Got talent? The North Dakota State Fair wants you to showcase your gifts. The Fair has dedicated an entire stage to North Dakota talent where locals can perform for free. The stage is featured in the SRT State Fair Park and is home to dancers, martial artists, singers, and more. Catch local talent everyday at the Fair from 11:30am to 7:00pm daily.

Interested in performing at the Fair? It’s not too late! Go to our website to download an application or call (701) 857-7620 for more information. Schedules will be finalized after July 1st.

Dodge Balls at the ND State Fair!

The fifth annual North Dakota State Fair Dodgeball Tournament is back by popular demand. The tournament will take place on Friday July 24th at 10am. It is open to ages 16 & up. Prizes and medals will be awarded to the top three teams in the Open Division and the teams with the best uniforms in both divisions. The entry fee is $60 per team and teams should have approximately 6 to 8 players. All proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the Minot Area Community Foundation. To register you team, go to www.ndstatefair.com/spaecialevents/ to download a registration form, or call (701) 857-7620 for more information. Come on down for bragging rights and to support a good cause. This event is sure to be a blast!

Extreme Canines Stunt Dog Show

The Extreme Canines are back by popular demand for their second appearance at the Fair!
You may have seen these guys on Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Pet Stars with Mario Lopez. Each of the amazing pooches in the show have been adopted out of pounds and shelters from across the country. They've been promoting pet adoption and responsible pet ownership since 1999. From large breed to small, you’ll be amazed as the dogs execute big air stunts, catch frisbees, compete in grand prix style agility racing, and soar to new heights in the “Extreme Canines High-Jump Challenge." The Extreme Canines will perform at 1:30pm, 4pm, and 7pm daily on Stage 3 everyday of the Fair, sponsored by Bremer Bank.

The Gothard Girls & High 48's

The Gothard Girls are champion Irish dancers who weave their own fiddle tune arrangements, songs, stories and intricate choreography into a lively and entertaining show that engages audiences of all ages, from the youngest to the eldest. From a very early age, the girls have been performing on stages all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The Gothard Girls will be performing three times daily on the Jukebox Junkie Stage:

July 24th, 26th, 27th, and 28th~ noon, 2, and 5pm

July 25th~ noon, 5, and 10pm

The High 48s will be performing on Jukebox Junkie Stage the rest of the Fair from July 29th through August 1st. They have grabbed the attention of festival audiences in the Upper Midwest and beyond, released two critically acclaimed CDs and won first place in the 2008 RockyGrass Band Competition in Lyons, CO. They focus on writing original material that combines the soul and drive of bluegrass with the harder-edged sound of alternative country and roots rock. It’s a style of music the band calls Hard Grass. Hear the High 48s four times daily on the Jukebox Junkie Stage:

July 29th~ noon, 6pm, 8pm, and 10pm

July 30th and 31st~ noon, 2pm, 5pm, and 10pm

August 1st~ noon, 5pm, 7pm, and 10pm

Where's the Beef?

No longer do I hear the echo of a cow mooing outside my office. That must mean that Achievement days have come to a close. For the past four days, 4-H members have been competing to qualify for the North Dakota State Fair. Everything from beef to sheep to swine came to strut their stuff for the judges, and oh boy did those judges swoon. Throughout the week there was nothing but smiles on everyone’s’ faces and laughter in the air. We are sad to see you go, but until we meet again farewell to all you 4-Hers, and a job well done.

