CFANS at the Minnesota State Fair

CFANS staff, students, and faculty: Sign up to volunteer as a greeter in our CFANS exhibit! Training is provided in advance. You receive a free admission ticket for the day and a CFANS T-shirt. 

Agriculture Horticulture Building, Southwest Wing

Daily Features 

(9 a.m.–9 p.m.)  

• CFANS exhibit | Get hooked on gar! Take a fresh look at an ancient fish in a 360° virtual reality experience. Pop-up learning with CFANS departments, take a selfie in a canoe, and watch for special giveaways throughout the Fair.
• Master Gardeners | Get your gardening questions answered by representatives from the University's Master Gardener program. 
• Turfgrass Science | Ask University turfgrass experts how to take care of your lawn, plant sustainably, and support pollinators. 
• Forever Green Initiative | Find out what new crops are on the horizon and those making a great debut from Forever Green researchers.

Pop Up Learning 

(dates and times vary)

• Thursday, August 22, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | GEMS Informatics | Learn about Sensors and Digital Agriculture
• Thursday, August 22, 3–6 p.m. | Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve | Explore science in Minnesota! 
  Stop by and learn about Minnesota-based ecology research through hands-on activities focused on mammals, birds, plants, and more. 
• Friday, August 23, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Frenatae | What’s bugging you? 
  Learn about Minnesota insects and how they impact our environment. We will have native insect display boxes, arthropod ambassadors, and a trivia wheel with prizes.
• Saturday, August 24, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Applied Plant Sciences | Let's talk plants!
  Look at and touch seed and plant displays, study the parts of a flower, play a "Guess the Crop Wild Relative" game, and ask researchers questions about plant and agricultural science. 
• Saturday, August 24, 3–6 p.m. | Frenatae | What’s bugging you? 
  Learn about Minnesota insects and how they impact our environment. We will have native insect display boxes, arthropod ambassadors, and a trivia wheel with prizes.
• Sunday, August 25, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Animal Science | Learn about farm animals!
• Sunday, August 25, 3–6 p.m. | Animal Science | Learn about farm animals!
• Monday, August 26, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Water Resources Science | Dive into the Water Bar! 
  Discover where your drinking water comes from. Sample water from municipal and rural sources, and ground and surface water. Can you taste the difference? Test your taste buds and your knowledge with fun water trivia. Join us for a refreshing and educational experience!
• Monday, August 26, 3–6 p.m. | Water Resources Center | Play the Watershed Game! 
  Through an interactive game, learn what you can do to improve the lakes and rivers downstream of where you live.
• Tuesday, August 27, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Plant Pathology | Plants get sick too!
  Stop by to take our "What Minnesota Plant Disease Are You?" personality quiz and learn about plant pathogens that can be found in Minnesota.
• Tuesday, August 27, 3–6 p.m. | Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
  Explore the many ways that BBE is working to ensure that our rivers, lakes, and streams continue to provide freshwater habitat, clean drinking water, and safe recreational opportunities for future generations. 
• Wednesday, August 28, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum | Climate Resilient Gardening
  Learn tips and ways to garden to create a climate resilient space. 
• Wednesday, August 28, 3–6 p.m. | Plant Pathology | Plants get sick too!
  Stop by to take our "What Minnesota Plant Disease Are You?" personality quiz and learn about plant pathogens that can be found in Minnesota.
• Thursday, August 29, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Bell Museum | Salvage Wildlife
  Salvage Wildlife a new program to recover samples and data from wild, deceased birds and mammals across Minnesota to support research and education on environmental health, ecology, and conservation. Learn more about the program, how to contribute to Salvage Wildlife, as well as take a look at Bell specimens!
• Thursday, August 29, 3–6 p.m. | Food Science and Nutrition | Healthy Hydration
  Learn about the importance of water in food and in our bodies.
• Friday, August 30, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum | Climate Resilient Gardening
  Learn tips and ways to garden to create a climate resilient space.
• Friday, August 30, 3–6 p.m. | Itasca Biological Station | What kind of field biologist are you? 
  At this interactive display, visitors can learn what it's like to be a field biologist studying mammals, birds, fungi, and more!
• Saturday, August 31, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Itasca Biological Station | What kind of field biologist are you? 
  At this interactive display, visitors can learn what it's like to be a field biologist studying mammals, birds, fungi, and more!
• Saturday, August 31, 3–6 p.m. | Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering | Explore the many ways that BBE is working to ensure that our rivers, lakes, and streams continue to provide freshwater habitat, clean drinking water, and safe recreational opportunities for future generations.
• Sunday, September 1, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Water Resources Center | Play the Watershed Game! 
  Through an interactive game, learn what you can do to improve the lakes and rivers downstream of where you live.
• Sunday, September 1, 3–6 p.m. | Applied Plant Sciences | Let's talk plants!
  Look at and touch seed and plant displays, study the parts of a flower, play a "Guess the Crop Wild Relative" game, and ask researchers questions about plant and agricultural science. 
• Monday, September 2, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Food Science and Nutrition | Healthy Hydration
  Learn about the importance of water in food and in our bodies.
• Monday, September 2, 3–6 p.m. | Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center
  Discover the latest advancements in aquatic invasive species (AIS) research at the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC). Learn how our cutting-edge science and innovative approaches are protecting Minnesota’s lakes and rivers from invasive threats.