Project Dynamite

Alex Clark and David Kaplan are two of Hollywood's most traveled comics. Their edgy humor and high-energy charisma will blow you away. For the past five years they have performed coast to coast impressing audiences with their big stunts and outrageous jokes. It's easy to see why they have been voted best act, called side-split-tingly funny, and even billed as America's hottest export. This action packed duo show features astonishing stunts and memorable moments wrapped up into one hilarious presentation. Their grande finale brings danger to an all new level, David and Alex climb 20 feet into the air and balance atop six folding chairs to perform their most dangerous stunt.Catch their act and witness two rising stars on their climb to the top three times daily in the Flickertail Gardens July 24-28.

Exhibits and Collectibles

The Exhibitor Handbook will be on-line later on this week, so remember to get your entry forms in for all your exhibits and collectibles. We are now accepting education, art, and photography entries, so bring them on down!

If you have a special collection, then we would love for you to take part in the 2009 North Dakota State Fair Collectibles Show. Anything, from quilts to antique toys, can be displayed and judged. Entries are scheduled to be brought in Monday, July, 20th through Wednesday, July 22nd 8:00am-5:00pm and be picked up Saturday, August 1st from 6pm-10pm. Displays will be open from 10a.m.-10p.m. all nine days of the Fair. Exhibits are displayed in locked cases provided by the Fair. Awards include plaques and cash prizes for the 1st and 2nd place winners.

Bo Allen & Scarekrow July 24-27

Everyone at the North Dakota State Fair is very excited about our concert line up this year. However, we want everyone to know that there is also amazing talent performing on our free stages at the Fair as well. Bo Allen & Scarekrow are one of the concerts that will keep you entertained throughout your Fair experience at no extra cost.

This crowd-pleasing group has fans in nearly every state thanks to their laid back attitudes and hard rockin' shows. Like its members Bo Allen & Scarekrow is eclectic, personable, unique and brilliant. Take the dare to listen to their amplified country sound without tapping your foot or swinging your hips with the beat. Don't miss this country and southern rock inspired band, performing on the Flickertail Stage at 5pm & 10pm.

http://www.ndstatefair.com/freestages/

Horse and Pony Pull Competitions

The Horse and Pony Pull is a traditional Fair favorite! Ponies and Large draft horse teams, bred for their strength and agility, compete to see who can pull the heaviest load. The best horses in competition are worked every day to keep their muscles and tendons in top shape for pulling. Teams will be weighted to determine light or heavy weight class. During the pull, teams must stay within the boundary lines or they will be disqualified. Cash prizes are awarded to teams that place in the top 9 places! $500 goes to 1st Place in Horse Pull, and $350 to 1st Place in Pony Pull. Call NDSF at 852-FAIR and ask for a registration form or download a registration form Here.

Wanted: Miss Rodeo NDSF 2010

Young ladies ages 18 to 22 are invited to compete in the Miss North Dakota State Fair Pageant on Friday, July 24, 2009. Pageant contestants will be judged in horsemanship, modeling, speech and a personal interview. The Pageant Queen will receive a traveling silver crown, 2010 pageant belt buckle and many prizes including: clothing, gift certificates, barrel saddle, Montana Silversmith jewelry and much more. She will also represent the North Dakota State Fair at the 2011 Miss Rodeo North Dakota Pageant in October 2010.

Contact the State Fair Office at 701-857-7620 or Pageant Coordinator Leslie Herslip at 701-578-4953 or pagcoordinator@yahoo.com

Ashley Geisinger Miss North Dakota State Fair 2009

Introducing........Our Marketing Interns!

Greetings Fair fans! We would like to introduce you to our marketing interns for the summer, Devin and Ashley. They will be behind the scenes helping us keep everything running smoothly. Here’s a little about them so you can become acquainted and find out what they will be up to this summer.

“Hey guys! Ashley M. here, I’m a sin city local who moved to Minot three months ago for “a little” change of scenery. I recently graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas where I attained a bachelor degree in Business Marketing. My aspiration is to get involved with event planning, which is why I was drawn to working at the Fair. What event could be more fun to be apart of than THE event of the year, the North Dakota State Fair?! I am learning a lot already and trying to stay prepared for anything that comes my way, whether it is flying dodgeballs or crazy mascots, I’m up for the challenge.”

