Environmental Fair
2024 Environmental Fair
Lyon County Fairgrounds
Marshall, MN
September 24th & 25th, 2024
About the Environmental Fair
The goal of the Environmental Fair is to let students study natural resources in a setting that will give them the opportunity to see, touch and sometimes taste what they are learning about. It is designed to encompass multiple aspects of environmental education, and be available to a large number of students.
By collaborating and combining the resources of eleven SWCDs, this award-winning event provides a well-rounded, interactive small group learning experience mixed with large group “professional” presentations. This partnership provides quality environmental education to rural schools of southwestern Minnesota.
Presentations & Topics
The Environmental Fair provides a unique, interactive learning experience for students to understand the importance of our resources and realize that what people do affects all aspects of the environment.
Students participate in sessions including hands-on activities or demonstrations on a variety of topics including trees, soil, water quality, wetlands, recycling, household hazardous waste, native prairie, watersheds, and creatures that share our environment.
Educators from the Science Museum of Minnesota, Great Plains Zoo, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Counties, Department of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Conservation Service are among the presenters.
History of the Fair
The first Environmental Fair was held in September 1992 at the Lyon County Fairgrounds in Marshall. The one-day event was attended by 1,280 students from a 14-county area. Over the years, the Fair has grown into a two-day event, with attendance as high as 2,700 students.
In 2019 the Fair was held at The Shetek Environmental Learning Center on the shores of Lake Shetek. In 2020-2022 COVID-19 made for some difficult planning and was unfortunately missed. We returned to the Lyon County Fairgrounds for 2023. We look forward to hosting again in 2024!
| Attendance History | |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,636 students |
| 2020-2022 | No Fair Held |
| 2019 | 1,497 students |
| 2018 | 1,450 students |
| 2017 | 1,900 students |
| 2016 | 983 students |
| 2015 | 1,932 students |
| 2014 | 1,144 students |
| 2013 | 2,045 students |
| 2012 | 1,163 students |
| 2011 | 1,834 students |
| 2010 | 1,000 students |
| 2009 | 1,717 students |
| 2008 | 1,345 students |
| 2007 | 2,096 students |
| 2006 | 900 students |
| 2005 | 2,250 students |
| 2004 | 1,600 students |
| 2003 | 2,100 students |
| 2002 | 1,200 students |
| 2001 | 2,310 students |
| 2000 | 1,930 students |
| 1999 | 2,500 students |
| 1998 | 1,260 students |
| 1997 | 2,700 students |
| 1996 | 1,900 students |
| 1995 | 2,000 students |
| 1994 | 1,720 students |
| 1993 | 1,440 students |
| 1992 | 1,280 students |
It's FREE!
The Environmental Fair is offered to area schools AT NO CHARGE.
Support from the participating soil and water districts, partnering agencies, as well as local businesses and organizations in the eleven county area make this event possible.
The Environmental Fair is hosted by the following Soil & Water Conservation Districts:
- Cottonwood SWCD
- Jackson SWCD
- Lincoln SWCD
- Lac qui Parle SWCD
- Lyon SWCD
- Nobles SWCD
- Pipestone SWCD
- Redwood SWCD
- Rock SWCD
- Yellow Medicine SWCD
- Murray SWCD
For questions on attending this year's Fair, click HERE to email us or contact your local SWCD using the links above.