For 20 years, Renewing the Countryside has brought engaging sustainable food and farming education to the Minnesota State Fair Eco Experience, inspiring more than 200,000 fairgoers each year. Exhibits such as Bird Friendly Farming, Plant Proteins, Artisan Grains, and Farmland Access highlight how thoughtful agricultural practices can restore and protect vital natural systems and help build healthy communities. Through interactive exhibits, local food tastings, chef demonstrations, and family-friendly activities, visitors discover how Renewing the Countryside celebrates the powerful connection between sustainable agriculture and thriving communities across Minnesota.
Daily Schedule Overview
- 8 a.m.-8 p.m. — Farming exhibit, local food-themed kids activities and more!
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m. — RTC’s FEAST! farmers and food-makers will sample their newest and most celebrated local food products
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11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. — Celebrated chefs, food-makers and cooks from across Minnesota will demonstrate how to make their favorite recipes using local Minnesotan ingredients, sharing samples and stories
Cooking Demonstration Schedule
All demos take place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.Thursday, August 26 TBD TBD Friday, August 27 TBD TBD Saturday, August 28 TBD TBD Sunday, August 29 TBD TBD Monday, August 30 TBD TBD Tuesday, August 31 TBD TBD Wednesday, September 1 TBD TBD Thursday, September 2 TBD TBD Friday, September 3 TBD TBD Saturday, September 4 TBD TBD Sunday, September 5 TBD TBD Monday, September 6 TBD TBD Every Day: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sample Partner One Sample Partner Two Thursday, August 26 TBD TBD Friday, August 27 TBD TBD Saturday, August 28 TBD TBD Sunday, August 29 TBD TBD Monday, August 30 TBD TBD Tuesday, August 31 TBD TBD Wednesday, September 1 TBD TBD Thursday, September 2 TBD TBD Friday, September 3 TBD TBD Saturday, September 4 TBD TBD Sunday, September 5 TBD TBD Monday, September 6 TBD TBD
Volunteer with us at the Fair!
Volunteer at the Eco Experience building with Renewing the Countryside and get a FREE admittance ticket to the MN State Fair for the day you volunteer and a FREE limited-edition ‘local food’ organic cotton t-shirt!
RTC has been providing programming at the MN State Fair's in the Eco Experience Building for over 20 years, and we could not do it without all of you who volunteer. Whether it’s handing out samples of dishes from our featured chefs, or facilitating engaging activities celebrating MN-grown produce, volunteering at the Fair is a rewarding experience that helps to connect fairgoers with vital information about supporting local food systems and a more resilient future.
Volunteer shifts are an average of three hours and are available every day of the Fair, Aug. 27th - Sept. 7th, from 9am to 7:30pm.
Volunteer registration for our 2027 MN State Fair exhibit will open in June 2027.
RTC's Past Eco Experience Exhibits
2026 Theme: Bird Friendly Farming
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With help from our sponsors—The Savanna Institute, Seven Sundays, Green Lands Blue Waters, The Wild Farm Alliance, Peace Coffee, The Audubon Society, Organic Valley, MN Grown, Lakewinds Coop, Seward Coop, and Rivers Coop—Renewing the Countryside's 2026 Eco Experience Exhibit was centered on bird friendly farming and the farmers that support native MN birds.The Bird Friendly Farming exhibit highlighted how thoughtful agricultural practices can restore and protect vital habitat for Minnesota’s native farmland birds—focusing on Eastern Meadowlarks, Sharp Tailed Grouse, Tree Swallows, and the American Kestrel, that depend on healthy prairies, wetlands, and working lands. Through interactive exhibits, local food tastings, chef demonstrations, and family-friendly activities, visitors discovered how practices like cover cropping, pasture management, riparian buffers, and shelter belts support biodiversity, strengthen resilient food systems, and create healthier communities. Featuring farmers, conservationists, and organizations leading this important work, Renewing the Countryside’s 2026 exhibit celebrated the powerful connection between sustainable agriculture and thriving bird habitat across Minnesota. Click on the poster image to see the entire exhibit! |
2026 Summary Report (coming soon) and Bird Friendly Farming Display
2025 Summary Report (coming soon) and Plant Protein Power Display
2024 Summary Report and Agroforestry Display
2023 Summary Report and Farmland Access Display
2021 Summary Report and Climate Change display
2019 Summary Report and Artisan Grain Exhibition display
2018 Summary Report and Best If Used exhibit display
2017 Summary Report and Organic exhibit display
2016 Summary Report and Forever Green exhibit display
2015 Summary Report and AGRIculture exhibit display
2014 Summary Report and Grow A Farmer Overview
Gallery of past exhibits: see photos of the 2015 and 2016 Local Food Exhibits here
Favorite fair recipes from our Chef Demonstrations here