CFANS at the Minnesota State Fair

Agriculture Horticulture Building, Southwest Wing (9 a.m.–9 p.m.)  

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. 

Daily Features

• Play Gopher It! | CFANS
  Test your smarts and curiosity with Gopher It, a new game from the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). Guess, grab, and discover the surprising science behind food, farming, and the natural world. Plus, get your pair of Goldy Gopher ears while supplies last.
• Growing Answers, One Question at a Time | Master Gardeners
  Got gardening questions? From backyard vegetables to lush landscaping, the University of Minnesota's Master Gardeners are here to help. Stop by to dig into expert advice, tips, and know-how. Learn more about Master Gardeners.
• Lawn Goals? We've Got You Covered | Turfgrass Science
  Whether you're going for lush and green, low-maintenance, or pollinator-friendly, University of Minnesota turfgrass experts can help you grow smarter. Stop by for tips on sustainable lawn care that work for you and the environment. Learn more about Turfgrass Science.
• The Future of Farming in Minnesota | Forever Green Initiative
  Discover the future of farming with the Forever Green Initiative. University of Minnesota researchers are developing and improving winter-hardy annual and perennial crops that protect soil and water while creating new economic opportunities for growers, industry and communities across Minnesota. Browse the displays of the innovative products being commercialized with these new ingredients, from food to feed to fuel and more. Learn more about the Forever Green Initiative.

Pop Up Learning

Agriculture Horticulture Building, Southwest Wing (dates and times vary)

• Explore Science with CFANS Youth Outreach 
  Thursday, August 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  Dive into hands-on fun with science. Ask questions and discover how the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences is driving breakthroughs in food, agriculture, and the natural world. Learn more about CFANS Youth Outreach. 
• Field Research Challenge 
  Thursday, August 27, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  Get hands-on with Minnesota ecology! Explore field research from Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, featuring fun activities on mammals, birds, plants, and more to discover the science happening in your backyard. Learn more about Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve.
• Vote for your favorite apple!
  Friday, August 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  Vote for your favorite apple variety and explore what the University of Minnesota Department of Horticultural Science — Home of the Honeycrisp — has to offer! Learn more about Horticultural Science. 
• Field Research Challenge 
  Friday, August 28, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  Get hands-on with Minnesota ecology! Explore field research from Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, featuring fun activities on mammals, birds, plants, and more to discover the science happening in your backyard. Learn more about Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve.
• Are you smarter than AI? 
  Saturday, August 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  Compete against an artificial intelligence (AI) image classifier to identify common management challenges in agriculture and forestry. Learn more about GEMS Informatics.
• Insect Zoo 
  Saturday, August 29, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  See and touch creepy crawlies from the University of Minnesota Puparium Insect Zoo! Learn more about the UMN Insect Club and the Department of Entomology. 
• Society for Ecological Restoration 
  Sunday, August 30, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  Interactive pop-up learning session hosted by the Society for Ecological Restoration. Learn more about the UMN Society for Ecological Restoration.
• Salvage Wildlife with the Bell Museum
  Sunday, August 30, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  Help the Bell Museum learn more about Minnesota’s wildlife and ecosystems through Salvage Wildlife, a project that turns tragedies into scientific data. Learn more about Salvage Wildlife. 
• Park Boss: 60-second Ranger Challenge 
  Monday, August 31, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  Spin, solve, & save the forest! Spin the wheel for your ranger job, tackle a real-world scenario, and see if you have what it takes to protect Minnesota's great outdoors in our 60-second ranger challenge. Learn more about the UMN Department of Forest Resources. 
• Environmental Trivia Challenge 
  Monday, August 31, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  Put your green knowledge to the test! Whether you are a nature enthusiast or a full-blown climate champion, this is your chance to show off what you know about our amazing planet and the people that inhabit it—and walk away with a prize. Learn more about the UMN Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management major.
• Vote for your favorite apple! 
  Tuesday, September 1, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  Vote for your favorite apple variety and explore what the UMN Department of Horticultural Science — Home of the Honeycrisp — has to offer! Learn more about the UMN Department of Horticultural Science.
• Who eats your guts? 
  Tuesday, September 1, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  Learn about scavengers at hunter-provided gut piles and explore Minnesota food webs. Learn more about the University of Minnesota Offal Wildlife Watching project.
• Mycology Astrology 
  Wednesday, September 2, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  Find your birth date on our chart to see what fungus matches your astrological sign! Learn more about the University of Minnesota Department of Plant Pathology.
• Build a Better Future with BBE | Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering 
  Wednesday, September 2, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  Discover how creative problem-solving can build a better future with the University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE). Put your hands and brain to work with fun, interactive activities that explore real-world challenges in sustainability, science, and engineering. Learn more about UMN BBE.
• Park Boss: 60-second Ranger Challenge 
  Thursday, September 3, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  Spin, solve, & save the forest! Spin the wheel for your ranger job, tackle a real-world scenario, and see if you have what it takes to protect Minnesota's great outdoors in our 60-second ranger challenge. Learn more about the UMN Department of Forest Resources. 
• Grow Roots with UMN Community Plant Breeding 
  Thursday, September 3, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  Get to know the University of Minnesota Community Plant Breeding Team, who works to adapt vegetables to the Minnesota climate, and create a space where everyone can have access to the fresh produce important to them. Learn more about UMN Community Plant Breeding Team.
• The Water Bar
  Friday, September 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  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. Learn more about the UMN Water Resources Science graduate program.
• Let's Talk Plants 
  Friday, September 4, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  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. Learn more about the UMN Applied Plant Sciences graduate program.
• Explore Aquatic Invasive Species Research 
  Saturday, September 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  Discover the latest advancements in aquatic invasive species research at the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC). Learn how cutting-edge science and innovative approaches are protecting Minnesota’s lakes and rivers from invasive threats. Learn more about MAISRC.
• Build a Better Future with BBE | Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering 
  Saturday, September 5, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  Discover how creative problem-solving can build a better future with the University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE). Put your hands and brain to work with fun, interactive activities that explore real-world challenges in sustainability, science, and engineering. Learn more about UMN BBE.
• Let's Talk Plants 
  Sunday, September 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  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. Learn more about the UMN Applied Plant Sciences graduate program.
• Explore Science with CFANS Youth Outreach
  Sunday, September 6, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  Dive into hands-on fun with science. Ask questions and discover how the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences is driving breakthroughs in food, agriculture, and the natural world. Learn more about CFANS Youth Outreach. 
• Sensational Food Science 
  Monday, September 7, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  Learn how your five senses let you experience food. Learn more about the UMN Department of Food Science and Nutrition.
• Mycology Astrology 
  Monday, September 7, 3 to 6 p.m. 
  Find your birth date on our chart to see what fungus matches your astrological sign! Learn more about the University of Minnesota Department of Plant Pathology.