September 4 – September 7, 2026 | Minnesota State Fairgrounds
From September 4 through September 7, Earth on Us had a home inside the 4-H Building at the Minnesota State Fair.
Fairgoers stopped by our table to play Recycle Right, sign the Earth on Us pledge banner, explore environmental education materials, and talk about simple actions young people can take to help the planet.
One of the most popular activities was our Recycle Right sorting game. Children and families worked together to decide whether everyday items belonged with paper, plastic, glass, metal, compost, or trash. Some answers were easy. Others sparked debates, questions, and conversations—which is exactly what we hope for.
Rather than simply telling young people what is right or wrong, we want them to think through their choices, talk with one another, and leave feeling more confident about the decisions they can make in their own lives.
Visitors also learned about the five Earth on Us actions: Bring My Water Bottle, Recycle Right, Turn Off Lights, Take School Bus, and Grow My Garden. Throughout the four days, children added their names, drawings, and messages to our pledge banner. By the end of the fair, the white paper covering our table had become a colorful collection of names and drawings from young people who stopped by.
We were also excited to share The Energy Detectives children’s books with young visitors. A huge thank you to Cooler Communities for sponsoring the books and helping us provide another fun, accessible way for children to learn about energy, climate, and everyday environmental action.
More Than Just the Table
Of course, being at the Minnesota State Fair also meant getting to enjoy everything that makes the fair such a memorable place.
In between tabling shifts and 4-H responsibilities, there was time to explore the fairgrounds, try classic and unusual fair foods—including pickle pizza—and take in the many exhibits, contests, demonstrations, animals, activities, and performances happening throughout the fair.
That mix of learning, service, food, fun, and unexpected experiences is part of what made the weekend so special.
Youth Helping Youth Lead
The State Fair was also a powerful example of what youth leadership can look like when young people support one another.
Earth on Us founder Daniel served throughout the fair as a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador, balancing the Earth on Us table with responsibilities across the 4-H Building and fairgrounds. His assignments included welcoming visitors, staffing the 4-H information desk, cashiering at the Clovermart, hosting the Citizens Advisory Committee meeting, assisting with the purple ribbon photo booth, anchoring the Project Talks, cheering for the Arts-In performance, judging the cooking competition “Chef for A Day”, and assisting with the Llama-Alpaca Costume Contest.
Whenever Daniel was needed elsewhere, fellow State Ambassadors helped keep the Earth on Us table going.
A huge thank you to Kushal, Izzy, Hayden, Elizabeth, Yolanda, Greta, and Renae for helping run activities, welcoming visitors, and stepping in throughout the fair. Their support made it possible for Earth on Us to stay active even during busy ambassador shifts.
Daniel’s Youth Leadership project, Leading Earth on Us, also received a Grand Champion purple ribbon and the Community Impact Award at the Minnesota State Fair. The recognition reflected the project’s focus on building youth-led environmental education and expanding opportunities for young people to lead in their own communities.
A Community Effort
We are especially grateful to Jacquie and Meg for making room in their already busy State Fair schedules to coordinate Earth on Us tabling hours in the 4-H Building.
A big thank you also goes to Jace for helping set up the Earth on Us table while running the ATV simulator.
A special thank you to Mrs. Juanita Reed-Boniface for stopping by the Earth on Us table, showing her support, and playing the Recycle Right games with Daniel.
Thank you as well to Dr. Skuza for the opportunity to assist her with welcoming the Citizen Advisory Committee and the Llama-Alpaca Costume Contest, and for her continued support of youth leadership and environmental education across Minnesota.
Most importantly, thank you to every child, parent, educator, 4-H member, volunteer, and fairgoer who stopped by our table.
Some stayed for a few minutes. Others spent much longer sorting, asking questions, reading, drawing, and talking with our volunteers. Each interaction was a reminder that environmental education does not have to begin with a huge issue or a complicated solution.
Sometimes it starts with one recyclable item, one question, one children’s book, or one small promise.
And when many people begin making those small choices together, they can add up to something much bigger.
Small actions add up to big impact.