Minnesota offers youth exhibitor grants

For the fourth year, the Minnesota State Fair is continuing the Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience Grant, a program that awards grants and provides mentors to youth livestock exhibitors who are first-time participants in the Minnesota State Fair. The BELLE Grant is funded by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation.

The fair showcases Minnesota’s finest agriculture and recognizes the importance of cultivating youth experiences in the livestock industry. The BELLE Grant program provides financial support for participants and introduces new livestock exhibitors to the fair. The BELLE Grant gifts $500 each to large-animal exhibitors entering beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, sheep, swine, goats and llamas, and $250 each to small-animal competitors exhibiting rabbits and poultry. Up to 15 total grants will be awarded.

Applications for the BELLE Grant and peer-to-peer mentorship program are open through April 1. Information about these programs and how to apply can be found at mnstatefair.org/about-the-fair/
awards-and-recognition/belle-grant/.