Special Events
125th Anniversary Wagon Train
More information on the wagon train, call:
- Jeff Schneyderman at 605-261-3293,
- Dennis Klein at 605-543-5332 or
- Bryce Baker at 605-773-5425.
The South Dakota State Fair will kick off its 125th anniversary celebration with an old-fashioned western wagon train. The five-day event will begin in Highmore on Saturday, Aug. 28, and end in Huron at the State Fair Park on Wednesday, Sept. 1. Wagon train participants will gather in Highmore on the evening of Friday, Aug. 27, and depart Saturday morning. The wagon train will make evening stops at Ree Heights, Miller, Wessington, and Wolsey. Organizers are planning special activities in each community where the wagon train will stop.
125th Anniversary State Fair Parade
Theme – From Memories to Milestones
Route – Market St. east to Wisconsin Ave. south to 3rd St. west to Nevada Ave. north to Gate 4 west to front of grandstand and out Gate 6
$125 Huron Bucks to Manager’s Choice – Best Use of Theme
For more information, call the State Fair Office at (605) 353-7340
Dacotah Star presented by Dacotah Bank
Grand Champion & 2009 Dacotah Star:
Theresa Knutson - White, SD
Information: Dacotah Star is the SD State Fair’s version of American Idol! Contestants compete in preliminary competition Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Those who make it out of the preliminary competition will move onto the finals!
Preliminary Competition:
Friday, Sept. 3, Saturday, Sept. 4 and Sunday, Sept. 5 @ 4:30 pm on the NorthWestern Energy Freedom Stage
Finals:
Monday, Sept. 6 @ 4:30 pm on the NorthWestern Energy Freedom Stage
Download rules and application (.pdf)
Century Farm Awards
Thursday, September 2, 10:00 am
The farm has long been the cornerstone of South Dakota history. None more perhaps than the farms we honor as South Dakota Century Farms. If your family has retained ownership of a farm or ranch for 100 years or more in South Dakota, and if the farm consists of a minimum of 80 acres of the original farmland, you may be interested in having your farm designated as a Century Farm.
The Century Farm ceremony is a joint program of the South Dakota Farm Bureau and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. The ceremony at the 2010 State Fair will recognize those Century Farms that have not been previously honored. More than 2,100 farms and ranches have been honored statewide.
For more details on Century Farms, check back in the spring or call the SD Farm Bureau office at 605-353-8052 or the SD Department of Agriculture at 605-773-5425.
Quasquicentennial Farm Awards
Thursday, September 2, 11:00 am
Reigning Miss SD State Fair
Theresa Knutson.
Miss SD State Fair Pageant
Monday, Sept. 6 – 2:00 pm
The South Dakota State Fair will celebrate the crowning of a new Miss South Dakota State Fair and Miss Mural City at the State Fairgrounds in Huron. The pageant, a preliminary to the Miss South Dakota program is open to young women ages 17 and 24.
In addition, a teen competition will also be held during the pageant. Miss South Dakota Outstanding Teen is open to young ladies between 13 and 17 years old. Former title holders are also invited to help celebrate the special anniversary of the South Dakota State Fair by attending.
For more information, please contact former Miss South Dakota Outstanding Teen Carrie Wintle at carrie.wintle@hotmail.com, 605-350-1898 or Brenda Dreyer brenda.dreyer@northern.edu, 605-216-3951.
Salute to Veterans
10:30 am
NorthWestern Energy Freedom Stage
Presented by Humana
Keynote Speaker:
SD Senator Russell Olson, Chairman of the Commerce Committee
Brad Lamb with SD 4-H Youth Council members
SD Auctioneers Association State Bid Calling Championship
Sunday, Sept. 5 – 2:00 pm
Followed by 4-H Foundation Benefit Auction
SD State Fair BBQ Beef Cook-Off
Tasting free to the public!
Saturday, September 4
Judging and People's Choice Judging - 4:00 pm
Horticulture Park
- 1st Place : $500, trophy
- 2nd Place : $250, trophy
- 3rd Place : $125, trophy
- People’s Choice: $50.00, trophy
Download rules and application (.pdf)
Additional brisket sponsored by SD Beef Industry Council
SD State Fair Antique Tractor Show
Sunday, September 5
Centennial Stage
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Hosted by Sherwin Linton
- Open to all antique tractors
- Trophies awarded to 1st-3rd place in People’s Choice Competition
SD State Fair Classic Car Show
Saturday, September 4
Centennial Stage
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Hosted by Sherwin Linton
- Open to all cars older than 1975
- Trophies awarded to 1st-3rd place in People’s Choice Competition
Jack's Campers Chili Challenge
Tasting free to the public!
