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Partner with an award-winning exhibition to engage Minnesotans with environmental ideas, challenges, and inspiration for a better future.

2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair. This 12-day exhibition from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) draws more than 210,000 visitors per year. As one of the most popular buildings at the State Fair, the event draws prominent visitors and provides a high-profile stage for our partners to show Minnesotans what they can do for the environment.

Eco Experience 20th anniversary slide show
Two people walking between tall walls made of empty plastic bottles.

2012: Five minutes’ worth of tossed recyclable bottles made up a 30-foot tunnel.
A man looking up at a large ball made of paper products that were thrown away instead of recycled.

2014: The world's largest wad of paper represented how much paper Minnesotans throw away every 30 seconds.
People looking at an exhibit of a large spinning "tornado" made of plastic bags with a sign that reads "Bagnado".

2015: The 25-foot-tall Bagnado highlighted plastic pollution.
Paul Bunyan at Eco Experience

2016-2019: Paul Bunyan called attention to textile and apparel recycling.
Large model of a monarch butterfly suspended from the ceiling of an exhibit hall.

2024-2025: A giant butterfly helped Minnesotans learn about pollinators.

Engaging

Girl sitting on electric bike with second girl in the front cargo box in front of a blurry photo background to look like bike is in motion.

Visitors spend time asking questions and learning about environmental ideas and the work of the MPCA. One third of the people who come to the Eco Experience are looking for specific information. Other organizations around the country have replicated the exhibit because of its high impact and engagement value. Since 2006, the event has been recognized for its large scope, high integrity, and widespread impact.

Media and social coverage of the exhibition has generated an average of one million media impressions every year. In 2025, there were six television segments, 39 radio stories, and 11 print and online stories and features published during the Fair. Fifty-seven social media posts (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and Nextdoor) reached over 60,000 users and triggered more than 900 engagements.

Eco Experience media contacts
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Media contacts

For story ideas and information, contact MPCA's Dan Ruiter at 507-344-5252 or 800-657-3864 (Minnesota toll free).

Collaborative

In addition to the Minnesota State Fair and MPCA, many government, business, and nonprofit partners contribute more than $1 million each year to the event.

2026 exhibitors and major partners

  • Fireflies Play Environments, Crow's Nest Design, and Landscape Renovations
  • Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE)
  • Macalester College
  • Metro Blooms partnered with Blue Thumb
  • Metropolitan Council - Environmental Services
  • Minnesota Department of Agriculture partnered with Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, and University of Minnesota Extension
  • Minnesota Department of Commerce – Energy Division partnered with GreenStep Cities, and Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
  • Minnesota Department of Health Environmental Health Division
  • Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Transit and Active Transportation
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES)
  • Minnesota State Fair
  • Renewing the Countryside
  • University of Minnesota (with partnership funding of Minnesota DNR and USDA Forest Service)
  • Xcel Energy
Eco Experience this year-icon
A man looks at an educational exhibit representing the "black mass" that recycled batteries become when they are crushed.

What's at Eco Experience this year?

Some state fair traditions never change, but Eco Experience is never the same. Check out exhibits and demonstrations for 2026.

Innovative

Partners connect with visitors through creative and interactive experiences and exhibits. Eco Experience has partnered and continues to partner with companies and organizations dedicated to sustainability, ecology, and environmentalism.

Xcel Energy: Renewable energy and energy efficiency

People looking at a blue electric vehicle.

Xcel's experience offered information on energy efficiency programs like AC Rewards, Home Energy Squad, lighting deals, and renewable energy options, all with the goal of empowering visitors to take action and understand that together we can get to a carbon-free future. 

Interactive exhibits included a tiny house with tips and tricks to conserve energy at home and an EV garage where visitors could practice charging an electric vehicle. 

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society: Renewable energy

A boy turning a crank to power a light bulb.

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) offers the latest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable practices, and financial incentives to lower carbon footprints. Visitors experience the science behind basic technologies by spinning a hand-crank generator to compare the energy needed to light an LED and an incandescent bulb, finding all of the energy efficient technologies in a tiny scale model house, and plugging into the sun with a solar phone charging station.

Metropolitan Council Environmental Services: The impact of wastewater treatment

A young girl looking at a scale model of a wastewater treatment plant.

The Met Council engages fairgoers with a multi-sensory exhibit about the science and impact of wastewater treatment. The popular "Oh poop!" exhibit highlights wastewater treatment, water careers, and sustainable toilet usage. Visitors can sniff to identify different odors, challenge themselves with a wastewater trivia quiz, pose with a big pile of fabricated "poop", and learn more about how the Met Council treats about 250 million gallons of wastewater daily from 111 communities.