EXHIBIT · MINNESOTA STATE FAIR
The Miracle of Birth Center
The CHS Miracle of Birth Center is one of the fair's most beloved free attractions, where you can watch real calves, piglets, lambs, and goat kids being born live during all 12 days of the fair. Started in 2001 by the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, the barn is staffed around the clock by volunteer veterinarians, U of M vet students, and FFA members who care for the mothers and newborns. Roughly 200 animals are born here each year, plus hundreds of chicks hatching in the on-site incubators, drawing over a million curious visitors.
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
- CHS Miracle of Birth Center
Which breeds are in the barn?
10 breeds are shown here: Holstein dairy calves, Hampshire lambs, Suffolk lambs, Yorkshire piglets, Hampshire piglets, Duroc piglets, Boer goat kids, Nubian goat kids, incubated chicks, ducklings.
When is the judging?
- CHS Miracle of Birth Center — continuous newborn animal exhibit (daily 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; closes 3 p.m. Labor Day) — Thu 27 Aug, Fri 28 Aug, Sat 29 Aug, Sun 30 Aug, Mon 31 Aug, Tue 1 Sep, Wed 2 Sep, Thu 3 Sep, Fri 4 Sep, Sat 5 Sep, Sun 6 Sep, Mon 7 Sep
When are the animals actually in the barn?
Home to baby animals during the State Fair's 12 days (Aug. 27 – Sept. 7). Hours 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; closes at 3 p.m. on Labor Day.
Worth knowing
- About 200 calves, lambs, piglets, and goat kids are born inside this barn every fair, plus around 360 chicks hatched in glass incubators where you can watch them peck their way out of the shell.
- A newborn calf can usually stand and walk on its wobbly legs within about an hour of being born.
- Mother pigs (sows) can have very large litters, so piglets are the most common birth here, with over 100 born in a single fair.
- Volunteer veterinarians and vet students are on duty 24 hours a day so a baby animal can safely arrive at any time, even in the middle of the night.
- Newborn lambs and goat kids drink their mother's first milk, called colostrum, which is packed with nutrients to help keep them healthy.
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.