Be prepared to be amazed, educated, and challenged with the numerous learning demonstrations and presentations.  Learn a new recipe.  Find out why your tree is turning a weird color.  Discover new ways to arrange plants.

Ag Family of the Day Presentation

August 28, 29, September 4, 5, and 6

Presented by Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska State Fair, five Nebraskan farm and ranch families are nominated, selected, and honored as the State Fair “Ag Family of the Day.”

Wednesday, August 31st and Thursday Sept. 1st, 6:45p.m. each evening

Track east of the Grandstands

Experience the fun and skill of antique tractors. Games such as tractor balancing, the slowest tractor race and team obstacle course racing are just a few of the games that you will experience with these amazing machines.

Chadron State College Presents Cowboys: The Story Your History Book Forgot To Tell You

Thursday, September 2nd, Kidz Zone

Television and movie producers created a cowbly figure that would be nearly unrecognizable to those who lived and worked with him. That cowboy, clean and neat even after a long days drive was nearly always fair skinned, but the cowboys on the train were a multicultural group consisting of Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, and European Americans. Learn about the true roots of the Amercian cowboy and the real people who created the beef industry through hands-on activities.

Church Services

Each Sunday on the Bristol Windows Stage

Worship on the fairgrounds with a Catholic Mass and a Lutheran Service held each Sunday on the Bristol Windows Stage. Service times are listed below:

Lutheran Services :

August 29th, 9:00 a.m. - Pastor Russ Sommerfeld, President of the Nebraska District Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

September 5th, 9:00 a.m. -Pastor Jack Gillam, Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grand Island

Catholic Masses:

August 29th, 10:30 a.m. - Reverend Harry Kurtenbach from the Diocese of Grand Island

September 5th, 10:30 a.m. - Bishop William Dendinger from the Diocese of Grand Island

 

Food Products Sampling

August 27 through September 6 – 4-H & FFA Building

Nebraska entrepreneurs showcase a variety of Nebraska food products.

Fair Conditioning

Kidz Zone Stage, 7:30am - 8:30am daily

Come work out at the Fair! The Grand Island YMCA is hosting FREE workout classes on the fairgrounds daily in the morning. Here's a list of classes for each day:

8/28 - Bodyvive

8/29 - Zumba

8/30 - Circuit Training

8/31 - Yoga Stretch

9/1 - Circuit Training

9/2 - Zumba

9/3 - Muscle Strength and Range of Motion

9/4 - Circuit Training

9/5 - Turbo Kick

9/6 - Bodyvive

Stuhr Museum

All the fun of Stuhr Museum’s 1890’s Living History Railroad Town comes to the Nebraska State Fair. The museum that brings the story of Nebraska’s first towns to life feature dozens of hands-on, historical and artistic activities in the State Fair’s Kids Zone, including live blacksmithing, coloring, word games, stilts and period children's games. Special, hands-on presentations take place at 2 p.m. each day. See below for a full schedule of presentations. Click here to learn more about Stuhr Museum.

Stuhr Museum Presentation Schedule:

• August 27th - General historic activities
• August 28th - Blacksmithing Demonstrations from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and a special presentation at 2 p.m.
• August 29th - Blacksmithing Demonstrations from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and a special presentation at 2 p.m.
• August 30th - Bread making and corn griding from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. and a special presentation at 2 p.m.
• August 31st - Kitchen gadgets from the Stuhr Collection from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and a special presentation at 2 p.m.
• September 1st - Native American Beading from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and a special presentation at 2 p.m.
• September 2nd - 1890's Rope Making from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and a special presentation at 2 p.m.
• September 3rd - 1890's Nursing Program from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and a special presentation at 2 p.m.
• September 4th - 1890's Woodworking from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and a special presentation at 2 p.m.
• September 5th - Glass Etching from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and a special presentation at 2 p.m.
• September 6th - Make your own time capsule from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.