This is also YOUR lucky day because the North Dakota State Fair is giving you the chance to score a pair of tickets to this wild event. Simply share a pic of your favorite little cowboy or cowgirl on the North Dakota State Fair facebook page  to be entered in the drawing.  Hurry – post your pic before this Friday, May 18 at noon!

Stay in the loop on future Great. Big. Fun. giveaways by logging on to www.Facebook.com/NDStateFair and www.twitter.com/ndstatefair. Each Wednesday we’ll post a new way to score a Great. Big. Fun. Giveaway. And we will see YOU at the 2012 North Dakota State Fair!

In addition to the Writing Contest, the North Dakota State Fair also offers a Heritage Contest. The North Dakota Heritage Contest exists so people may write down and submit their own stories about what life was like in North Dakota. Work submitted for the Heritage Contest will also be displayed in 4-H Hall.

All ages are encouraged to enter their work and $150 will be awarded to the best of show in each contest.

For more information on either contest http://ndstatefair.com/competition/ or call 701-857-7620.

The Hostile Takeover 2012 Tour is putting the best live performance in hip hop to the test as Tech N9ne and Strange Music make history on the record-breaking tour.

At nearly 100 dates, Tech shared some insight into what keeps the fans coming back:

“I have to put on a big show, that’s why my fans keep coming out. We have been doing this stuff for 12 years, before we even got to where we are now,” he said. “It’s the best hip-hop show there is according to Busta Rhymes, and you can believe it because he said it himself.”

Tech also went on to discuss the originality of his music and expressed interest in working with artists like Citizen Cope. With peers like Busta Rhymes declaring Tech’s show to be the best in hip hop, the Hostile Takeover 2012 Tour is sure to have something for everyone.

Tickets are $38 and are available at brownpapertickets.com and at Budget Video in Minot.

Want to win tickets to the concert? Tech N9ne does a lot of collaboration with other artists in the industry.  Log on to the North Dakota State Fair Center Facebook Page and tell us what your favorite hip hop collaboration is.  Maybe its something new and current like “Take Care” with Rihanna and Drake or something old school like “Walk This Way” with Run DMC and Aerosmith or anything in between! Hurry, you only have til Monday at 5pm to post your favorite collaboration.

Clifford said the parade will continue to be held on Saturday morning, setting off from Broadway and down Burdick to the Fairgrounds.  Fliers are sent out in mid-April and the chairman has reported numerous calls and inquiries from those who would like to be included. To request an entry form contact 701-838-0104 or download a form here www.ndstatefair.com/specialevents.

Of course the parade will include a variety of floats and the expected horse.  However, one change in this year’s parade is the second unit, a special veterans’ section. “We have invited all state military units,” Clifford said, “including the DAV, VFW and American Legion groups. We want to honor them.”

As a part of our weekly Great. Big. Fun. Giveaways promotion we want to reward the best Mom in your life. Post a photo of you and your mom on the ND StateFair Facebook page and you will have a chance to win a pair of Meet & Greets to the Luke Bryan concert held Sunday, July 22.

Hurry! Post your photo by noon on Friday, May 11 for chance to treat your mom to a Luke Bryan sneak peak!

Since the beginning of the Foundation, nearly 18 months ago, the Foundation has received more than $50,000 in donations from Fairgoers across the region.  The donations continue to come in, as just in the past four months we have received over $15,000 – thank you!

The Foundation is gearing up for the 2012 Fair.  We will have a multi-artist signed guitar raffle, with a limited amount of $10 tickets.  The guitar was signed at last year’s CMA awards by a variety of artists There will be more information about the raffle on the Foundation website in the near future.

We continue with our “Tile the Atrium” program.  You can have a tile named after your family, business, or loved one that has passed.  We have started installing tiles and will continue with this program until we get the Atrium finished.  It not only helps the Fair get an area upgraded, it also generates revenue for the Foundation.

The Foundation will continue to work on behalf of its sole mission to support the Fair.  Over time, we see the Foundation playing an important role with long term giving, grants, and charitable contributions.

For information on the Foundation, go to our website at www.ndstatefairfoundation.com or call the Fair office at 701-857-7620.

THANK YOU for supporting your Fair Foundation and to the Foundation Board and staff for helping to make this happen.

Keep on giving to YOUR Fair!

Todd Berning

President

Ya’ll come to the Bluegrass and BBQ Flood Relief Concert on Saturday, May 12^th from 5:00-8:00!  The concert and meal will be held at the Flickertail Gardens at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds.

This is an evening you are sure to enjoy and its all to support a great cause. There will be two bluegrass bands stomping out fun lively music. One of the bands you will enjoy is the local bluegrass band, Roughriders. The second band is the nationally renown bluegrass group, Monroe Crossing.

Your free will donation goes toward a button that will get you into the  dinner and the concert. Proceeds will go to Souris Valley Long Term Recovery, so c’mon out and enjoy a great day with your family and neighbors!

Find the survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JQSQ25P AND hurry! Time is running out – vote before next Wednesday, May 9.

Thanks for your support and we will see YOU at the 2012 North Dakota State Fair!

It’s easy! You can be entered in the drawing one of two ways:

1) Log on to the North Dakota State Fair Facebook Page, and enter  in why you recommend the North Dakota State Fair in the recommendations box found on the right hand side of the page. (Recommendation example: One of a kind entertainment, out of this world food, and more wild rides than one can imagine!)

2) Log on to Twitter and list your North Dakota State Fair recommendation with #ndstatefair included.  (Example: Swampmaster Alligator Show and Welde’s  Big Bears are a #ndstatefair must see!)

Either way, you will have the chance to score Blake Shelton tickets!  Hurry, the  winner will be chosen Friday afternoon.

Stay in the loop on future Great. Big. Fun. giveaways by logging on to www.Facebook.com/NDStateFair and www.twitter.com/ndstatefair. Each Wednesday we’ll post a new way to score a Great. Big. Fun. Giveaway! And we will see YOU at the 2012 North Dakota State Fair!

It’s easy! To enter log on to http://www.shopdakotasquare.com/Mall/conteststatefair2012.aspx and fill out the registration form. No purchase is necessary and you have a chance to score on of the many great prizes up for grabs!

Here’s what the Dakota Square Mall will be giving away:

6 Grandstand Showpasses

4 Kid Rock tickets

6 Foreigner tickets

4 Season Gate Passes

Drawings for all prizes will be held July 1, 2012. Just in time for the North Dakota State Fair!

CONTEST RULES:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
To enter complete an on-line entry form. Limit one entry per person. The contest runs from 3/22/2012 through 6/30/12.
Website winners will be notified by email and/or phone. The drawing will be conducted by Sponsor whose decisions are final in all matters relating to the contest. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received.
Must be 16 years old or older to participate. Not open to employees of The Lightstone Malls or The North Dakota State Fair. No purchase necessary to win. Information will not be sold or distributed to any outside enterprises.