What the Wright County Fair Is
The Wright County Fair in Howard Lake is a five-day summer fair that mixes 4-H youth competition with midway rides, grandstand shows and free attractions. The most recent edition was the 155th fair and ran Wednesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 26, 2026, on the fairgrounds off Wright County Highway 6. For 4-H families the week is the main stage for livestock shows, horse classes, static exhibits, a fashion revue and the Blue Ribbon Auction. For visitors it is a place to watch the shows, see the animals and take in the entertainment.
What Was on the Midway and Grandstand
- Opening night grandstand: a MotoKazie Supercross show
- Thursday night grandstand: a Combine, Power Wheels and Lawn Mower Demo Derby
- Ongoing attractions: All-American Lumberjack Show, Wheels of Ag, Paul Bunyan Live, Dangerous Feats of Comedy, an exotic animal zoo, the FFA Agricultural Learning Center, Wright County Historical Society displays, bingo and machinery hill displays
- Midway extras: an antique tractor pull, a kids coin scramble and a drawing for two kids' bikes for people who bought armbands
- Entertainment tent: live music through the evenings
How the 4-H Side Works: The Timeline
4-H members must be enrolled in the Wright County 4-H program through 4HOnline to exhibit. The 2026 sequence ran like this:
- Before the fair: dog judging on July 11; general exhibit drop-off, clothing judging and Fashion Revue judging on July 18 (drop-off 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the 4-H exhibit building); Engineering Design Challenge judging on July 20 from 3 to 7 p.m.
- July 21: livestock check-in noon to 8 p.m., horse check-in 5 to 8 p.m., and General Exhibit conference judging 1 to 6:30 p.m.
- July 22 to 26: shows, judging and the auction.
- Sunday, July 26: Engineering Design Showcase at 2 p.m., Round Robin Showmanship at 3 p.m., exhibits released at 7 p.m., building closes 8:30 p.m.
Livestock and Horse Show Times
| Day | Show |
|---|---|
| Wed, July 22 | Dairy and Meat Goat Show, 4:30 p.m., Show Arena |
| Thu, July 23 | Poultry Show, 9:00 a.m.; Beef Show, 9:00 a.m., Show Arena |
| Fri, July 24 | Rabbit Show, 8:00 a.m.; Dairy Show, 8:30 a.m.; Sheep and Wool Show, 3:00 p.m. |
| Sat, July 25 | Swine Show, 8:00 a.m.; Lamb Lead Show, 8:30 a.m.; Fun With Goats, 9:30 a.m. |
Horse classes ran Wednesday (Training and Achievement, Egg and Spoon, Driving, Trail at 9:00 a.m.), Thursday (Games at 8:00 a.m., Cloverbud Horse Show at 7:00 p.m.) and Friday (Pleasure at 8:00 a.m.). The Fashion Revue show was Thursday at 7:15 p.m., and a Grilling Contest ran Saturday at 4 p.m.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- All work must be done by the exhibitor during the current project year unless noted, and AI tools must be credited.
- Poster and tag board displays: maximum 22 by 28 inches. Exhibits over four feet in any dimension need Extension Office permission.
- Members show their own animals, with limited exceptions such as herd classes. Animal ID data was due May 15, 2026 (market beef February 17, 2026).
- Animals with infectious or communicable disease, including warts, ringworm and abscesses, may not be entered.
- Livestock arrive Tuesday noon to 8 p.m. or Wednesday 8 a.m. to noon, and must be in place by 8 p.m. Wednesday. Late arrivals are sent home.
- Cloverbuds get participation ribbons and need no LQA&E certification.
- Conference judging ribbons are based 50 percent on exhibit quality and 50 percent on what the member learned.
Key Dates and Deadlines (2026 Edition)
- May 15: animal ID due
- June 5: Blue Ribbon Auction registration
- July 25, 2:00 p.m.: State Fair trip acceptance
- July 26, 2:00 p.m.: State Fair registration deadline
Fees, Awards and What You Get
Youth 17 and under get free admission under the 4-H guide, and 4-H members 18 and older pick up a free wristband at the 4-H desk; other adults pay admission plus parking. Dogs are not allowed on the fairgrounds. Camping is $60 for fair week. Premium checks are mailed the week after the fair. The Blue Ribbon Auction is Saturday, July 25: participant check-in at 5:00 p.m. (t-shirt and group photo, with a buyer hospitality hour), graduate recognition and the auction at 6:00 p.m., and a 4-H dance for grades 5 and up at 10:00 p.m. Auction winners return thank-you cards before receiving checks, and anyone earning over $600 submits a W-9.
Questions
Can a visitor who is not in 4-H still enjoy the fair?
Yes. The midway, grandstand, lumberjack show and animal displays are open to everyone with gate admission.
What if I miss the arrival window with my animals?
Late entries are sent home. Check in before 8 p.m. Wednesday or call the office if delayed.
Who do I call during the fair?
The 4-H cell phone during fair week is 612-719-0295. The Extension office is located on the fairgrounds July 21 to 26.
When is the next fair?
The next dates have not been announced here; the most recent edition was July 22 to 26, 2026.
Official Links
- Wright County Fair
- Wright County 4-H Fair Guide
- Essential fair information for 4-H exhibitors
- KRWC: opening day
- KRWC: day two
Minnesota County Fairs and the State Fair: The Essentials
Minnesota county fairs ran from Hennepin's June 11 to 13 fair to Lac qui Parle's September 10 to 13 fair in 2026, per a county fair list. Dates may change.
State Fair
The 2026 Minnesota State Fair ran August 27 to September 7, and the 2027 fair is August 26 to September 6, per the fair's recap.
Ownership and entries
Animals must be identified in 4-H Online by May 15, and market animals cannot be leased, per Extension's animal ID page. State Fair 4-H registration goes through users.mnstatefair.org.
Livestock
The State Fair 4-H livestock departments include beef and dairy cattle, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine, per the 4-H page.
Auction
The Purple Ribbon Auction raised more than $1.35 million for 115 4-H members in 2026.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office for your fair book and deadlines.
Weights, residency and sale rules differ by fair.
Read the full guide: Minnesota County Fairs and the State Fair
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- 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 - Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting
County voting delegates debate and set Minnesota Farm Bureau policy for the coming year at the Marriott Southwest in Minnetonka, with the meeting opening Thursday afternoon and closing Saturday at noon.
Minnetonka, MN | Organizer: Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.