2014 Minnesota State Fair Sets Overall Attendance?Record, Topping 1.8 Million Visitors for the First Time

ST. PAUL, MINN. (09/02/2014)(readMedia)-- Final attendance numbers are in. In total, a record 1,824,830 fair fans made the 2014 Great Minnesota Get-Together the best-attended Minnesota State Fair in history. This is the first time attendance has topped 1.8 million. The previous overall record was 1,790,497 set in 2009. In addition to the overall record for the 12 days, two daily attendance records were set during this year's fair: on Tuesday, Aug. 26 with 133,595 attendees; and on Saturday, Aug. 30, 252,092 visitors made that day the best-attended single day of all time. Labor Day attendance was 159,430. All other daily figures, along with attendance history, can be found at mnstatefair.org.

The Minnesota State Fair's agricultural and creative competitions drew more than 30,000 entries this year, with competitors vying for a share of ribbons, trophies and more than $1.3 million in prize money. Competitions included events for livestock, school projects, dog trials, baked and canned goods, fruit, vegetables, crafts, bee and honey products, fine arts, farm crops, flowers, butter, cheese and more.

The State Fair's Fine Arts Exhibition featured the largest juried art show in Minnesota. The People's Choice Award went to "Home Coming," a charcoal and pencil on paper piece by Daniel Volenec of Eden Prairie. Karen Sukut of Maple Grove won the Kids' Choice Award for a sculpture entitled "Dragon Motorcycle."

The 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction brought in a record-breaking $498,000 to benefit 4-H programs.

In open class livestock competitions, supreme champion titles were awarded to the best grand champions out of all beef and dairy breeds:

Open Class Supreme Champion Dairy Female: Holstein exhibited by Reid Stransky of Owatonna, Minn.

Open Class Supreme Champion Beef Female: Angus exhibited by Jordan Johnson of Fort Dodge, Iowa

Open Class Supreme Champion Beef Bull: Charolais exhibited by Stalcup Farms of Prescott, Iowa

FFA Supreme Champion Breeding Female premiums were also awarded:

FFA Supreme Sheep Champion Breeding Female: Rambouillet exhibited by Isaiah Bauck of New York Mills, Minn.

FFA Supreme Dairy Champion Breeding Female: Purebred Holstein exhibited by Chris Schulze of Holland, Minn.

FFA Supreme Beef Champion Breeding Female: Angus exhibited by Lucas Nord of Wolverton, Minn.

FFA Supreme Swine Champion Breeding Female: crossbred exhibited by Gavin Mulder of Jackson, Minn.

Supreme and Signature winners awarded in the Minnesota State Fair Horse Show were:

Supreme Draft Horse Halter Champion Stallion: Percheron exhibited by Stephanie Heier of Denmark, Wisc.

Supreme Draft Horse Halter Champion Mare: Percheron exhibited by Young Living Percherons of Mona, Utah

Supreme Draft Horse Halter Champion Gelding: Percheron exhibited by Ames Percheron Farms of Jordan, Minn.

Supreme Six-Horse Hitch: Shining Stars Percherons exhibited by Dianna Marquardt of Pleasant Hill, Iowa

Supreme Champion Saddle Seat English Pleasure: Royal Crest's Rockin The Town owned and shown by Jaclyn North of Minnetrista, Minn.

Supreme Champion Hunt English Seat Pleasure: Gonna Getcha Good shown by Beth Crook for owner Lloyd Anderson of Milaca, Minn.

Supreme Champion Western Pleasure: Larks Good N Pretty shown by Jackilyn Thayer for owner Ann Thayer of Kasson, Minn.

Signature Driving: CH Ghost of Gypsy owned and driven by Dede Disbrow of Edina, Minn.

Signature Freestyle Liberty: Validation DDA owned and shown by Annie Slawik of Woodbury, Minn.

Signature Mounted Native Costume: Spritz owned and shown by Suzette Johnson of Lake Crystal, Minn.

The Douglas K. Baldwin Award for FFA?livestock show participation and leadership went to Isaiah Bauck of New York Mills' FFA Chapter.

Jeni Haler of Norwood Young America was crowned the 61st Princess Kay of the Milky Way to serve as the official goodwill ambassador for more than 4,000 Minnesota dairy farmers this year.

The award-winning CHS Miracle of Birth Center welcomed dozens of baby chicks and ducklings into the world along with 189 other newborn animals, including 148 piglets, 13 calves and 28 lambs.

