EXHIBIT · MINNESOTA STATE FAIR
Ducks & Geese
Waddle over to the waterfowl aisle of the Sheep & Poultry Barn, where ducks and geese of every size and color show off their webbed feet. You'll meet plump white Pekins, colorful Rouens that look like giant mallards, and big honking Toulouse and Embden geese. Youth 4-H exhibitors, FFA students, and open-class breeders all bring their best birds to be judged on feather condition, body shape, and how closely they match their breed's standard.
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
- Rabbit & Poultry Exhibits
Which breeds are in the barn?
16 breeds are shown here: Pekin, Rouen, Khaki Campbell, Call, Muscovy, Indian Runner, Welsh Harlequin, Cayuga, Silver Appleyard, Mallard, Toulouse, Embden, African, Sebastopol, Buff (American Buff), Chinese.
When is the judging?
- 4-H Poultry Show (waterfowl, Rings 1 & 2) — Thu 27 Aug
- Open Class Chicken, Turkey & Waterfowl Judging — Tue 1 Sep
When are the animals actually in the barn?
4-H poultry: first four days. Open class poultry & pigeons arrival Monday, Aug. 31, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed to public until noon); departure Thursday, Sept. 3, noon to 4 p.m. FFA poultry arrival Friday, Sept. 4, 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.; departure Monday, Sept. 7, noon to 4 p.m. 2026 Poultry Barn hours: Aug. 27-29 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Aug. 30 8 a.m.–noon; Aug. 31 noon–8 p.m. (late open, livestock arrival); Sept. 1-2 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sept. 3 8 a.m.–noon; Sept. 4 noon–8 p.m. (late open); Sept. 5-6 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sept. 7 8 a.m.–noon.
Worth knowing
- Ducks have waterproof feathers — they spread oil from a special gland with their beaks so water rolls right off, which is where we get the phrase 'like water off a duck's back.'
- Call ducks are the tiniest breed at the fair and were originally bred to be loud, using their big quacks to call wild ducks toward hunters.
- Geese are great guards — they honk loudly at strangers, and farmers have used them as 'watchdogs' for thousands of years.
- A baby duck is a duckling and a baby goose is a gosling, and both can swim within hours of hatching.
- Indian Runner ducks stand straight up like bowling pins and run instead of waddle.
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.