Wow! Yesterday at the Achievement Days the kids were running crazy! There were plenty of seriousness and hard work that went into the raising and showing of their livestock, lots of skill and talent in their still exhibits ranging from recycled caprisun purses to beautifully crafted wood pieces and more! But after the shows were done and the goodbyes neared, it was time to have a little fun. In a not so agricultural take, the ag olympics are something that the leaders and parents of the group put together for the kids to take part in, and they looked like they were having a blast. Running through the State Fair Center and the Expo Barn, they were all smiles under the dirt and grime that had accumulated during the week. In this multi part, multi team, multi player, multi FUN event, they participate in events like blind folded water baloon tossing, and scavenger hunts with several stations where the must complete a task at each, including trivia and charades! The Ag Olympics is so fun it seemed as though virtually everyone was participating. A great way to wrap up the week full of learning, competition, and hard work. (Pictured: A group of 4-Hers at a station during the ag olympics scavenger hunt, after just acting out an armpit fart)

2009 Achievement Days

With the 2009 North Dakota State Fair right around the corner 4-Hers have gathered to compete in this year’s Achievement Days. 4-Hers have been at the State Fair grounds all this week showing horses, rabbits, poultry, dogs, cats, sheep, dairy, beef, swine, goats, and more! The competitions which started this Monday with the horse show will continue until this Thursday June 25th. Today you can catch the swine, sheep, dairy, goat, and beef shows in the Expo building on the State Fair grounds. Don’t miss the Achievement Days Barbeque on Thursday at 4:30pm in Magic Place. They will be serving fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, chocolate chips cookies, and milk only $6 for adults and $4 for children.

Only those who receive a blue ribbon or a higher honor, such as Outstanding Reserve or Grand Champion, during Achievement Days are eligible to be entered at the State Fair. Good luck to all the competitors, we can’t wait to see you again at the Fair this year.

Static exhibits showed in Magic Place today, and there are certainly some talented kids in North Dakota. Here are some that caught my eye. Top Left is a photo by Kayla from Des Lacs Livestock. Ridge’s woodwork is in the Top Right and is representing Prairie Tumbleweeds. Bottom Left is a photo by Brittney from Rockey Acres and Bottom Right is 8yr old Shaylee’s wood art from wheatlanders. We couldn't be more proud of our 4-H members!

Virtual Geo Scavenger Hunt~ July 26th- 28th

Join us in a virtual adventure across the State Fair! Participate in the journey anytime July 26-28 from 11am-7pm Sunday and Monday and from 11am-5pm on Tuesday. Stop by the 4-H Office in the State Fair Center for the coordinates and clues you will need to complete your quest. You may use your own GPS units or check one out at the 4-HOffice. An adult must accompany a youth to rent a GPS and a drivers license will be held in exchange for the unit. Prizes will be awarded after completing a successful quest across the State Fairgrounds.

Senior Day~ July 30th

In honor of seniors in our communities the North Dakota State Fair has named Thursday July 30th the Senior Day Festival. Come celebrate with us in the Upper Atrium of the State Fair Center from 10am to 3pm.There will be great entertainment, vendor booths, and an ice cream social.

Special Days at the Fair

Experience Pride of Dakota Day at the North Dakota State Fair July 27th! Visit with North Dakota entrepreneurs and purchase products made exclusively in North Dakota. A lunch is offered to all fairgoers for only $1 from 11am-1pm under the tent. The lunch includes a hotdog, chips, and drink. Pride of Dakota Day is sponsored by KMOT-TV and ND Department of Agriculture.

Bring the whole family to this year’s Fox 24 TV Family Day, July 28th. Step under the big tent located in the middle of the fairgrounds to experience several fun and educating activities for all ages. Several businesses and organizations will have displays and hands-on entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

Join the local Co-ops of North Dakota for a pancake and sausage breakfast served from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m on July 29th. Visit with various co-ops throughout the day and enjoy an ice cream social from 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the afternoon. The KX/Co-op Day is a special way for co-ops to thank members for their patronage.

Water Day-Festival O' Fun is back on July 30, 2009! The purpose of Water Day-Festival O' Fun is to promote unity for water development and to educate the public about the critical water needs that still exist within our state today. Join booth exhibitors under the big colorful Tent in State Fair Park from 10am-4pm, Water Wiz trivia will be played with a grand prize drawing. Frost Fest snowcones will be given away from 3pm-4pm.