Total Grandstand attendance was 101,926?(not including Amateur Talent Contest Finals). Toby Keith with special guest Colt Ford; Kid Rock with special guest Blackberry Smoke; Tim McGraw with special guest Ryan Kinder; and Journey with special guest Joan Jett & The Blackhearts were sold-out shows.

Nearly 7,000 fans cheered on the best amateur talent in the state at the 42nd Annual State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Finals held Aug. 31. The contest began at the Grandstand, was delayed due to weather and concluded at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell where the following winners were announced:

Open Division

First place: Moriah Huerta of Burnsville, vocal performance with piano accompaniment, "Alcina"

Second place: Eric Gordon of Osseo, vocal and guitar performance, "It's a Man's World"

Third place: BioFreaks of St. Paul, dance performance, "Seven Sin"

Teen Division

First place: Sunday Manisto-Saari of Princeton, vocal performance with piano accompaniment, "My House"

Second place: Alijah LeCour of Cottage Grove, dance performance, "KDrew-Circles"

Third place: Molly Tengwall of Brooten, vocal performance, "The Girl in 14G"

Preteen Division

First place: Jacob Taggart of Blaine, piano performance, "Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum"

Second place: Clair Tomari-Leak of Minnetrista, vocal and dance performance, "Anything Goes"

Third place: Aedyn Colville of Kimball, vocal performance, "Quiet"

Michael Peterka of Minneapolis and Carrie Tollefson of St. Paul were the overall male and female 5K Milk Run winners with times of 17:11 and 18:27, respectively.

The 2014 Outstanding Senior Citizen Awards were presented to Harriet Heinen of Warroad and David Elton of St. Paul. A ceremony was held at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell on Thursday, Aug. 28 to honor 74 seniors representing 43 Minnesota counties.

The State Fair People's Choice Awards recognized outstanding vendors, while allowing guests to determine the best of the best. During the first five days of the State Fair, visitors were invited to nominate their favorite vendors in five categories at any information booth. Winners were:

Best Product or Service: Borgert Products Inc. (concrete pavers, stones, retaining walls, outdoor ovens and fireplaces, and fountain kits for outdoor living spaces)

Best Food or Beverage: The Sandwich Stop

Best Attraction: FOCI - Minnesota Center for Glass Arts

Best Value: Minnesota Apples

Best Customer Service: Railroad Art by John Cartwright

New additions to this year's State Fair included: West End Market, a one-of-a-kind destination that transformed the west end of the fairgrounds and included brand-new food and merchandise vendors; the Minnesota State Fair History & Heritage Center; the Minnesota State Fair Horse Show, which featured brand-new competitions, breeds and demonstrations; Bull Riders of America; The Common Table, an exhibit that engaged fair guests in conversations about the ecological, social and economic effects of food choices; University of Minnesota Driven to Discover, where guests participated as part of various research studies; the Extreme Canines Stunt Dog Show; two new stops on the History Walking & Cell Phone Tour; a new location for the Minnesota Newspaper Museum; the newly located Blue Ribbon Picnic Area at Heffron Park, a gathering place for groups at the State Fair; the West End Gate and Streetcar Arch; and the Transit Hub, an easy, safe way for fair guests to access Park & Ride and Express Service buses.

The 2014 fair featured 28 new foods, including the Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Leg; Beer Gelato; Bison Dog; Blue Cheese & Corn Fritz; Breakfast Juicy LuLu; Caramel Apple Ice Cream; Caribbean-Style Lobster Roll; Chicken in the Waffle; Chilaquiles; Chocolate Dessert Salami; Deep-Fried Breakfast On-a-Stick; Deep-Fried Buckeyes; Deep-Fried Lobster On-a-Stick; Gluten-Free Beer-Battered Brat; Hot Toasted Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich; Iron Range Pierogies; Jello Salad Ice Cream; JonnyPops; Korean BBQ Collar with Kimchi Pickles; North Shore Pasta – Walleye Mac & Cheese; PB&J French Toast; Pizza Tots; Pretzel Curds; Prime Rib Taco; Rustic Stuffed Scone; Schnitzel Strips; Shrimp Dog; and SnoRibbons. In total, vendors served up nearly 500 different types of food, 70+ of which were on-a-stick.

The 2015 Minnesota State Fair will run Aug. 27 through Labor Day, Sept. 7.

For more information, visit mnstatefair.org or email fairinfo@mnstatefair.org.