2011 ANNUAL REPORT This document is made available electronically by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library as part of an ongoing digital archiving project. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/lrl.asp Report of the #EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT# At its heart, the They spotted my UST cap, and checked “Someone wearing Minnesota State Tommie gear” off their list. Fair is defined by We had a very nice chat during which the students shared special moments. their overwhelmingly positive State Fair experience. They The moments were just getting to know each other and, for some, it was are spontaneous their first-ever visit to the fair. Their enthusiasm for the expressions of Great Minnesota Get-Together was staggering. It was revelation, obvious that they were having their share of memorable fair inspiration and moments that day and it was a beautiful demonstration of pure joy, and they what the fair does best–bring people together in an epic are as unpre- celebration of all that is good about our great state. dictable as they are unforgettable. When you go to the fair, you know amazing things will happen, but you don’t know During its nearly 160-year history, the State Fair has when or where. established itself as one of the largest and best-attended events in the world. During that time, the fair has earned an One of many such moments for me during the ’11 State outstanding reputation that has truly gone global. I saw this Fair happened on the eighth day of the fair–a very hot first-hand earlier this year when I was greatly honored with and sticky Thursday. While walking near the Food Building, an invitation to visit South Korea and participate in education I was approached by a group of students from the University programs for Korean festival managers, government officials of St. Thomas who were on a State Fair scavenger hunt. and graduate students. Korean leadership has recognized festivals as major GENERAL INFORMATION engines of social and economic impact, much as the Pricing, Total Attendance, Mission Statement...............2 great fairs of North America are, and the Koreans reached out to us to share and learn from each other. We reached Animals, Agriculture & Competition .............................3 back with the common purpose of uniting people to educate, Contests & Activities....................................................3 inspire and improve lives. In recent years, the Koreans have New Entertainment, Exhibits & Elements.................4–5 made enormous strides in establishing world-class events, and the great potential of this partnership with our new Board of Managers, Sponsors .....................................5 friends is very exciting. Awards & Accolades, Honorary Life Member ...............6 As soon as we turned the lights off on Labor Day, anticipation Grandstand Attendance...............................................7 for the 2012 State Fair began building and it has continued to Free Stages.................................................................8 grow. We’ve been working very hard to make this year’s fair the best ever, and we look forward to seeing you at the Great FINANcIAL INFORMATION Minnesota Get-Together. Thank you for the opportunity to Independent Auditor’s Report ......................................9 serve this great institution. God bless. Management Discussion and Analysis.......................11 Statement of Net Assets............................................13 Statement of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Net Assets ........................15 Statement of Cash Flows ..........................................17 Footnotes..................................................................18 Jerry Hammer Supporting Schedule – Revenues and Expenses........24 Executive Vice President Auditor’s Report on Internal Control and Compliance................................27 Meeting Minutes .......................................................29 # 2011 PRICING # TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 1,769,872 Pre-Fair Admission Price All ages $9 ThuRsdAy, AuG. 25 WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31 Thrifty Thursday: 101,658 Read & Ride Day: 111,891 Regular Admission Price High: 83 Low: 63 High: 85 Low: 64 Adults (13-64) $12; Seniors (65 & over) $10; Precipitation: none Precipitation: trace Kids (5-12) $10; Children (under 5) FREE FRIDAY, AUG. 26 THURSDAY, SEPT. 1 Thrifty Thursday Governor’s Fire Seniors Day: 104,131 Adults (13 & over) $10; Kids (5-12) $7; Prevention Day: 123,735 High: 94 Low: 71 Children (under 5) FREE High: 87 Low: 66 Precipitation: none Precipitation: none Seniors Days FRIDAY, SEPT. 2 Seniors (65 & over) $7 SATURDAY, AUG. 27 MPR Day: 154,995 4-H Day: 177,166 Kids Days High: 82 Low: 72 High: 79 Low: 60 Precipitation: .02 inches Kids (5-12) $7; Children (under 5) FREE