Minnesota 4-H has evolved beyond its traditional roots. Today the program serves nearly 58,000 young people across the state — from rural Greater Minnesota counties to the heart of the Twin Cities — focusing just as much on STEM, robotics and digital media as traditional agriculture.

“We’re bigger than cows and cooking,” says Brad Rugg, former University of Minnesota Extension 4-H State Fair Director.

But while young people and their interests have evolved, their iconic home at the Great Minnesota Get-Together is stuck in the past.

Every summer, approximately 5,000 youth live, eat and showcase their projects in the 85-year-old 4-H Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Affectionately dubbed the “4-H Hilton,” the structure is rich in tradition but severely lacking in modern infrastructure. Today’s 4-H’ers find themselves competing for electrical outlets and hunting for nonexistent Wi-Fi signals.

“My parents stayed here and my grandparents were here,” says Caydence Reiner-Albrecht, a 4-H State Ambassador from McLeod County. “Things have changed since my grandparents were kids. The building needs to evolve with it.”

To close this generational gap, University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota State Fair have launched a $35 million fundraising campaign to transform the building into a vibrant, multi-use hub featuring:

• State-of-the-art stages for performing arts and public speaking
• Modernized tech spaces for STEM, entrepreneurship and agricultural education
• A new teaching kitchen and a dedicated media production studio

Investing in this landmark isn’t just about making functional updates; it’s about giving Minnesota’s future leaders a launchpad that matches their ambition.

“We are about memories,” says Rugg. “And if we’re going to preserve those memories and those opportunities, we’ve got to bring the 4-H Building up to date.”