Saturday, September 4
Judging - 12:30 pm; People's Choice Judging - 1:00 pm
Horticulture Park
- 1st Place: $250.00
- 2nd Place: $150.00
- 3rd Place: $75.00
- People’s Choice: $25.00
SD CattleWomen State Fair Beef Cook-Off
Friday, September 3
9 am - 4 pm
Women's Building
- Hosted by the SD CattleWomen, Funded by SD Beef Producers through Beef Check-Off Dollars
- Beef Basket Challenge featuring WNAX’s Michelle Rook and KBHB’s Chase Adams - 3:00 pm
2010 Titanium Chef Beef Competition
Thursday, September 2
Wine and Beef Paring intermission: 1:00 - 1:30 pm
Professional Chef Division: 1:30 – 5:30 pm
Women's Building
Are you looking for free entertainment and gourmet samples? Come watch leading chefs compete in the 2010 Titanium Chef Beef Competition. These chefs will tantalize your taste buds and inspire your cooking creativity. The competition was made possible by the SD Beef Checkoff and the SD Beef Industry Council.
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2009 Legislative Beef Show Champion –Senator Jean Hunhoff, District 18
SD State Fair Legislative Beef Show
Saturday, Sept. 4 – 10:30 am
4-H Livestock Complex
SD State Fair Strongest Man Competition
Saturday, Sept. 4 – 1:00 pm
West Machinery
SD Corn Utilization Council’s
True Environmentalist Activities
SD Corn Tent on Flag Avenue, South of the Hort Building
9 am – 4 pm
- Agricultural Trivia Questions for all ages – An area will be set up with 2 boards that have different questions on them that children through adults can answer to win various prizes.
- “The True Environmentalist” Scavenger Hunt - As fairgoers enter the fair, they will receive a Scavenger Hunt flyer with many different locations of Agricultural Facts that can be found throughout the fairgrounds. They will be able to turn them into the SD Corn tent after they have found at least 10 answers for a prize. We will then place all names of people who turned in the form into a drawing for a grand prize.
- “True Environmentalists” – We will have an area dedicated to the Farmer that will have information about what Agricultural does for everyone. There will be informational sheets available for them to take with them. There will also be “The True Environmentalist” Video showing throughout the day.
- “Green With Envy” Raffle – We will have our John Deere 2320 Compact Utility Tractor MFD raffle set up for people to purchase tickets for this tractor.
- Be a Farmer for the Day – Located by the Corn Spill box children will have a chance to get their hands dirty while planting corn seeds to take home.
- Sweet Corn Feed - 11:00 AM – 1PM
1910 Pioneer 30 Tractor Exhibit
On display daily in the antique tractor area
- Ordered 100 years ago at the 1910 State Fair
- Owned by Irvin King of Alexandria, SD
- Freight provided by Olsen Implement
Showing of a 1912 State Fair Film
Friday, Sept. 3 – Sunday, Sept. 5 - 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Refreshments provided by Dakotaland Museum
Women’s Building Auditorium
State Fair Geocache
9 am – 8 pm Daily
- Must have GPS Unit
- Coordinates will be posted soon
- For any two caches found, your name will be entered to win a State Fair prize package
- Stop by the Concessions Building during the Fair to be eligible to win
SD State Fair Team Roping
Hippodrome
SD State Fair Sheepdog Timed Trials
Hippodrome
Kids Pedal Pull
Saturday, Sept. 4 – Register @ 9:00 am, Starts @ 10:00 am
East 3rd St.
Winners in each division go on to the State Pedal Pull in Mitchell on Monday, Sept. 6
Candidates Forum
Sunday, Sept. 5 – 12:00 pm
Women’s Building Auditorium
Featuring US House of Representatives candidates and SD Public Utilities Commission candidates.
Sponsored by SD Corn Growers, American Coalition for Ethanol, East River Electric and SD Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.
“Know Your Governor” Forum
Saturday, Sept. 4 – 1:00 pm
NorthWestern Energy Freedom Stage
You won’t want to miss the SD Farmer’s Union “Know Your Next Governor” forum at the Freedom Stage where the two men vying for the Governor’s Office will discuss why they think they should have the state’s top job. Republican Dennis Daugaard and Democrat Scott Heidepriem will participate in the forum that will focus on issues facing agriculture, our state’s number one industry.
Hot Air Balloon Rides
$5.00/ride
The Corn Palace Hot Air Balloon Club will be offering tethered hot air balloon rides on Saturday, September 4:
- 7:30 am – 9:30 am
- 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
If inclement weather, the hot air balloon rides will be rescheduled to Sunday, September 5.
Kids Fish Catch
Sponsored by Huron Laboratory SVC, PC
Sunday, Sept. 5 – 6:00 pm
