What Big Iron Is
Big Iron is billed as the largest farm show in the upper Midwest. Every September it fills the Red River Valley Fairgrounds in West Fargo with more than 900 exhibit booths, equipment demonstrations and training sessions covering farming, construction and technology. It is run by the Red River Valley Fair Association, and visitors come from across the United States and Canada to see machinery in action.
Dates and Hours
The next show is posted for September 14-16, 2027, with the same weekly pattern as 2026:
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
The 2026 show ran September 15-17 and was free to the public. It added 80 new vendors that year.
What You Can See and Do
- More than 900 exhibit booths of machinery, parts, services and technology.
- Training sessions and equipment demonstrations.
- Food concessions on the grounds.
- NDSU Extension exhibits at the east end of the Hartl Ag Building, where agents and specialists answer questions on crop and livestock production and rural topics.
NDSU Extension exhibits (2026 edition)
- Agricultural safety, including a tug-of-war showing how hard it is to pull someone out of grain: a person buried to the waist needs about their body weight plus an estimated 600 pounds of force to extract.
- Farm and ranch stress and mental health resources.
- Live samples of economically important weeds, with staff showing how to identify them.
- Information on data centers in North Dakota.
- Leadership programs: Rural Leadership North Dakota, Lead Local and Community Impressions.
NDSU students also bring the Bison Pullers, a one-fourth-scale tractor built for an international collegiate competition (the 2026 entry placed in the top 15 overall), and the Bison Antique Tractor Club shows reconditioned antique tractors.
Visiting Tips
- Plan for outdoor walking on a large fairgrounds across three days.
- Unauthorized drone flights are prohibited on the fairgrounds.
- Check the show website for the booth map, exhibitor list and any admission or parking details before you go, as they are posted closer to each show.
For Exhibitors
The show website carries pages for exhibitor information, booth awards, sponsorship opportunities and service providers. Booth reservations and deadlines are handled through those pages.
Where
Red River Valley Fairgrounds, 1805 Main Avenue West, West Fargo, ND 58078.
Questions
Is it free?
The 2026 show was free to the public. Check the website for 2027 admission.
How long is the show?
Three days, Tuesday through Thursday, with Thursday closing an hour earlier at 4:00 p.m.
Is it only for farmers?
No. It covers farm and construction equipment, and the NDSU Extension exhibits cover safety, stress, weeds and leadership for rural communities.
Official Links
- Big Iron Farm Show: dates, hours, exhibitor information
- Valley News Live: 2026 opening-day report
- NDSU Extension: exhibits at Big Iron
- Red River Valley Fair: event listing
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- NDSU Soil Water Workshop
The 2027 Soil Water Workshop meets in the FargoDome with an in-person and virtual option. Next workshop posted for January 20, 2027.
1800 N University Drive, Fargo, ND 58102 | Organizer: NDSU Extension Official event details - North Dakota Farm Bureau Living Ag in the Classroom Fargo
A Living Ag in the Classroom session in Fargo for teachers. Next session posted for February 23, 2027; the city comes from the event title.
Fargo, ND | Organizer: North Dakota Farm Bureau Official event details - North Dakota FFA State Convention
Students compete in more than 30 award, degree and career development events during the week, including ag mechanics, dairy evaluation, floriculture and meats evaluation. Next convention posted for June 7-10, 2027 at NDSU.
- NDSU Agriculturist of the Year Banquet
The Saddle and Sirloin Club banquet honored Jim Kirsch, an animal sciences research technician with over 40 years at NDSU, the evening before the Little International. Held each year; the most recent banquet was February 13, 2026.
Fargo, ND | Organizer: NDSU Saddle and Sirloin Club Official event details - NDSU Little International Livestock Show
The 100th Little International at NDSU Shepperd Arena featured student showmanship in beef, dairy, sheep, swine and goats, plus lamb lead, ham curing and public speaking. Held each year; the most recent show was February 14, 2026.
Fargo, ND | Organizer: NDSU Saddle and Sirloin Club Official event details
All North Dakota events by date
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.