Volunteer & Jobs
It takes a few hundred neighbors
A county fairgrounds runs on paid staff and on people who show up. Fair week alone takes several hundred volunteer shifts — gates, barns, parking, the information booth, the cleanup crew that walks the grounds at midnight. Most roles need no experience and no commitment beyond the shift you sign up for.
Volunteer roles
Gate & information greeter
The first face people see. Hand out maps and schedules, answer the same six questions cheerfully, point folks toward the restrooms and the pie. Seated or standing, your choice.
Good for: Retirees, students, anyone who likes people
Exhibit hall host
Keep an eye on the display areas, help exhibitors find their assigned space and keep the aisles tidy. Indoor, out of the weather, and a good way to see the exhibits properly.
Good for: Detail-minded folks who like a quieter post
Livestock barn helper
Help 4-H and FFA exhibitors with barn setup, bedding and keeping aisles clear, and lend a hand to a nervous first-timer. You need to be genuinely comfortable around large animals.
Good for: Farm kids, ag and vet-tech students, 4-H alumni
Grounds cleanup crew
Walk a route with a bag and a grabber and leave it better than you found it. Simple work, easy to do with a friend, and the single most visible thing anybody does around here.
Good for: Scout troops, service clubs, families with kids 12+
Parking & shuttle guide
Direct cars into open rows, help drivers who need accessible parking find the right stall, and keep the shuttle stop moving. Expect to be on your feet and outdoors the whole shift.
Good for: Patient people who do not rattle easily
Youth program mentor
Work alongside kids on hands-on agriculture and craft projects in the 4-H Exhibit Hall. Training is provided and a background check is required before your first session.
Good for: Teachers, retired ag professionals, college students
What volunteers get
- Free event parking on the day of your shift
- Volunteer T-shirt and hat
- Meal or snack voucher each shift
- Invitation to the fall volunteer appreciation picnic
- A reference letter for school or work on request
Before your first shift
- Minimum age 14, or 16 for barn and youth-facing roles
- Background check for anyone working directly with youth
- One 60-minute orientation before your first shift
- Closed-toe shoes — the grounds are gravel, straw and asphalt
- Sign in and out at the volunteer tent every shift
Paid positions
Grounds & maintenance technician
Keep 264 acres in shape: mowing, trash, building repairs, plumbing and electrical basics, and snow clearing all winter. Physical outdoor work in every kind of Minnesota weather.
Event setup crew
Set and strike tables, chairs, staging, pipe-and-drape and fencing between events. Operate utility carts, pallet jacks and basic power tools. Weekend availability is required.
Parking attendant
Work the lots and gates: collect parking fees, direct traffic into rows, manage accessible parking and help visitors who are turned around. Outdoors in all conditions.
Box office & guest services attendant
Sell and scan tickets, handle will-call, answer the phone and staff the guest services desk. Cash handling and comfort with a point-of-sale system are required.
Campground host
Live on site in your own rig while checking campers in, walking the loop, answering questions and keeping the bathhouse stocked and tidy. A full-hookup site comes with the role.
Paid positions at a county facility are posted and hired through Olmsted County Human Resources, not through this site — the events office can tell you what is open and point you to the posting. For volunteer shifts, start with the form below. This is a design-concept site, so the form does not transmit anything; on the live site it would route straight to the volunteer coordinator.
Volunteer roles, position titles and pay ranges shown here are illustrative planning figures for this design-concept site. Actual openings, wages and hiring processes are set by Olmsted County.
Sign up to volunteer
Tell us which role interests you and when you’re available. The volunteer coordinator follows up with orientation dates and shift times.