SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2019

Media Contact: Candi Briley, 605.353.7340

SD State Fair Advanced Daily Gate Admission Available Online

HURON, S.D. – The South Dakota State Fair is excited to announce that fairgoers can now buy advanced daily gate admission for the 2019 SD State Fair online at www.sdstatefair.com.

The SD State Fair is transitioning to an electronic system at the gates for admission and parking to help increase efficiency. It is the same system that is utilized for grandstand ticket sales, Etix.

Admission and parking passes will have bar codes on them that will be scanned at the gates. Fairgoers coming to the fair that have an admission pass that has a barcode can go directly to the scanner. People leaving the fair and wishing to return will need to receive a handstamp upon exiting. Parking passes will be scanned upon entry and exit from the fairgrounds. Passes are only valid for the area and terms listed on the pass. 

“The goals for this transition are to increase efficiency for gate admissions and to eliminate any abuse or misuse of parking and admission credentials,” commented Peggy Besch, State Fair manager, on the change.

The 2019 South Dakota State Fair will run from Thursday, Aug. 29, through Monday, Sept. 2. Channel Seeds Preview night will be Wednesday, Aug. 28. This year’s theme is “There’s No Time Like Fair Time.” For more information on State Fair events, contact the Fair Office at 800-529-0900, visit www.sdstatefair.com or find them on Facebook or Twitter.

Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $32.5 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 132,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect and preserve South Dakota agriculture for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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