State Fair Millionaires: Which Stands Now Make Big Bucks in MN?

The Minnesota State Fair isn’t just about rides and deep-fried treats—it’s also a massive money-making machine for some vendors. And last year, eight of them raked in over a million dollars each, proving fair food can be just as profitable as it is delicious.

The Minnesota State Fair is one of the largest and best-attended events in the country. (In fact, it was just ranked as the Best State Fair in the U.S. again this year.) Showcasing the North Star State’s finest agriculture, art, and industry, as its website says, 'the Great Minnesota Get-Together is 12 Days of Fun ending Labor Day!'

Our state fair has been a summer tradition here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes for almost as many years as Minnesota has been around. According to the official Minnesota State Fair website, the first Fair was held way back in 1859, just a year after Minnesota itself became a state.

ALSO INTERESTING: Though We Think It's Ours, This Classic MN State Fair Food Isn't a MN Original

Speaking of fun, here's a fun fact: Did you know the state fair used to be held at various cities around Minnesota? That's right, before the permanent location on fairgrounds in Falcon Heights (midway between Minneapolis and St. Paul) it used to rotate locations, with various versions having been held in Rochester, Red Wing, Winona, Owatonna, Minneapolis, and St. Paul.

But while the fair is fun for you and me, it's also big business for some of those vendors who sell those amazing foods every year at the fair. According to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and BringMeTheNews, here are the eight vendors who each raked in over one million dollars during last year's 2024 Minnesota State Fair:

1) Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar - Sweet Martha's topped the list, with its three locations taking in a combined $4.9 million at the State Fair last year.

2) Pronto Pups - The eight different Pronto Pups stands took in a cool $2.3 million during the 2024 run of the Minnesota State Fair.

3) Mouth Trap Cheese Curds - Even though it only had one location at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair, this classic cheese curd stand still made $1.6 million last year.

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4) The Perfect Pickle - The two locations of this stand selling deep-fried pickles together raked in $1.5 million at the Great Minnesota Get-Together last year.

5) Fresh French Fries - Between its two locations, both selling these deep-fried classics, this stand took in $1.4 million dollars at the State Fair last year.

6) American Dairy Association of the Midwest - Milk not only 'does a body good,' as the slogan used to say, but it also does the bottom line good for this classic stand, which made a combined $1.4 million between its two locations at the Minnesota State Fair in 2024.

7) Corn Roast - During the late summer months, Minnesotans *love* their sweet corn on the cob, as evidenced by the $1.3 million this classic stand took in at its lone location last year at the Minnesota State Fair.

8) Que Viet Concessions - This lone stand, known for selling its classic giant egg-roll-on-a-stick plus wontons and Vietnamese Iced Coffee, hauled in a cool $1 million during the 2024 Minnesota State Fair.

If you can't wait to try some of those foods at the State Fair again this year, you're not alone!  It runs from August 21st through Labor Day, September 1st, 2025. Speaking of great State Fair food, keep scrolling to take a look at all the new food and drink items that are making their debut at this year's Minnesota State Fair!

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