Schedule of Events

The Channel Seed Brand welcomes you to the opening day of the fair! We're thrilled to have you join us for a day filled with carnival rides, livestock shows, exhibits, delicious food, fantastic entertainment, and so much more.

As you enjoy the festivities, we also want to highlight our enhanced Channel Seed Brand. Our commitment to our customers to bring Leading-Edge Solutions that are Connected to You and your communities through a Next-Level Experience is what sets Channel apart from other seed brands. With a dedicated, local Channel SeedPro by your side assessing your conditions, diagnosing your challenges, then recommending the best solutions specific to your needs, Channel delivers on our commitment to help farmers maximize their profitability throughout the season. Discover how the new and enhanced Channel Seed brand is rising to the challenges in your fields by visiting Channel.com. Enjoy Opening Day!

It’s Value Added Ag Center Day at the South Dakota State Fair! Join us today at the Day Sponsor Tent for a celebration of our state’s value added agriculture sector.

Discover exciting products and connect directly with the farmers, ranchers, and specialty producers who are transforming raw agricultural goods into new value-added opportunities. You can also network with representatives from federal, state, and local agencies and associations that support South Dakota agriculture. Throughout the day, enjoy engaging spotlight talks and delicious local food demonstrations, and be sure to stop by for our always-popular annual ice cream social!

Value Added Ag Development Center (VAADC) is South Dakota's go to for agricultural entrepreneurs and businesses needing guidance in creating and expanding value added ventures. Our services are made possible by the generous support of East River Electric Cooperative, Farm Credit Services of America, SD Association of Cooperatives, SD Farmers Union, SD Rural Electric Association, SD Soybean Research & Promotion Council, SD Wheat Commission, Agtegra Cooperative and USDA.

We look forward to seeing you at the Day Sponsor Tent!

Join us for Farmers Union Day at the South Dakota State Fair Saturday, September 5. South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) will host events throughout the day celebrating the family farmers, ranchers and rural communities from across the great state of South Dakota that they so proudly represent.

Highlighting the day of activities will be the annual Farmer’s Share Luncheon (limited number of meals available) located in the tent near the Freedom Stage from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.  In comparison to the retail price of the meal, $16.00, attendees will pay just $0.52 for a meal that showcases the farmer’s share on retail food dollars.

Events at the Freedom Stage kick off at 1 pm to 2 pm; listen in on a TBD panel discussion.

At 2 pm, is the Farm Safety FFA Quiz Bowl Championship. Four FFA Quiz Bowl teams will compete for the championship title. The Farm Safety Quiz bowl is designed as a fun way to teach high school students about safety on the farm or ranch.

Farmers Union will also be displaying their interactive Farm Safety Trailer on Third Street in front of the Dakotaland Museum. The trailer will give visitors the opportunity to learn farm safety with power take offs, grain bins, down power lines and will host ATV simulator demonstrations 3 times a day at 11 am, 2 pm and 4 pm.

We are excited for you to join in the fun of Farmers Union Day at the 2026 South Dakota State Fair!

Join us for one last round of fun in ’26!  Check off all the items on your fair bucket list before it’s over – indulge in your favorite fair food, buy that item on your wish list, take one last ride on the ferris wheel, and take in our entertainment.

Special offers include:

* Fairgoers can help to ‘stock the shelves’! Bring a non-perishable food item for the ‘Stock the Shelves’ food drive between the hours of 7 am and 11 am and receive $2 off gate admission. (one food item per admission)

* We’ll also Pay it Forward! Businesses have generously banded together to sponsor gate admission passes for those in need and to randomly hand out at the gate admission entrances! You could be the lucky recipient of a ‘Pay it Forward’ pass as you enter the gates on Monday!

* Enjoy the fair for FREE after 3 pm!