Hi, Devin Bell here! I am a fun, outgoing and love to have a good time. Currently, I am studying marketing at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. I have always been very interested in event planning so I decided the Fair would be a great place to experience it. The State Fair is a fun upbeat environment and I want to keep it that way with my events. What I have on the schedule for this year includes a sandbox to a clown contest to a greased pig contest. It doesn’t stop there though. Come check out the State Fair for the rest!

Thanks for taking the time to get to know our new interns. We are very excited to have them! Together they will also be keeping Fairgoers updated about on Facebook, MySpace, Blogger and Twitter!

NDSF Welcomes Back Two Amazing Summer Assistants

The North Dakota State Fair has two great summer assistants that we would like to introduce. Katie H. and Amber A. are back to make sure you get your concert tickets and answer all your questions. Here is some background information on these two awesome little helpers.

“Hi everyone! My name is Katie H. and I work as one of the assistants in the North Dakota State Fair office. This is my second Fair and I love my job! I answer the phones and enjoy talking to all of you about your fun times at the Fair. Among the countless things that make the fair run, I get to help sell tickets and make sure everyone gets a ribbon for their hard work. I started off at Minot State University towards a degree in Public Relations and Marketing and will finish up in a couple of years at the University of North Dakota. Working at the Fair has been a great experience! I can’t say enough about the wonderful people I get to work with and how much they have taught me along the way. We keep pretty busy around here but when the fair rolls around all of the hard work pays off! Can’t wait to see you at the 2009 State Fair!”

“Hello! My name is Amber A. This is my second year working as an assistant for the Fair and I love it!!! I get to work with fantastic people that make all the Fairs a great success! I just recently graduated from Williston State College with my Associates of Arts Degree. I will be continuing my education next year at Dickinson State University in hopes to become an Elementary Education teacher. I played basketball for WSC Tetons for my two years there and I will get to play two more years at Dickinson State. The North Dakota State Fair has always been the highlight of my summers and always is a fun time! Working here I have gotten to experience the fair from the inside. I have seen how much work and dedication it takes into making your fair a great success and I hope you enjoy it!!”

As you can see, you are in good hands this year at the Fair. We are so glad to have an office team that truly loves the Fair. Thanks for taking the time to get to know these two members of our team!

It's Official - A New Grandstand is on the Way!

On Friday afternoon Governor Hoeven visited the Grandstand to sign the legislation allocating $15 million for the construction of a new North Dakota State Fair Grandstand. The current Grandstand was constructed in 1955 and has long needed to be replaced. The Grandstand was full of cheers and smiles as Hoeven signed the legislation. Senator Krebsbach, a huge proponent of the Grandstand helped make the funding a reality. A State Fair Grandstand committee will meet with the architects on Tuesday to begin the planning phases of this project. Demolition of the current Grandstand will take place after Labor Day weekend. The new Grandstand should be ready by July 23, 2010, just in time for the Fair!

Barrel Bash among new Competitive Events for 2009

This 4D, NWBRA and WPRA approved, Barrel Bash will take place during the last weekend of the Fair. The race will be a cloverleaf pattern with the fastest time winning. Exhibitions start at noon on Friday, July 31 with the event starting at 6pm. Saturday exhibition starts at 8am, Youth Barrel Race at noon with $500 added. Open Barrel Race to follow the youth with $2,000 added.  

Buckles will be awarded to the average high money rider in each division over two days and awards to high money youth riders on Saturday. This Barrel Bash will serve as a BBR World Finals Double Qualifier. Competitors can sign up at www.barrelbash.com 

 A second new horse competition during the Fair will be the Draft Horse Events Show on Saturday, July 25 at 5:30pm. Draft horses from across the state will compete in events such as Log Skidding, the Cloverleaf and an Obstacle Course. Large horse teams will have to demonstrate strength, agility, and much more than just their pulling abilities. 

A new Jr. Swine Sweepstakes contest has also been added to the Livestock Schedule for 2009. This contest will consist of Showmanship, a Judging Contest, Skill-a-thon and Live Pig Placing. Prizes will be awarded based on a points system the event will take place on Saturday, August 1. Finally, an Open Class Boer Goat Show will take place on Saturday, August 1 in the back of the Jaycees Building in the Jaycees Show ring.