How Much Money Do Minnesota State Fair Vendors Make

They only get 12 days to do it, but some Minnesota State Fair vendors manage to turn those two weeks into a serious payday. And when you see how much money the biggest names pulled in, you might look at that bucket of cookies or cheese curds a little differently!

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!'

The State Fair Has A Long History in Minnesota

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.

Speaking of fun, here's a fun fact: Did you know the state fair used to be held in 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.

Which Minnesota State Fair Vendors Make the Most Money?

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. While we don't have specific information about the 2025 Fair, roughly 15,000 more visitors headed to the Fair last year compared to 2024, so the following figures are likely similar to what they earned last year. So, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, here are the vendors who raked in the most money during the Minnesota State Fair in 2024:

Top 10 Highest-Grossing Minnesota State Fair Vendors

Coming in first, again, was Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar. It continues to be the State Fair behemoth when it comes to making money, with its three locations taking in a combined total of $4.9 million at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair, BringMeTheNews reported. Here's the full list:

Top Vendors at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair

Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar - $4.9 million
Pronto Pups - $2.3 million
Mouth Trap Cheese Curds - $1.6 million
The Perfect Pickle - $1.5 million
Fresh French Fries - $1.4 million
American Dairy Association of the Midwest - $1.4 million
Corn Roast - $1.3 million
Que Viet - $1 million
Carousel BBQ - $933,000
The Blue Barn - $866,000

From the entertainment to the exhibits and the food, the 2026 Minnesota State Fair will no doubt continue to impress again this year. It runs from August 27th through Labor Day, September 7th, 2026. 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!

38+ Foods On a Stick You Can Get at the Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair is fast approaching! Plan out your trip and take a look at the foods on a stick that you can find at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

Gallery Credit: Carly Ross