The University of Minnesota is gearing up for the 2018 Great Minnesota Get-Together, featuring a 12-day schedule of events and exhibits that highlight the U’s research and outreach across the state and world. Below is an outline of key events and activities that the U of M is providing during the Minnesota State Fair. Visitors are encouraged to view the entire schedule of activities and events at state-fair.umn.edu.
About the University of Minnesota
Founded in 1851, the University of Minnesota is ranked among the nation's top public research universities. As a land-grant institution, the U of M is committed to engaging Minnesota, national and global communities to advance interdisciplinary knowledge; enhance students' academic, civic, career, social and personal development; and apply intellectual and human capital to serve the public good. The U of M has five system campuses across Minnesota: Twin Cities, Crookston, Duluth, Morris and Rochester. Visit umn.edu to learn more.
U of M at the State Fair highlights:
Driven to Discover research building
The Driven to Discover (D2D) research building, located at 1367 Cosgrove Street, allows fairgoers to participate in real University research in a convenient way, and allows researchers to conduct experiments and surveys and engage in community-focused discovery to solve grand challenges. Boasting more than 50 projects, there’s something for every fairgoer to participate in, contribute to, or learn more about. Projects this year range from sleep patterns and driving, 3D Avatars, cows, potholes, mining, insects as food, concussions and more. In 2017, over 60,000 fairgoers visited D2D during the fair! Most studies are conducted in under 20 minutes, and many offer compensation for participating. The Driven to Discover Research Building is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day of the Fair. A complete list of research projects is available at d2d.umn.edu.
President and Mrs. Kaler visit the State Fair
On Friday, August 24, President and Mrs. Kaler will visit the Great Minnesota Get-Together and tour the U’s Driven to Discover research building, The U of M Central building, engage with 4-H’ers, participate in a Physics Force stage show, view projects throughout the State Fair grounds and visit the newly designed CFANS wing in the Agriculture Horticulture Building. This will be his last year to visit the Fair as the President of the University!
Goldy vs. Cancer Day
The Masonic Cancer Center and University of Minnesota Health are teaming up to take over the U of M Central Building on August 30. It will be Goldy vs. cancer as we #GOpherACure! Check out free skin and oral cancer screenings, giveaways, interactive exhibits and games, lab presentations and stage shows with experts. For more information visit z.umn.edu/Goldy-VS-Cancer.
Maroon and Gold Day
Check out the U of M Marching Band, the Pride of Minnesota, on September 2nd, Maroon and Gold Day, as its members join the parade from 2-2:45 p.m. Fair visitors are also encouraged to proudly wear their maroon and gold attire!
U of M Central
The U of M Central building and stage, located at 1673 Dan Patch Avenue, will feature an array of programming throughout the 12 days of the Fair. Events and exhibits include music and dance performances by student artists, U of M Marching Band Alumni and MinnesoTap; a unique mix of slapstick humor and science through presentations by Physics Force; opportunities to interact with Gopher athletes and teams; and demonstrations by many of the U’s colleges and departments. A full schedule is available on state-fair.umn.edu. The U of M Central Building is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Extension and 4-H activities
Fairgoers can check out the U’s statewide impact by visiting the 4-H Building. 4-H, a U of M Extension youth development program, engages K-12 participants from all 87 Minnesota counties. Nearly 6,000 exhibits and performing arts shows will feature the knowledge and skills have acquired throughout the year. Activities in the 4-H Building include virtual reality, 4-H Arts-In performances, and cheering on engineering teams as they showcase machines that plant and water a seed. Additionally, over 2,000 ‘blue ribbon kids’ will exhibit livestock in the animal barns during the first four days of the fair. Extension experts and attractions are also in the U building and other locations, Visit z.umn.edu/ExtensionFair2018 for more information.
CFANS Displays and activities
The University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) will feature an interactive display in the Agriculture Horticulture Building. The exhibit features a life-sized take on connect-the-dots and a Post-It wall for sharing college memories. Find out about low-maintenance turf and new crops. CFANS experts, scheduled throughout the fair, will present cutting-edge science-for-life including unmanned aircraft systems, entomology exploration, aquatic invasive species, plant diseases, invasive earthworms, and natural history specimens from the Bell Museum's Education Collection. Extension Master Gardeners will also be on hand with tips and answers to garden and yard questions. View the full schedule at z.umn.edu/CFANSFair2018.
Freebies and Giveaways
Throughout the MN State Fair, visitors will find many freebies and giveaways from U of M affiliated organizations. U of M socks and Honeycrisp apple flavored lip balm will be given away daily at the U of M Central building (lip balm at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., socks at noon and 6 p.m.). Supplies are limited. Additionally, visitors who participate in U of M trivia at the main stage or visit other U of M locations at the Fair will have the chance to win prizes and giveaways.
Transportation
A free shuttle runs daily from parking locations on the U’s East Bank campus (with the exception of August 30 due to Gopher Football). The public is welcome to park and ride for free from various surface lots on campus. For detailed parking and shuttle information, visit mnstatefair.org/transportation.
Social media
Visit state-fair.umn.edu to see the entire schedule of activities and events, and follow the U of M at the State Fair through #UMNonaStick on our social media channels.
Twitter: @UMNews
Facebook: facebook.com/UofMN/
Instagram: @UMNpics
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