NDSF Artists Win at CMT Awards

In Nashville, Taylor Swift opened the Country Music Television awards with a pre-taped segment that led into "Thug Story," a humorous rap video with T-Pain. The 19-year-old country and pop sensation won video of the year and female video of the year for "Love Story." She also helped close the show by performing "Pour Some Sugar On Me" with one of her favorite rock bands, Def Leppard. Swift won the fan-voted award over Brad Paisley's "Waitin' on a Woman," Trace Adkins' "You're Gonna Miss This," Carrie Underwood's "Just a Dream" and Sugarland's "All I Want to Do." Gloriana, who will be opening for Taylor Swift during the Fair, also performed at the awards during the commercial breaks for the live telecast. Taylor and Gloriana are sure to blow fans away at this years North Dakota State Fair Concert. Former Fair artist, Sugarland also won during the awards show for Duo video with their song"All I Want to Do." Be sure to check out CMT's website for the entire scoop.

Rollin' in the Dough!

I figured it's time to start testing out pies for the First Lady's Pie Contest that will be at the Fair. With $600 in cash prizes, a blue ribbon could have you rolling in the dough! Today I made a super easy, sweet and tasty Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, this was the first pie I ever made! If I can do it I'm pretty sure anyone can. I will admit that I made a few rookie mistakes i.e. not putting tin foil under the pie which left me with a dirty oven. Here's the recipe from a super old Betty Crocker Cookbook, in case you want to give it a try to get you warmed up for the pie contest.

9 inch pastry for two-crust pie
1 1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup all purpose flour
3 cups fresh rhubarb
1 cup strawberries

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare pastry. Mix sugar and flour. Turn half the rhubarb & strawberries into the pastry-lined pie plate; sprinkle with half of the sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining rhubarb & strawberry and sugar mixture. Cover with top crust that has slits cut in it; seal and flute. Sprinkle with sugar. Cover edge with a 2 to 3 inch strip of aluminum foil, remove foil during last 15 minutes of baking.

Bake until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust, 40 to 50 minutes. That's it! Good Luck in the contest but don't forget about all of the Fair's other contests, last year we gave away nearly $230,000 in prize money.

Carnival Ride Promotions and Rodeo Coupons

Our Carnival Ride Promotions and our Rodeo Coupons are now up on our website! Some of the great promotions you won't want to miss out on include, but are not limited too:

• BUY ONE Gate Admission and GET ONE FREE When you present two coke products
  On 2 for 1 Tuesday - July 28


• $5.00 Off Daily Unlimited Ride Wristband on July 29th- KX Co-Op Day
  Coupons can be found at area Co-Ops and KXMC


• $30 BUY ONE Unlimited-Ride Wristband GET ONE FREE on 2 for 1 Tuesday July 28
  Coupons available at Marketplace Foods (Sponsored by Mix 99.9 and Marketplace Foods)


• $5.00 Off Daily Unlimited Ride Wristband Thursday July 30- Newspaper Day
  Coupons available in Minot Daily News and local papers


• $1 Off Daily Gate Admission Thursday July 30- Newspaper Day
  Coupons available in Minot Daily NewsAnd local papers


• $5.00 Off Daily Unlimited Ride Wristband July 27 KMOT Pride of Dakota Day
  Coupons Available in ND Living and State Fair Tabloid


• $30 Daily Unlimited Ride Wristband Enjoy unlimited daily carnival rides at the Fair
  Coupons available at Minot Superpumper


• $5 OFF Good CharlotteTickets when you present a Coke UPC
  

Demolition Derby July 28

The Demolition Derby is Tuesday, July 28 at the Grandstand. Spectators can use their Showpass* to witness the destruction first hand! Drivers interested in competing should call Scott Fuchs at 701-852-2970 (evenings) or email fuchs@minot.com. Entry forms can also be downloaded HERE. First place receives $1,500, second place $1,000, third place $500, and forth place $250.

Amateur Talent Contest July 29

Let your voice be heard at the 2009 North Dakota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest. Amateurs in both the Junior (15 and under) and the Senior (16 and up) divisions from around the state will compete for cash prizes. Only the first 15 applications in each division will be accepted. All contestants will receive a pair of tickets to the Devonshires and Classic Car Show. Registration deadline is June 26. Click here to download an entry form.

