EXHIBIT · MINNESOTA STATE FAIR
Dairy Cattle
Step inside the Cattle Barn to meet the gentle giants of the dairy world, where seven breeds of milk-producing cows are groomed, shown, and milked daily throughout the fair. Don't miss the Moo Booth, where you can watch cows being milked through the parlor's big glass windows, try hand-milking a cow yourself, and even catch a butter-sculpting contest. The very best animals are paraded under the bright lights of the Coliseum for championship judging.
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?
7 breeds are shown here: Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, Red & White Holstein.
When is the judging?
- 4-H Dairy Steer Show — Fri 28 Aug
- 4-H Dairy Cattle Show — Sat 29 Aug
- 4-H Dairy Cattle Showcase — Sun 30 Aug
- Open Class Dairy Cattle Show — Tue 1 Sep, Wed 2 Sep, Thu 3 Sep
- FFA Dairy Cattle Show — Sat 5 Sep
When are the animals actually in the barn?
Cattle present all 12 days (Aug. 27 – Sept. 7). 4-H dairy cattle: first four days. Open class dairy cattle arrival Monday, Aug. 31, 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.; departure Thursday, Sept. 3, noon to 4 p.m. FFA dairy cattle arrival Friday, Sept. 4, 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.; departure Monday, Sept. 7, noon to 4 p.m. 2026 Cattle Barn hours: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily except Aug. 30, Sept. 3 and Sept. 7 when it closes at noon for livestock departure.
Worth knowing
- A single dairy cow can produce around 6 to 8 gallons of milk a day - that's enough to fill about 100 glasses!
- Holsteins are the famous black-and-white cows, and no two have exactly the same spot pattern, just like human fingerprints.
- Jersey cows are one of the smallest dairy breeds, but their milk is extra rich and creamy, perfect for butter and ice cream.
- At the Moo Booth you can learn to hand-milk a cow and watch a real butter-sculpting contest.
- Every lactating cow at the fair gets milked twice a day in the viewing parlor, so visitors can watch the whole process through giant glass windows.
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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.