Minnesota State Fair unveils new cookbook looking back at 50 years of blue ribbon winners
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Are you tired of entering baked products at the Minnesota State Fair and never winning? You’re in luck. A new cookbook from the fair came out this week with 100 blue ribbon winning recipes that might just give you an edge over your fellow competitors.
“50 Years of State Fair Recipes: A Collection of Minnesota State Fair blue ribbon winners from 1976 to 2025” is the first cookbook published by the fair in 50 years. Christine Noonan, advertising director for the fair, said numerous departments worked together to form a recipe book committee.
It has been a bucket list project for the fair for several years. They asked people in 2025 to send in their recipes, hoping people would share their secrets. Many replied — from newbies to veterans across the state.
Recipes are accompanied by personal stories, Noonan’s favorite part of the book.
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“One of the most endearing things is how much it means to them to be a part of a State Fair competition. They’re using their grandmother’s recipe or a recipe that shows up on their holiday table every year,” she said. “The stories, the memories, the connection to the fair and capturing this moment in time was especially important.”
Due to the overwhelming number of submissions just like the contests themself, it was hard for the committee to pick which recipes to include. They focused on having a variety of difficulty levels and regions of the state represented. Some people have two recipes in the book, but they must be in different categories.
Noonan said while putting together the book it was important for the team to think about how readers would feel represented and proud to live in Minnesota. As they parsed through submissions this winter, the ICE surge was unfolding.
“When we were doing the book, it was heavy times in our state so reading these stories really brought us a lot of joy here on staff and we really hope to share that with the wider community as well,” she said.
The book is available to buy in-person through June 13 at the J.V. Bailey House at the fairgrounds. After June 14, it will be available for purchase at statefairwear.com.
Books may be available at the fair itself, but it is a limited-print batch, and Noonan suggests getting your copy sooner than later. Books are $30 and all proceeds go to the Minnesota State Fair Foundation.
