CFANS Schedule at the Minnesota State Fair

Thursday, August 24–Labor Day, September 4, 2023 | 9 a.m.–9 p.m. daily

Agriculture Horticulture Building

Update: Thanks for joining us in 2023! See you next year.

Daily Features (9 a.m.–9 p.m.)  

  • CFANS: Feeding a Growing Population, Protecting the Planet | Pop-up learning with CFANS departments, jump into a 360° virtual reality experience, 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 all your lawn care questions.
  • 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/times vary) 

  • Thursday, August 24 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Entomology | What is bugging you?   
    Come 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. 
  • Thursday, August 24 | 3–6 p.m. | Plant Pathology | What Minnesota plant disease are you? Take a quiz to find out which Minnesotan plant disease matches your personality. We will have diseased samples to show guests of the diseases found in the quiz. 
  • Friday, August 25 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Plant Pathology | What Minnesota plant disease are you?  Take a quiz to find out which Minnesotan plant disease matches your personality. We will have diseased samples to show guests of the diseases found in the quiz. 
  • Friday, August 25 | 3– 6 p.m. | Entomology | What is bugging you?   
    Come 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 26 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Entomology | What is bugging you?   
    Come 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 26 | 3–6 p.m. | Applied Plant Sciences | Let's talk plants!   
    Visitors can 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.  
  • Sunday, August 27 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 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!
  • Monday, August 28 | 11 a.m. –2 p.m. | GEMS Informatics | The historic movement of major crop production in Minnesota and Digital Agriculture! Learn about sensors and mapping agriculture
  • Monday, August 28 | 3–6 p.m. | Plant Pathology | What Minnesota plant disease are you?   
    Take a quiz to find out which Minnesotan plant disease matches your personality. We will have diseased samples to show guests of the diseases found in the quiz. 
  • Tuesday, August 29 | 11 a.m. –2 p.m.| Bell Museum | Climate Stripes: Visualizing Minnesota's changing temperatures  
    This collaborative activity helps participants visualize change in Minnesota's temperature over time. Using different colors of fabric to represent yearly temperature averages, participants will co-create an installation that will show the data behind our changing climate in full color.
  • Tuesday, August 29 | 3–6 p.m. | Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering | How strong are bioplastics? 
    There are many bioplastics around us made from plant-based materials. Food storage bags, trash bags, dog poop & cat litter bags, even tablecloths! These bioplastics are made from plant-based materials: Corn, sugarcane, legumes, etc. Let's put them to test and see if they are strong enough!
  • Wednesday, August 30 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 3– 6 p.m. | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum | Plant This, Not That  
    Let's learn about our most desirable and troublesome species in our plant communities.
  • Thursday, August 31 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 3–6 p.m. | Applied Plant Sciences | Let's talk plants!   
    Visitors can 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.  
  • Friday, September 1 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 3–6 p.m. | Animal Science | Let’s learn about farm animals!
  • Saturday, September 2 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Animal Science | Let’s learn about farm animals!
  • Saturday, September 2 |  3–6 p.m.  | Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering | How strong are bioplastics? 
    There are many bioplastics around us made from plant-based materials. Food storage bags, trash bags, dog poop & cat litter bags, even tablecloths! These bioplastics are made from plant-based materials: Corn, sugarcane, legumes, etc. Let's put them to test and see if they are strong enough!
  • Sunday, September 3 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Food Science and Nutrition | The Future of Protein  
    Learn about what protein is, its importance in nutrition and food, and how we're researching new and better plant proteins.
  • Sunday, September 3 |  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!
  • Monday, September 4 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Food Science and Nutrition | The Future of Protein  
    Learn about what protein is, its importance in nutrition and food, and how we're researching new and better plant proteins.
  • Monday, September 4 |  3–6 p.m. | Animal Science | Let’s learn about farm animals!

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