HURON – With the help of day sponsors, the State Fair offers promotional days throughout the 2022 South Dakota State Fair. Each day offers different activities and giveaways.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, is Channel Seeds Preview Day. Preview Day at the State Fair offers free gate admission to allow fairgoers a sneak peek of the fair. The carnival opens at 5 p.m., and all rides are $1 each. The Red Wilk Construction Tuff Hedeman Bull Bash kicks off the grandstand entertainment at 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 1, is Value Added Ag Day where attendees can experience value added agriculture in South Dakota. Value Added Ag Development Center has helped start or expand products from crops and livestock being made across the state. Stop by the Day Sponsor Tent to visit with producers and see some of those value-added items and join in for an ice cream social.

Friday, Sept. 2, is Prostrollo Motors Day. Make sure to stop by Prostrollo Motors on east Highway 14 in Huron prior to the fair to pick up a coupon for $1 off daily gate admission at the State Fair. Also, sign up for a chance to win the “Best Seats in the House” at the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday shows in the Grandstand.

Fairgoers are encouraged to take part in “Wear R.E.D. (Remember Everyone Deployed)” Friday in support of troops and wear a red shirt to the fair. At 1:45 p.m., fairgoers wearing red are invited to the NorthWestern Energy Freedom Stage to take a group photo. Photos will be sent to deployed troops.

Stop by the Prostrollo Motors Building all week long to sign a "thank you" sign and after the fair. The signs will be sent to deployed troops, along with the Wear R.E.D. photos.

Saturday, Sept. 3, is South Dakota Farmers Union Day. South Dakota Farmers Union hosts events throughout the day celebrating the family farmers, ranchers and rural communities from across the state of South Dakota that they represent. Highlighting the day of activities is the annual Farmer’s Share Luncheon (limited number of meals available) located in the tent near the Freedom stage from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In comparison to the retail price of the meal, $13, attendees will pay just $0.35 for a meal that showcases the farmer’s share on retail food dollars.

South Dakota’s Department of Public Safety is sponsoring DPS Day at the State Fair on Sunday, Sept. 4. DPS staff members will be located from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Day Sponsor Tent site. There will be giveaways including the traditional DPS hats and visors, free bottles of water, and a chance to renew your driver license (remember to bring two documents proving your address). The ever-popular Highway Patrol dog demonstrations and Tommy the Turtle’s disaster preparedness discussions are back this year at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 5, is Avera Farm and Ranch Support Day. Avera offers the Farm and Rural Stress hotline at 1-800-691-4336 for those with toughened hands when they need someone to talk to. 

Extreme weather conditions, machinery breakdowns, a volatile ag environment, long hours that prevent time with family, and lowered income all cause friction. Avera will have information on hand to share about this service, financial assistance, and other mental health services in the Day Sponsor Tent. Free mental health vouchers for every farmer, ranch and family member in the state are offered by South Dakota Agricultural Behavioral Health Program.

There will be one last round of fun in ’22 on Monday, Sept. 5, the final day to check off all the items on the fair bucket list before it’s over – indulge in a favorite fair food, buy that item on the wish list, take one last ride on the Ferris wheel, and enjoy the entertainment. Bring the entire family out to catch the ATV Big Air Tour sponsored by American Bank & Trust in the Grandstand at 1 pm.

The show is free with paid gate admission.

Fairgoers can help to "stock the shelves" on Monday, Sept. 5. Bring a non-perishable food item for the “Stock the Shelves” food drive between the hours of 7 and 11 a.m. and receive $2 off daily gate admission.

The State Fair will be paying it forward thanks to businesses that have banded together to sponsor gate admission passes. Fair officials will randomly hand out free passes at the gate admission entrances.

For information about the South Dakota State Fair, contact the fair office at 800-529-0900, visit www.sdstatefair.com or find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.