MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota DNR Seeks Volunteers for 2026 State Fair as Agency Prepares for Nearly Two Million Visitors

Volunteer Recruitment Underway for Educational Exhibits, Wildlife Displays, and Visitor Services at the Great Minnesota Get-Together

ST. PAUL, MN (June 18, 2026)  Long before the first corn dog is served, the first livestock judging begins, or the first grandstand concert fills the evening air, another annual Minnesota tradition quietly gets underway.

The search for volunteers.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has officially opened recruitment for community volunteers to assist at its exhibits and attractions during the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, seeking dozens of residents willing to help welcome visitors, share information about Minnesota's outdoors, and support one of the state's largest public engagement efforts.

The call for volunteers comes as preparations accelerate for the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, scheduled to run from August 27 through Labor Day, September 7. Widely known as the "Great Minnesota Get-Together," the fair attracts nearly two million visitors annually and ranks among the largest and most attended state fairs in the United States.

For the DNR, the event represents far more than a celebration of agriculture, entertainment, and food.

It is one of the agency's most important opportunities each year to connect directly with Minnesotans about conservation, outdoor recreation, wildlife, public lands, fishing, hunting, boating, and environmental stewardship.

To support that mission, the department is expanding its volunteer team throughout the DNR State Fair Park and adjacent educational exhibits.

Volunteers will serve in a variety of public-facing roles, acting as ambassadors for the agency while helping thousands of fairgoers navigate some of the fair's most popular attractions.

Among the most visible positions are Greeters and Rovers, who welcome visitors, answer questions, provide directions, and guide guests to major attractions such as the DNR Fish Pond, the DNR Stage, licensing services, and educational displays throughout the park.

Other opportunities include assignments within the Wildlife Wing, where volunteers assist visitors exploring exhibits featuring Minnesota wildlife, environmental education displays, and natural history presentations.

Additional openings remain available at specialized exhibits focused on wildfire prevention, invasive species awareness, wildlife management areas, and accessibility-focused hunting and outdoor recreation initiatives.

The DNR's State Fair presence has become one of the agency's signature outreach efforts.

The DNR Fish Pond, which showcases dozens of native Minnesota fish species in a large outdoor aquarium, routinely ranks among the fair's most visited attractions. Nearby exhibits offer visitors opportunities to learn about forest management, water quality, wildlife conservation, state parks, and outdoor recreation opportunities available throughout Minnesota.

For many visitors, especially children, the exhibits serve as their first direct interaction with the state's conservation agency.

Department officials say volunteers play a critical role in helping create those experiences.

Applications for volunteer positions will remain open through August 7, 2026.

To qualify, applicants must be at least 16 years old. Volunteers who are 18 or older are required to complete a criminal background check as part of the screening process.

All volunteers must also successfully complete required online safety training before reporting for their assigned shifts.

The positions require individuals who are comfortable interacting with the public and capable of working outdoors during Minnesota's late-summer weather conditions, which can include high temperatures, humidity, and extended periods of standing or walking.

The DNR has structured volunteer assignments into three-hour blocks throughout the day, including morning, midday, afternoon, and evening shifts.

Volunteers may select from available openings based on scheduling needs and exhibit assignments, with participation generally limited to a maximum of two days during the fair's twelve-day run.

As an incentive, participants who complete at least one three-hour shift receive complimentary Minnesota State Fair admission for each day they volunteer.

The admission tickets are distributed to confirmed volunteers before the fair begins, allowing participants to enjoy the fair before or after their scheduled assignments.

Personal expenses, including parking and meals, remain the responsibility of individual volunteers.

Officials emphasize that creating a volunteer profile alone does not guarantee placement.

Interested individuals must complete registration through the Minnesota DNR's online volunteer portal, review available opportunities, and actively select open shifts from the scheduling calendar in order to secure a position.

The recruitment effort reflects the scale of an event that has become deeply woven into Minnesota's cultural identity.

The Minnesota State Fair regularly draws visitors from every corner of the state and far beyond its borders. During its twelve-day run, attendance often rivals the population of several Minnesota counties combined.

For the DNR, those crowds represent an unparalleled opportunity.

Every conversation about fishing regulations, every explanation of an invasive species exhibit, every discussion about wildlife habitat or state parks can become a gateway to greater public understanding of Minnesota's natural resources.

And for volunteers, the assignment offers something unique: a chance to help shape the experience of nearly two million visitors while contributing to one of Minnesota's most enduring traditions.

As summer progresses and the countdown to opening day continues, state officials are hoping enough Minnesotans will answer the call.

Because behind every successful State Fair exhibit stands a small army of volunteers helping ensure that the Great Minnesota Get-Together remains worthy of its name.

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