It’s State Fair Time and MPR wants to see you there!
Aug 22, 2023
MPR Day at the Minnesota State Fair is coming up soon (Friday, Sept. 1 to be exact) and I can’t wait. I love the Fair. The Minnesota State Fair is a city unto itself, attracting about 150,000 people a day, and it’s an experience like no other. All of us at MPR really enjoy saying hello to everyone who stops by our booth to chat, meet some of our team, and grab some MPR swag.
The Fair is known as The Great Minnesota Get-Together, and for us at MPR it’s a chance to meet you, our audience, and share space together. I get excited about the swaths of fairgoers filling the streets, the great people watching, the stories we hear there. And then there’s the amazing and delicious food, music, entertainment, learning, and fun. The Fair is a microcosm of this great state, the place to show off the best of Minnesota.
Each year I discover more reasons why MPR and the Fair go together so well. Last year during our stint there our team compiled a series of reports of “Infrequently Asked Fair Questions.” One of my favorites is by Tim Nelson who asks, “What happens at the Minnesota State Fair overnight?” Tim’s report uncovers the dedication of Fair workers and the attention to detail that goes into the Fair when most of us are fast asleep. It makes me think of the exceptional team behind everything we do at MPR. Dedicated people who do many jobs off air to make sure our programs are accurate, innovative, reliable, and rich in content.
We’re dedicated to a deeper engagement with our listeners and at the Fair we get to meet with them face to face. Doing programs with a live audience energizes us, keeps us nimble, and brings us closer to our listeners and supporters. It keeps us in the mix. It also gives us access to the wide range of perspectives and realities of our communities across the state.
Hosting the MPR booth near the corner of Judson and Nelson means we get to meet people where they are. We hear about your worries, your aspirations, the issues and ideas that are top of mind and of greatest importance to your lives. Like you, we are keenly aware of the range of issues to wrap our minds around, to weigh and navigate today’s complexities and opportunities. The Fair gives us an opportunity to hear a wide range of views.
Our team has planned some great events to make this year’s Fair memorable The Current will take over the grandstand on Saturday, September 2nd with Music On-A-Stick. And you can revisit the reveal of the Fair foods rundown and make your list of what to taste.
Our schedule for Friday Sept. 1, which is MPR Day in Dan Patch Park, includes:
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Radio Heartland presents The Cactus Blossoms
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. APM Studios presents Smash Boom Best
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. YourClassical MPR presents Known MPLS Choir
2:45 – 3:45 p.m. The Current presents Kiss The Tiger
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Carbon Sound presents Blu Bone
So come on down! I look forward to conversations with all of you who come by the MPR booth. I especially look forward to hearing from our youngest fans who listen to programs like Million Bazillion and parents and other caregivers who listen to the Early Risers podcast. Many of our youngest listeners have already picked their favorite hosts and personalities and have questions about them. Be sure to come see Smash Boom Best and debate the topic of the day.
Our always popular weather team will be on hand, too, to answer your questions about climate or tell you when to take cover when a rain shower graces the Fair — look for meteorologists Paul Huttner and Sven Sundgaard.
Join in the fun and say hello. We’re always happy to see you.
We’re powered by You! Thanks for listening! And thanks for your steadfast support.
Duchesne Drew
President, Minnesota Public Radio
About Duchesne Drew
Duchesne Drew is Senior Vice President of American Public Media Group and President of Minnesota Public Radio. In this role, he leads the teams that produce MPR News, The Current, APM Reports and Marketplace. Additionally, he oversees YourClassical MPR as a part of Minnesota Public Radio.