EXHIBIT · MINNESOTA STATE FAIR
Swine
Squeal with delight in the Christensen Pavilion, where prize hogs from across Minnesota compete in both 4-H and open-class breeding shows. You'll see a parade of breeds from the spotted Hampshire to the rusty-red Duroc and the all-white Yorkshire, with some boars tipping the scales at well over 600 pounds. Judges look for length, muscle, and sound feet and legs as exhibitors guide their pigs around the ring with nothing but a small whip and a sorting board.
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
- Robert A. Christensen Pavilion
Which breeds are in the barn?
11 breeds are shown here: Yorkshire, Duroc, Hampshire, Berkshire, Chester White, Landrace, Poland China, Spotted, Hereford, Crossbred, Any Other Breed.
When is the judging?
- 4-H Breeding and Market Gilt Show — Fri 28 Aug
- 4-H Market Barrow Show — Fri 28 Aug
- MN Junior Barrow Classic — Showmanship — Mon 31 Aug
- MN Junior Barrow Classic — Prospect Barrows & Crossbred Breeding Gilts — Tue 1 Sep
- MN Junior Barrow Classic — Barrow Show — Wed 2 Sep
- Open Class Swine Breeding Show — Tue 1 Sep
- Open Class Barrow Show — Wed 2 Sep
- FFA Swine Show — Sun 6 Sep
When are the animals actually in the barn?
The traditional largest boar is on display all 12 days in the Robert A. Christensen Pavilion. Open class swine arrival Monday, Aug. 31, 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.; departure Thursday, Sept. 3, noon to 4 p.m. FFA swine arrival Friday, Sept. 4, 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.; departure Monday, Sept. 7, noon to 4 p.m. 2026 Christensen Pavilion hours: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily except Aug. 30, Sept. 3 and Sept. 7, closing at noon for livestock departure.
Worth knowing
- A Hampshire pig is easy to spot: it's black with a bright white belt that wraps all the way around its shoulders and front legs, like it's wearing a sash.
- Yorkshire pigs are white with upright ears and are nicknamed the 'mother breed' because the sows are famous for having big litters and being great moms.
- Pigs can't sweat very well, so exhibitors keep them cool with fans, water sprays, and bedding shavings during the warm fair days.
- A Duroc's reddish-brown coat and a Berkshire's black body with white socks and snout make these breeds easy to tell apart in the show ring.
- Show pigs are guided around the ring with a whip and a flat board called a sorting board, not a leash, because pigs go wherever they want to look!
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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.