What Farmfest Is
Farmfest is a three-day outdoor farm show on the Historic Gilfillan Estate in Redwood County. It covers about 50 acres, hosts more than 400 exhibitors and vendors, and usually draws roughly 24,000 to 26,000 people from across the upper Midwest. Farmers come to look at machinery and technology, sit in on market and policy sessions, and hear candidates and officials face farm questions. The most recent show ran August 4 to 6, 2026.
What You Can Do There
- See equipment and technology. New in 2026 were daily drone demonstrations, ride-and-drive demonstrations and autonomous tillage trials, plus live aerial spraying and mapping demos.
- Attend forums. Policy forums run in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center.
- Learn. Sessions included a 2027 Profit Roadmap Seminar on cash flow, ag policy and lending, a livestock market outlook, and a farm transitions and succession planning session.
- Get certified. Manure applicator recertification and Beef Quality Assurance training were offered on the last day.
- Use the Farm Safety and Health Pavilion. Free well-water nitrate testing, information on tractor rollover protective structure grants, grain bin lockout tags and a farm stress helpline.
How It Works: The 2026 Schedule
Tuesday, August 4
- 10:10 a.m.: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the first featured speaker
- 10:30 a.m.: candidates for Minnesota's 1st and 2nd congressional districts
- 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.: candidates for the 6th, 7th and 8th congressional districts
Wednesday, August 5
- 8 a.m.: Minnesota Farm Bureau Pancake Breakfast, free to the first 1,000 attendees
- 10 a.m.: driverless tillage field trials
- 10:30 a.m.: forum with candidates for governor
- 11:15 a.m.: livestock market outlook in the Livestock Tent
- 1 p.m.: farm transitions and succession planning session; pedal tractor pull near Gate 2
- 1:15 p.m.: U.S. Senate candidates' forum
Thursday, August 6
- 8 a.m.: manure applicator recertification
- 10 a.m.: Beef Quality Assurance training in the Livestock Tent
- 10:45 a.m.: seventh annual Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year award presentation
- 12:30 p.m.: panel with the Woman Farmer of the Year finalists at the Farm Bureau Hub
- 1:15 p.m.: University of Minnesota Extension recognizes 86 families as 2026 Minnesota Farm Families of the Year
Tickets and Hours
| Who | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults, online | $8 |
| Adults, at the gate | $10 |
| Children 17 and under | Free |
| Active and veteran military with valid ID | Free |
Tickets are sold on the Farmfest website. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day. A free IDEAg Events app provides maps, exhibitor directories and schedule alerts.
Where
Historic Gilfillan Estate, 28269 MN-67, in Redwood County, on County Highway 13. Parking fills early on opening day, so plan to arrive in the morning.
Key Dates
The next Farmfest is set for August 3 to 5, 2027.
Questions
Do kids need a ticket?
No. Children 17 and under are free.
Can I save money on admission?
Yes. Online tickets were $8 against $10 at the gate.
Are the candidate forums every year?
Forums with elected officials and candidates are a regular part of the program. In 2026 they came one week before Minnesota's August 11 primary and included open seats for governor and U.S. Senate.
Is there food in the morning?
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Pancake Breakfast on Wednesday at 8 a.m. is free to the first 1,000 attendees.
Official Links
- MPR News: Farmfest 2026: dates, hours, admission, forum times
- New Ulm Journal: 2026 Farmfest begins: daily programs and 2027 dates
- Redwood Falls radio news: Farmfest opens: exhibitor count and opening-day speakers
- Farmfest 2026 listing: event listing
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Redwood County Fair
Redwood County Fair in Redwood Falls is held each July; the most recent dates were July 16-19, 2026, with 4-H schedule of events published by the county 4-H program.
Redwood Falls, MN Official event details - Olmsted County 4-H Officer Training
Training for 2026-2027 Olmsted County 4-H club officers, 6-8 p.m., with a volunteer training held the same evening. Held each year; the most recent date was November 12, 2026.
Rochester, MN Official event details - Olmsted County Pesticide Safety Recertification
Private pesticide applicator A/E recertification day, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for Olmsted County farmers who must recertify every three years. Held each year; the most recent date was November 13, 2026.
Rochester, MN Official event details - Pope County 4-H Dairy Clinic
Dairy skills clinic for Pope County 4-H members at the University of Minnesota Morris West Central Research and Outreach Center. Held each year; the most recent date was November 15, 2026.
Morris, MN Official event details - Climate Resilience for Farmers - Northwest
Two-day University of Minnesota Extension workshop for northwest Minnesota farmers on climate resilience, November 18 (9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) and November 19, 2026.
Crookston, MN Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.