NDSF T-Shirts Are In!

2009 North Dakota State Fair T-shirts have arrived! There will be plenty of opportunities to win these awesome shirts. For your chance to become a winner you can join our Mailing List, become a Fair fan on Facebook, or answer our trivia questions on Twitter. Keep an eye out for our interns next week. They will be in and around the Minot area next week posting banners, giving out promotional material, and letting everyone know about all of the great events we have at the Fair this year.

Register Now to Showcase Your Best at the North Dakota State Fair

The North Dakota State Fair invites people of all ages to participate in the Fair by entering in Open Class Competitions. Open Class Competitions have something for everyone with hundreds of competitive categories including canning, baked goods, quilting, clothing, flowers, painting, photography, vegetables and much more. The State Fair also proudly highlights several breeds including beef, sheep, goat, swine, rabbits, dairy and horse. Over 11,000 entries were received last year and showcased as the “best” of North Dakota. Additionally, in 2008, nearly $230,000 was given away in prize money!

The Fair also still has openings for your livestock and agriculture equipment in Machinery Row too!

Entering your projects at the State Fair is easy with the newly updated online registration system. To access the online system and exhibitor information Click Here. For additional information, or to request an exhibitor handbook, call the North Dakota State Fair office at 701-857-7620.

Concert Ticket Sales Update

They're flying out the door! Tickets to this year's North Dakota State Fair concert lineup are selling faster than they ever have in the past. It is even being speculated that if sales keep on track we'll have a record breaking Fair! Tickets currently on sale include: The Grandstand Showpass, Daily and Season Gate Admission, Mega Ride, Family Fun Pack, Motley Crue with Theory of a Deadman and Good Charlotte. Get yours today! Visit the north Dakota State Fair Center M-F, 8-5pm, call 701-852-FAIR or Click Here to order online.

State Fair Parade July 25

Don't miss the largest parade in North Dakota on the first Saturday of the Fair, July 25. The parade starts at 9:15 a.m. sharp on the corner of Broadway and Burdick Expressway and runs to the Fairgrounds. Please contact the Parade office at 838-0104 with any questions. This year’s theme is Pumpin' in the Bakken. Registration is due by Wednesday July 1. If you are interested in entering a float in the parade you can download an entry form at https://www.ndstatefair.com/specialevents/

Colgate Country Showdown- July 26

Watch some of the best local country musicians compete in a talent challenge you won't want to miss. The Colgate Country Showdown, sponsored by Sunny 101.9 Radio, will take place inside the Flickertail Gardens on Sunday, July 26th at 1:00 p.m. Along with receiving a cash prize, the showdown winner will advance to the state competition to compete for the opportunity to qualify for the regional level. For more information, contact Sunny 101.9 at 1-800-827-1614.

Kids Showdeo

Watch young cowboys and cowgirls display their talents in a variety of junior rodeo events at the annual North Dakota State Fair Showdeo. There are three age divisions and six competitions for little buckaroos to challenge. Each stick horse race, goat tie, and calf scramble is sure to produce a State Fair champ and possibly a future rodeo star! The Showdeo will be on Wednesday July 29 at 2:30 and registration starts at noon. If you want your rodeo star in the competition see our website details! http://www.ndstatefair.com/specialevents/

Rock Win'em before you can Buy'em

There won't be a reason to wake up early on Wednesday to buy your Motley or Good Charlotte tickets if you win them this week! Tune in to your favorite local rock radio stations in Minot, Bismarck, Dickinson, Williston and Brandon, Manitoba to win Good Charlotte and Motley Crue tickets before you can even buy them! In Minot listen to KZPR, KIZZ FM and KTZU FM. In Bismarck tune in to KKCT FM and KBYZ FM. Dickinson - KZRX FM, Williston KTHC FM and Brandon CKX FM. If you don't win, don't cry you can still purchase your tikcets at 8am on Wednesday!