. There was also the longtime broadcast of the Morning Show hosted by Jim Ed Poole and Dale Connelly, bringing their distinctive humor to the street intersection.
The Minnesota State Fair’s permanent 320-acre home along Snelling Avenue in St. Paul contains historical buildings which host a slew of exhibitors, plants, animals, arts, and plenty of jam. Big outdoor attractions include a multitude of food, Midway carnival rides, livestock (with smells), and daily shows and grandstand performances. It’s a busy, busy 12 days that MPR Archive has attempted to capture in this audio collection as varied as food on a stick. A report on Little Irvy, the freeze-dried whale…check! Andean folk band…indeed! Differences of the Pronto pup and the Poncho Dog…got it! Former U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz pitching his milk…yep! Here is your audio ticket to those stories…and so much more.
August 29, 2006 - Minneapolis Leslie Bell visits the Miracle of Birth Center where you can see all sorts of farm animals giving birth…including sheep.
August 30, 2006 - One of the oldest traditions at the Minnesota State Fair is experiencing Ye Old Mill, which is celebrating its ninety-third year at the fair in 2006. Minneapolis poet Leslie Ball took a ride, and sent us this.
August 31, 2006 - Minneapolis poet Leslie Ball snuck into the poultry barn a bit early this morning, to hear what it sounds like when hundreds of roosters wake up together.
September 1, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck presents a summary report of U.S. Senate debate at Minnesota State Fair. The three major party endorsed candidates running for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat held a heated debate on health care, the war in Iraq and tax policy.
September 1, 2006 - On this Minnesota Public Radio day at the State Fair, Minneapolis poet Leslie Ball has a traditional State Fair breakfast - a bag of mini-donuts.
September 1, 2006 - As part of MPR Day at the Fair, former governors Wendell Anderson, Al Quie, and Arne Carlson talk politics at the Minnesota State Fair.
September 4, 2006 - All Things Considered’s Tom Crann interview Pioneer Press reporter Alex Friedrich, who was assigned the task of visiting the State Fair for twelve days and only eating items that were on a stick. It was trickier than it seems.
September 4, 2006 - Minneapolis poet Leslie Ball reads a poem in honor of the closing day at the 2006 Minnesota State Fair.
September 4, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Crann talks with Minneapolis poet Leslie Ball about her experience watching and writing about the Minnesota State Fair.
August 13, 2007 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews Art Blakey, chief of police at the Minnesota State Fair, about the damage assesment after a storm wreaked havoc on the fairgrounds, knocking down trees, damaging concession booths, and tearing off part of the Grandstand.