A Look Back

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has been involved in the state's fair scene for years. In this photograph, dated 1933, Department personnel staffed a booth at the "North West Agricultural, Livestock and Fair Association in Minot."

Don't confuse the "North West" fair, simply because of its location, with what is today's North Dakota State Fair in Minot.

According to archives of the State Historical Society of North Dakota, before the creation of the State Fair Association in 1965 and naming Minot as its home, a number of fairs and fair associations were authorized by lawmakers to sponsor a state fair.

For example, beginning in 1905, "the State Legislature authorized a state fair to be held in Grand Forks in odd numbered years and in Fargo in even numbered years."

The Game and Fish Department ramped up its presence at the State Fair in Minot in 1993 with the Pathway to Fishing program.

"The Game and Fish Department saw the potential of the Pathway program and sponsored it as part of a multi-phased approach to recruit new anglers by offering beginners the information and the opportunity to sample fishing first hand," according to an article in North Dakota OUTDOORS, June 1994.

A pond located on the north end of the fairgrounds was key to the program's success.

Improvements were later made to the pond to enhance water quality and fish survival. Game and Fish also added permanent structures to provide a staging area, casting boardwalk and additional fencing to allow better traffic control.

Along with these and other improvements, the Department's home on the state fairgrounds was named the North Dakota Conservation and Outdoor Skills Park. Also added were outdoor education programs and shooting opportunities.

"Hopefully, participants will leave with an appetite for more, which they can satisfy in the outdoors near their home communities. We now have the facilities to introduce both youngsters and adults to hunting and fishing, activities we believe are the original, wholesome, outdoor family pastimes," according to North Dakota OUTDOORS, July 1995.

With continued improvements at the Conservation and Skills Park, interest in outdoor activities has grown.

Yearly, during the nine-day state fair, more than 10,000 youngsters and adults participate in activities free of charge. An additional estimated 20,000 people simply visit the park to see the exhibits or to find a cool spot out of the sun.

North Dakota State Fair dates for 2016 are July 22-30.