Livestock Exhibitors

• AUGUST 1st
  • 8:00 am: Campsite Reservations open in Fair Office (see full rules & regulations listed below)
  • All Open Class Livestock Entries Due (paper entries to office by 4pm, online closes at 11:59pm)
• FAIR WEEK
  • TUESDAY
    • Barns will be open and ready for bedding down from NOON – 7:00 pm (no animals Tuesday.)
    • Camping spaces will be marked and ready for camper arrival after 5:00 pm Tuesday. Double check to make sure you are parked in the correct space before placing camper or you will need to eventually move. (See more info & layout below)
  • WEDNESDAY
    • Animal arrival may begin NO SOONER THAN 9:00 am WEDNESDAY. 
      4-H may require animals to arrive by a certain time on Wednesday – please check with 4-H for that information. There are no public fair events held Wednesday.
  • THURSDAY
    • All animals are required to be settled in place & ready for the public by 9:00 am THURSDAY, opening day of the fair.
  • SUNDAY
    • NEW TIME: All exhibits must remain in place until 7:00 pm release on Sunday.

*This is a tentative schedule of livestock shows, times subject to change:

• THURSDAY
  • 8:30am: 4-H Rabbit Show
  • 9:00am: 4-H Dairy Show
  • 1:00pm: 4-H Poultry Show
  • 6:30pm: 4-H Sheep Show
• FRIDAY
  • 9:00am: 4-H Dairy Goat Show
  • 10:00am: 4-H Beef Show
  • 11:00am: 4-H Meat Goat Show
  • 2:00pm: 4-H Swine Show
• SATURDAY
  • 8:00am: 4-H Horse Show
  • 9:00am: Open Class Dairy Goat Show
  • 9:30am: Open Class Dairy Show
  • 10:30am: Open Class Meat Goat Show
  • 3:00pm: Open Class Sheep Show
• SUNDAY
  • 9:00am: Open Class Beef Show
  • 12:00 Noon: 4-H Llama & Alpaca Show

This information is also listed on Page 4 of the Exhibitor’s Premium Book:

Market Street Gate

• The Market Street Gate is no longer a staffed, exhibitor only gate. It is intended for exhibitors and will have signage indicating it as an exhibitor entrance. The gate may be locked by fair staff at any time if a high volume of traffic begins using this as an entrance point.

Vehicle Parking

• Livestock Vehicle passes are no longer needed for parking in the East parking lot.
• No parking vehicles next to barns to allow adequate space for livestock traffic and access to barns.

Trailers

(If you have a camping space – see trailer parking info included under Camping)

• No trailer parking within the Fairgrounds Thursday-Saturday of Fair unless within a camper space.
  • Any trailers remaining Thursday will be removed at the owner’s expense. Trailers may begin parking in the lot on Sunday.
  • If trailers are not taken home, there is parking space designated in the field to the southeast of the grandstand fence for your use (signage will direct you). Trailers do not need to be registered at the fair office and will have no specific parking spaces.
  • Trailers can be accessed at any time by using the grandstand pit access road of of CR 115/Airport Road. Parking is for your convenience and is not located within the fenced in property of the fairgrounds – you are liable for your trailer and contents.
• It is important that your trailer drivers understand the traffic flow to avoid congestion:
  • During load in/out on Wednesday/Sunday, use the Market Street gate for trailer traffic. Keep to the right and circle in a counter-clockwise rotation, exiting the Market Street gate when unloaded/loaded. See map on the website or the fair office for reference.
  • Do not park in a way that will block the flow of traffic or access to vehicles or trailers. If possible, lead your animals to/from your parked trailer to help avoid congestion along livestock buildings and the roadway.

This information is also listed on Page 4 of the Exhibitor’s Premium Book:

Camping on the grounds is currently limited to livestock exhibitors and fair board members.  All campers must be pre-registered in the fair office. Camping space is limited to the first 40 campers registered (and fills FAST that morning).  Registration opens in the fair office on FRIDAY, August 1^st at 8:00 am.  Only 1 camp-site reservation per person at registration & NO GROUP RESERVATIONS. If you call the office or leave a phone message to reserve your space, the people in line at the office will be helped first.  A paid camping fee and signed agreement is required to reserve a space.  Only one camping unit allowed per campsite.  No water hookups. NEW this year is two pricing options for campsites: $100 for no electrical connection and $140 for spaces with access to a 20amp electrical connection. All campers within the electrical connection row pay the $140 fee.  Those sites using power must provide your own appropriately rated cord at least 50’ long to reach the power distribution boxes.  Camping spaces are 25’x approx. 40’.  Campers may provide their own personal quiet generator to fulfill power needs.  The McLeod County Agricultural Association is not liable for any accidents and assumes no liability for incidents or loss associated with campers, equipment or any individuals involved. By signing the waiver, you and your party agree to these terms and conditions.

• Camping spaces will be marked with a numbered flag and ready for camper arrival after 5:00 PM Tuesday.  DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE PARKED IN THE CORRECT SPACE BEFORE PLACING CAMPER or you will need to eventually move.
• A livestock trailer may be parked on site in a camping space. Trailers must fit within your 25’ wide space with your camper.
• Vehicle Parking:  The fair is not liable for ensuring that vehicles refrain from parking in front of your camper spaces.  Spaces are only marked out to specify the width of the space, not length. Length not guaranteed.
• The Minnesota Department of Health has requested that a minimum separation distance of 7 feet be maintained between the sides of adjacent recreational camping vehicles.  Therefore, each camper must stay 3.5 feet away from the dividing lines on each side of your 25’ wide space.  This includes steps and slide outs.  A trailer parked alongside your camper is not included in the 7’ distance, but must stay within the lines of your space to allow neighboring camper doors to open, etc.  Please be respectful to your neighboring campers.
• CAMPER & TRAILER PARKING MAP

The county will be strictly enforcing the following requirements regarding extension cords used in all livestock barns during the fair, and should be followed by all exhibitors:

• All extension cords must be at least 12 gauge or larger Type G, PPE, S, SE, SEO, SEOO, SC, SCE, SCT, SO, SOO, ST, STO, STOO, W or other types identified for extra-hard usage and must be of the grounding type.
• Extension cords must also be three-wire flexible.
• No lightweight (2 wire) extension cords or “zip” cords (18 gauge or smaller) may be used anywhere.
• Octopus plugs and two-wire extension cords often create a fire hazard and will be removed if found in use during an event.
• Cables with a “J” in the type designation (Such as Type SJT) are not permitted.

• MN Board of Animal Health: Livestock Exhibition Handbook
• Biosecurity Recommendations for Exhibitors
• MN Board of Animal Health: Official Identification