Minnesota is about to give one of its most recognizable State Fair buildings a major upgrade—and expand opportunities for 4-H youth across the state at the same time.

The Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota 4-H have teamed up on a $35 million effort to renovate the longtime 4-H Building on the fairgrounds and grow the statewide program. It's the biggest project either organization has taken on together.

They're already more than halfway there financially, with about 60% of the goal raised so far. A big push came from a $10 million gift from Kathy and Jim Cargill, along with support from several other donors including the Ames Family, Compeer Financial, Riverview LLP, and the Rosen Family Foundation.

The building itself has been around since 1939, and for generations of Minnesota kids, it's been a central part of the State Fair experience. Every year, thousands of 4-H participants come to the fairgrounds to show their projects, stay in the dorms, and take part in activities. The space also opens up to the public during the fair, with exhibits, performances, and demonstrations.

Work has already started on the exterior, with most of the renovation scheduled to begin after this year's fair. The goal is to have everything ready by the 2027 State Fair.

When it's done, the building will look pretty different. Plans include new performance spaces, updated areas for STEM and agricultural learning, a teaching kitchen, a media studio, and more flexible rooms for workshops and events. The idea is to make the building useful beyond just the 12 days of the fair—hosting programs, camps, and community activities for much of the year.

There are also a lot of behind-the-scenes improvements planned, like better accessibility, new elevators, updated safety systems, improved ventilation, and expanded restrooms and showers.

Minnesota 4-H already reaches nearly 58,000 young people, and participation has been growing quickly. The hope is to eventually reach 100,000 youth statewide, with the renovated building serving as a hub for leadership development and hands-on learning.

Leaders involved in the project say this is really about creating more opportunities for young people—both during the fair and throughout the year. And while early donations have helped get things moving, they're still looking for more support to fully fund the project.

Historic Photos