MINOT, ND ( KXNET ) — The North Dakota State Fair is big business for the community.

With more than 342,000 fairgoers over the nine days, there is a lot of money to be made.

While the event brings in millions of dollars, the profit margins can stay relatively thin. However, the financial boost to the greater community can be seen year-round.

“Last year’s numbers during the nine days of the North Dakota State Fair, we had a $42 million impact and that’s new money coming into the community and with the year-round impact is right around the $80 million number with all the other events that happened here at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds on an annual basis,” said Craig Rudland, the NDSF general manager.

However, it’s not all about the money.

“It’s a big deal for a lot of these vendors to come to a big venue that can actually put that many people in front of them and sell their product,” said Rudland.

For established businesses in the area like Meg-A-Latte, the State Fair is a platform to gain new customers and be seen by a whole new base of people.

“We gain more customers from the State Fair because they come to the fair and come to our booth and they were like ‘Oh, where are you located’ and we are like we are here in Minot and they are like ‘We did not know that,’ I think it has helped us quite a bit being at the state fair we have been there seven years now,” said Mackenzie MacDonell, the shop manager.

For vendors and businesses, no matter how big or how small, the State Fair is an opportunity to be established and continue to grow.

“I would say it’s a good thing to have a booth at the State Fair. You see so many people from all over the world and they kind of get to experience what your little business is all about,” said MacDonell.

This is North Dakota’s largest event and has an impact on everyone who attends whether you’re a business owner, an advocate, or just a fairgoer.

“They’re visiting our community, they probably going for dinner, they’re putting gas in their car and heading to the local mall, they might buy a car while they’re here in Minot. The people that come to the fair aren’t just here for the fair, they’re here to visit our community,” said Rudland.

Mark your calendars because next year’s State Fair’s dates have already been set: July 18-26. And this will mark the fair’s 60th anniversary.

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