CFANS at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair | Get hooked on gar: A fresh look at an ancient fish
Get ready to dive into GARgantuan fun! Visitors to the U of M’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) exhibit at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair will have a variety of hands-on opportunities, from a 360° video experience to meet the ancient gar fish, to handling live bugs and solving food mysteries with our experts.
Whether you're a budding scientist or just curious about the world around you, there's a hands-on learning activity for everyone. Visit our full exhibit in the Southwest wing of the Agriculture Horticulture building at the Minnesota State Fair, August 22 through September 2, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Check out our pop-up learning schedule to plan your visit!
2024 Exhibit Features
My, what sharp teeth you have!
The torpedo-shaped, predatory gar fish may be older than T. rex, but they’re still looking sharp (like alligators with fins) and swimming about in bodies of fresh water today. In Minnesota, these living fossils can grow to more than 4 feet long, and in other places are even bigger!
During the Fair, immerse yourself in our 360° video experience, where you’ll join “gar guy” Dr. Solomon David in his University of Minnesota lab and on a local lake to meet these mysterious fish up close and personal! Video experience available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Ag Hort building.
Minnesota’s Legacy of Awesome Apples
The University of Minnesota has released 29 apple varieties since its research began more than 150 years ago. According to a new CFANS Insights survey, more than half of Minnesotans call Honeycrisp their favorite apple!
Minnesota Hardy researchers aren’t just creating our state’s favorite homegrown apples, they’re creating a fruitful economy with cold hardy strawberries, blueberries, grapes, flowers and other plants that form the foundation of Minnesota’s thriving horticulture industry.
Water Resources Center
The University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center (WRC) provides leadership in freshwater management through cutting-edge research, educational opportunities for students and professionals, and community outreach. Authorized by Congress as one of the nation’s 54 water resources research institutes, the Center connects research expertise at the University to research problems at the national level.
From monitoring the health of our soils to capturing contaminants in stormwater, WRC experts advance the science of clean water for all Minnesotans through innovation, workforce development and knowledge exchange.
Stop by the CFANS exhibit for a selfie in our canoe photo station!
Fighting Minnesota’s Aquatic Invaders
The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) aims to protect Minnesota’s beloved lakes and rivers by developing research-based solutions that prevent AIS spread, control populations, manage ecosystems and inspire citizens to take action.
Want to help? Become an AIS Detector. You’ll learn how to report invasive species, best practices for preventing the spread of AIS, relevant rules and regulations, and how to search for AIS on your own.
