Turkeys

Turkeys gobble their way into the Poultry Show inside the Poultry Barn, where heritage varieties strut alongside the broad-breasted commercial birds. Exhibitors show under American Poultry Association Standard varieties, and judges evaluate each bird on size, plumage color, body type, and condition. It is a fitting display in Minnesota, the nation's number-one turkey-producing state, where farmers raise more than 40 million turkeys a year.

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?

10 breeds are shown here: Standard Bronze, Broad Breasted Bronze, Bourbon Red, Narragansett, White Holland, Beltsville Small White, Royal Palm, Black (Spanish Black), Slate (Blue Slate), Broad Breasted White (Large White).

When is the judging?

4-H Poultry Show (turkeys, 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

Minnesota raises more turkeys than any other U.S. state, producing over 40 million birds a year.
A male turkey is called a tom, a female is a hen, and a baby turkey is a poult.
Heritage turkeys like the Bourbon Red and Narragansett can fly and roost in trees, while the heavy broad-breasted commercial turkeys cannot fly.
A turkey's bumpy, fleshy head and the snood (the dangly flap over its beak) can change color from red to blue to white depending on the bird's mood.
A tom turkey's gobble can be heard up to a mile away, and each turkey has its own distinct voice.

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.

Download for iPhone Download for Android

Last verified 21 August 2026 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.