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 14, 2017 - In the lead up to the 2017 Minnesota State Fair, MPR’s Brian Bakst visits the fairgrounds before the gates even open, where judging for the fair's various contests is already in progress, with blue ribbons to be awarded for best crop art, cross-stitching, pie baking, pickling, and much more. Bakst gets a flavor of the competition in maple syrup and assorted jams.
August 23, 2017 - MPR News host Tom Weber talks with Art Blakey, Minnesota State Fair police chief, as he prepares to retire. For 37 years, Blakey has overseen it all as chief of police on the fairgrounds.
August 23, 2017 - MPR’s Tim Nelson reports on a newly arrived attraction to the Minnesota State Fair….Great Big Wheel. The 36 six-seat gondola wheel promises to be a true spectacle on the fair's north end, especially at night. It replaces what used to be the fair's Machinery Hill.
August 28, 2018 - MPR’s Tim Nelson takes a look at Monty's Traveling Reptile Show, a Nelson Street landmark on the Minnesota State Fair grounds and longtime favorite for many fairgoers. But it's different this year. As of last April, there's no more Monty. Nelson shares a story about the passing of the torch…or maybe the heat lamp…at the fair.
August 31, 2018 - At MPR Day at the Minnesota State Fair, Politics Friday’s Mike Mulcahy hosts a gubernatorial debate at Dan Patch Park between U.S. Representative Tim Walz, the DFL candidate; and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, the GOP candidate. The two spar over President Trump, schools, gun control measures, and how to slow the rising cost of health care. The stakes are high for both parties. Republicans have complete control of the Legislature and could control all of state government if they win the governor's office this fall, but they haven't managed to win a statewide race in more than a decade.
January 21, 2019 - MPR’s Tim Nelson reports on the Minnesota State Fair’s biggest expansion since the West End Market opened in 2014. A new exhibit hall and entrance plaza will greet fairgoers in August, when the $16,000,000 project is scheduled to open.
August 30, 2019 - The Minnesota State Fair broke with long tradition in 2019. After asking artists like Harry Potter book cover illustrator Mary Grandpre and muralist Tacoumba Aiken to portray the fair, a photographer was selected for this year’s commemorative art for the first time.