Talk:Minnesota State Fair

Misc.
I think that in the article they should add which artists will be performing at the grandstand, the cost of food, rides, etc. These details are important and would greatly help the public.--Chocogirl 21:04, 18 August 2006 (UTC)
 * No, the schedule of artists varies each year, and would soon be outdated. And the article already links to the Fair's webpage, which contains that info.  As well as information on ticket prices, times, etc.  The cost of food & rides is set each year by the owner of each ride or individual food stand (they are individually owned, no person/group can own more than 5; which ensures price competition), and I don't believe there is any centralized price list anywhere. T-bonham (talk) 20:26, 17 August 2009 (UTC)

advertising?
The section about shows playing at the grandstand almost sounds like advertising to me, as it shows ticket prices and all that. It seems like something that belongs at the fair website, not Wikipedia.

Caesar


 * Yikes, I agree. I'm not a big fan of putting schedules that will be out of date in 2 weeks. I'm going to remove them... Rx StrangeLove 01:35, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

To do
Things I think would improve the article:
 * More good quality images. I have some from 2006 I will upload as I have time, but ones from different editors will help.
 * More about history and heritage square. More about the agricultural contests, the core of the fair's original purpose. Something about crop art.
 * Other ideas? Jonathunder 22:23, 6 September 2006 (UTC)
 * I also have a fairly large collection of photos from the past few Minnesota State Fairs when someone gets around to re-vamping this article please contact me and I'd be happy to share any you wanted. -BenFranske 02:58, 7 November 2006 (UTC)
 * Added several photos from Amy Mingo, a link to the commons where there are more, and a link to the Minnesota portal. What I think the article needs now is writing. (Sorry I am not a writer.) -Susanlesch 08:04, 14 July 2007 (UTC)

How about info on the land before it was the fairgrounds. I believe that it was the Ramsey county poor farm, but I'm not sure.
 * It was the poor farm, and as I recall the J.V. bailey house was an infimary there back in the day--Sabeen557 01:51, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

Also some info on what is done to prepare for the fair.
 * Someone could call up the administration builing and see if they oculd answer some questions--Sabeen557 01:51, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

Let's try to add references to it as well. I'd like this to at least become a good article. Grand master  ka  06:04, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

Speaking of references, here is the primary source for the 2006 numbers: -Ravedave (help name my baby) 02:42, 11 September 2006 (UTC)

copy vio and PR
Jeeze we are blind! User Msfpr (Minnesota Fair PR, Duh!) added a ton of info directly from the fair press kit. I have since reverted to an older, better formated version of the page. I think we can work some of the material in though. -Ravedave 16:35, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

sources to incorporate

 * http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/08/26_randolpht_fairpreview/
 * Blue Ribbon: A Social and Pictorial History of the Minnesota State Fair

The J.V. Bailey House
The section about the J.V. Bailey House currently says, "It is a historic building, dating back to the 1800s when the fairgrounds land was the Ramsey county poor farm."

I have found sources indicating that the house was built in the early 1900's -- 1911 or 1912, depending on the article. I presume this should be changed? Also, there is a picture of the house in the Wikimedia Commons ( http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:MNSF_Bailey.JPG ) -- should this be incorporated into this section of the State Fair article, or at least linked to?

Articles about the house, indicating the date of construction to 1911 or 1912:


 * http://www.mnhs.org/historymatters/newsletter/alert_aug2006.htm
 * http://wcco.com/findingminnesota/Finding.Minnesota.Minnesota.2.361306.html
 * http://www.placeography.org/index.php?title=J.V._Bailey_House%2C_1263_Cosgrove_Street%2C_Saint_Paul%2C_Minnesota

Knagl (talk) 10:37, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Good catch. The sources you provided certainly indicate errors in the article. Feel free to make corrections and cite these sources. I'm not sure adding a photo to the Fair article would enhance it, since so many other Fair scenes are more relevant to the Fair, but there's probably enough information for the house to have its own article.--Appraiser (talk) 15:23, 27 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Based on BenFranske's information below (that there is a sign at the building indicating it was constructed in 1911), I opted to cite the page which indicates it was constructed in 1911 and made the edit to the article. Knagl (talk) 17:53, 29 August 2008 (UTC)


 * I took a look at the house at the fair today (and took a somewhat better photo to be uploaded soon). There is a historical walking tour sign outside which was placed a few years ago, it indicates the house was constructed in 1911 and restored in 2006.--BenFranske (talk) 05:58, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

American Red Cross?
The American Red Cross has been a staple part of the Minnesota State Fair for 30 years. They've treated thousands of patients yearly, and at no cost whatsoever to the fair-goers. It would seem right that something like that would be mentioned as part of the State Fair gathering. The amount of effort, and volunteer work put in by their members for the blood drive, and the medical team seems to go unaccounted for on this page. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.20.79.252 (talk) 04:30, 22 August 2010 (UTC)

history
The fair only lasted six days when it first moved to its permanent home at the State Fairgrounds in 1885. It was eight days from 1919 to 1938, ten days from 1939 to 1971 and 11 days from 1972 to 1974. It has been 12-days long since 1975. wcco tv story sept 1 2016 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.127.22.85 (talk) 18:52, 3 September 2016 (UTC)