Precipitation: none SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 Military Appreciation Day SUNDAY, AUG. 28 FFA Day: 215,847 Active military and their immediate families, Minnesota Cooks Day: retired military and veterans received an High: 81 Low: 60 171,689 Precipitation: trace admission discount by presenting valid High: 78 Low: 59 documentation of military service when Precipitation: none purchasing a ticket at the gate. SUNDAY, SEPT. 4 Minnesota History Day: All ages (with documentation) $7 MONDAY, AUG. 29 Seniors, Kids & 229,943* Read & Ride Wednesday MN State Patrol Day: High: 71 Low: 53 Public library card holders received a discount off 124,538 Precipitation: trace regular admission when they purchased a ticket High: 81 Low: 59 MONDAY, SEPT. 5 at the gate. Precipitation: trace Kids & Last Chance Day: Adults (13-64) $10; Seniors (65 & over) $7; Kids TUESDAY, AUG. 30 154,532 (5-12) $7; Children (under 5) FREE Military Appreciation Day: High: 72 Low: 48 99,747 Precipitation: none Blue Ribbon Bargain Book High: 71 Low: 64 Pre-fair $4; Fair-time $5 * Attendance record Precipitation: .02 inches Mighty Midway & Kidway Pre-fair 20-ticket sheet $10 Fair-time 44-ticket sheet $30; 28-ticket sheet $20; single ticket $.75 Parking: $12 or one $9 pre-fair admission ticket # Our Mission # To educate and involve our guests by providing a world-class showcase that is innovative, entertaining and fun. We strive to: • Showcase Minnesota’s finest agriculture, art and industry • Offer exceptional value • Present an unparalleled forum for knowledge • Provide a safe, clean environment and ideas that is accessible to all • Provide outstanding customer service • Create unique experiences 2 # Animals, Agriculture & Competition # FINE ARTS features an invited artist, collection, genre or group. The Minnesota State Fair “Marking Time: Looking Back at Minnesota Artists and the celebrated its 100th Juried Exhibition” was this year’s theme. The art on display Fine Arts Exhibition in showcased a selection of prominent participants in the Fine 2011. The Fine Arts Arts Exhibition from throughout its rich history. These works Competition is the were generously loaned by local collectors, galleries, the state’s largest juried Minnesota Museum of American Art, the Minnesota Historical art show. Winning Society, as well as the artists themselves. pieces are displayed every day of the fair in NEW COMPETITIONS AND CONTESTS the Fine Arts Center. Beef Open Class – Percentage Participation is open to all Simmental, ShorthornPlus and ® residents of Minnesota, and each Lim-Flex were added to this judging category. may submit one work for consideration. In 2011, a total of 2,504 pieces were submitted with only 361 Vegan Main Dish Category - A vegan works accepted. main dish was added as a category to the Creative Activities competition. This year’s Adult People’s Choice Award went to “Nobody Entrants were required to use Takes Buses Anymore,” a charcoal and pencil on paper, by ingredients without animal products Daniel Volenec of Minneapolis. Kyle Fokken of Minneapolis and were scored on appearance, ease won the Kids People’s Choice Award for a mixed media and of preparation, taste and texture. found object work titled “Airway to Heaven.” Each year the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition # Contests & Activities # 39TH ANNUAL STATE FAIR HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND COMPETITION AMATEUR TALENT CONTEST High school marching bands from Minnesota and Wisconsin WINNERS competed in the State Fair’s daily mall parade. Rosemount Open Division: High School was awarded Class A honors, Waseca took first First place: Connor Engstrom place in Class B, and New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale- of Mountain Lake Geneva School District won the Class C division. Second place: DEL-BOOGIE of Minneapolis Third place: Caitlin Heaney of St. Paul Teen Division: First place: Tori Adams of Edina Second place: Sylvia Borash of Baxter Third place: Josh Swensen of Waconia Preteen Division: First place: Josie Nelson of Alexandria Second place: Emma Taggart of Blaine Third place: Thomas Wong of Little Canada MILK RUN Kim Robinson of Bloomington and Daniel Murray of Blue Earth were the overall female and male 5K Milk Run winners with times of 17:30 and 17:04 respectively. 3 #New Entertainment, Exhibits & Elements# 2011 MINNEsOTA sTATE FAIR GIANT sING ALONG cOMMEMORATIvE ART by A participatory public art installation created by Montreal- sTEvE ThOMAs based artists Mouna Andraos The 2011 Commemorative and Melissa Mongiat, the Art was the eighth in a series Giant Sing Along offered an of annual artwork created opportunity for fair guests exclusively for the State Fair. to do something This was the first year the spectacular together and State Fair put out a call for was a huge hit! A field of submissions, and Lino Lakes microphones welcomed