Minnesota Public Radio, which started reporting from the Minnesota State Fair as far back as 1972, began a yearly tradition of live broadcasting from its booth at the corner of Judson and Nelson in 1991 (taking over the old WLOL-FM spot). The location has since become an important community spot for sharing ideas, intercultural representation, and topics unique to the Fair itself. MPR was the first media organization to have an entire day dedicated to them in the form of MPR Day, held the Friday before Labor Day in Dan Patch Park (formerly known as Carousel Park). The MPR booth has featured Gubernatorial debates, appearances by senators and important public figures, and live performances by a wide range of local musicians and writers. MPR hosts Gary Eichten, Cathy Wurzer, Kerri Miller, Bob Potter, Beth Friend, and numerous others, have filled the air over the past three decades with live Fair broadcasts that both informed and entertained. There was also the longtime broadcast of the Morning Show hosted by Jim Ed Poole and Dale Connelly, bringing their distinctive humor to the street intersection.
The Minnesota State Fair’s permanent 320-acre home along Snelling Avenue in St. Paul contains historical buildings which host a slew of exhibitors, plants, animals, arts, and plenty of jam. Big outdoor attractions include a multitude of food, Midway carnival rides, livestock (with smells), and daily shows and grandstand performances. It’s a busy, busy 12 days that MPR Archive has attempted to capture in this audio collection as varied as food on a stick. A report on Little Irvy, the freeze-dried whale…check! Andean folk band…indeed! Differences of the Pronto pup and the Poncho Dog…got it! Former U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz pitching his milk…yep! Here is your audio ticket to those stories…and so much more.
September 1, 1998 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman visits the stock dog trials at The Minnesota State Fair. The trials demonstrate how dogs can be trained to herd livestock. The superintendent of the trials at the Fair explains details in performance.
September 1, 1998 - State Fair veterinarian Dr. Mike Byoorklin works the barns at the fairgrounds, treating sick or injured animals.
September 4, 1998 - Judy Schaubauch and Sandra Peterson, the co-presidents of the new teachers' union, Education Minnesota, visit MPR’s Gary Eichten at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Schaubauch and Peterson discuss education issues in the news and answer questions from the fair audience.
September 4, 1998 - On this special State Fair edition of Midday, Mike Hatch, Ember Reichgott-Jung and David Lillehaug, the three Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates for attorney general, visit with MPR’s Gary Eichten at the MPR booth. Hatch, Reichgott-Jung and Lillehaug debate the campaign issues and answer questions from the fair audience.
September 7, 1998 - Deb Brown, University of Minnesota Extension Horticulturist, visits MPR’s Gary Eichten at the Minnesota State Fair. Brown discusses lawns, gardens and answers questions from the state fairgrounds audience.
September 7, 1998 - On this special Midday program at the Minnesota State Fair, MPR’s Gary Eichten chats with Howard Sinker, sports analyst and state news editor for Star Tribune. Sinker discusses homerun derby, performance enhancing drugs, and new Vikings season.
September 7, 1998 - The last day of the Minnesota State Fair is more than just one last opportunity to walk around in public eating fried cheese on sticks. Today is the culmination of the 4-H livestock competitions, when all the prize-winning animals go up for auction. The bids are well above market price, and the money is split between local charities and the 4-H kids who raised the winning animals.
September 7, 1998 - Labor Day marks the end of the Minnesota State Fair. If you got a chance to walk around Machinery Hill this year, you probably noticed lawmowers have replaced many of the tractors. Farm equipment that might have been state of the art at past fairs is now on display at the Old Iron Show, a farm antique show. MPR’s Lorna Benson takes a stroll through Machinery Hill with Michael Dregni, editor of "This Old Tractor."
September 10, 1998 - Midday presents a broadcast of the Minnesota Citizens' Forum “job interview” from the Minnesota State Fair, with two candidates for Governor…Jesse Ventura of the Reform Party; and Norm Coleman of the Republican Party.
August 24, 1999 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Janet Harvey of Elk River, who has submitted a “Jesse” quilt in the Fine Arts Competition at the Minneosta State Fair. Harvey explains her reason behind the full-size fabric portrait of Governor Ventura.