EXHIBIT · MINNESOTA STATE FAIR
Beef Cattle
Walk the aisles of the Cattle Barn and you'll meet the big, muscular cattle raised for beef, from glossy black Angus to red-and-white-faced Herefords and creamy white Charolais. Some of these gentle giants weigh over 1,500 pounds, yet they stand patiently while 4-H and FFA youth wash, brush, and blow-dry them to look their best. Judges compare the animals in the Cattle Barn and the Warner Coliseum, looking for the healthiest, best-built cattle in the state.
The 2026 Minnesota State Fair ended on Monday, September 7, 2026. Everything below describes the 2026 fair, which is the most recent one I hold — stands, buildings and rides carry over year to year, but dates, prices and schedules do not. I update it when the fair publishes for 2027. The 2027 fair runs August 26 – September 6, 2027 — 293 days away.
- Building
- Cattle Barn
Which breeds are in the barn?
9 breeds are shown here: Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, Percentage Simmental, Shorthorn, Shorthorn Plus.
When is the judging?
- 4-H Breeding Beef Cattle Show — Thu 27 Aug
- 4-H Market Beef Cattle Show — Fri 28 Aug
- 4-H Beef Cattle Championship Event — Fri 28 Aug
- Open Class Beef Cattle Show — Sat 5 Sep
- Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program (MYBEP) Showmanship — Sat 5 Sep
- FFA Beef Cattle Show — Sun 6 Sep
When are the animals actually in the barn?
4-H beef cattle: first four days of the fair. Open class beef cattle arrival Friday, Sept. 4, 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.; departure Monday, Sept. 7, noon to 4 p.m. FFA beef cattle arrival Friday, Sept. 4, 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.; departure Monday, Sept. 7, noon to 4 p.m. New for 2026: All Other Breeds & All Other Breeds Percentage Beef Cattle Show, Cattle Barn Sept. 4-7.
Worth knowing
- A grown beef bull can weigh more than 2,000 pounds, about as much as a small car.
- Angus cattle are solid black and have no horns, while Herefords have a famous white face and red body.
- Before the show, exhibitors wash, comb, and even blow-dry their cattle so their coats look fluffy and clean.
- Cattle have nearly 360-degree vision and can see almost all the way around their bodies without turning their heads.
- Charolais cattle came from France and are known for their creamy-white color and big, muscular bodies.
Open this in MN Fair Guide
Find it on the map, get walking directions, and keep it all offline once you're inside the gates.
Last verified against the fair's own listing. Anything I cannot source I leave blank rather than estimate.
Compiled and checked by Keith Gulbro, who has been going to this fair for thirty-odd years and builds MN Fair Guide on his own — why he does it. Spotted something wrong? Tell him and it gets fixed.
MN Fair Guide is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Minnesota State Fair. Browse the whole fair in the guide, read about the app, or send a correction.