The three-story 4‑H Building at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul is in line for its biggest facelift in decades, with Minnesota 4‑H and State Fair officials kicking off a $35 million renovation campaign. The work will be staged so the building keeps buzzing during the fair’s 12‑day run, with most of the heavy construction set to start after this summer’s event and major upgrades targeted to be ready for the 2027 fair.
Campaign and fundraising
According to University of Minnesota Extension, the campaign has raised $20,645,434 toward the $35 million goal, roughly 60 percent of the total. The campaign breakdown calls for about $28 million to reimagine the building itself, $2 million for a maintenance endowment and $5 million to support 4‑H educators who will activate the space year‑round.
Construction timing and fair operations
As reported by WJON, Minnesota 4‑H and the State Fair plan to keep the building’s first floor open to fairgoers during the 12‑day event while shifting most of the construction to the off-season. WJON notes that the building’s dormitories can house as many as 700 4‑H participants per night during the fair, and organizers are aiming to have the major renovation work wrapped in time for the 2027 fair.
Old bones, daily crowds
The 4‑H Building was built as a Works Progress Administration project and opened for fair use in 1939, with completion and dedication in 1940, according to the Minnesota State Fair. The fair’s history pages also note that the second‑level kitchen serves more than 40,000 meals each fair and that the structure hosts thousands of youth exhibits, performances and demonstrations across multiple floors.
Why the overhaul matters
Officials say the renovation is aimed not only at preserving an Art Deco landmark but at turning the building into a year‑round hub for youth learning and career exploration, with a goal to reach 100,000 young Minnesotans by 2030. The University of Minnesota Extension notes that 4‑H reached roughly 58,000 young people in 2025, and leaders say the upgraded building will allow for more workshops, camps and programming beyond the fair’s twelve days.
