Stearns County Fair Milk Run 5K

Please join us for the second annual Stearns County Fair Milk Run 5K!  The race will be held on the Stearns County Fairgrounds in conjunction with the annual fair. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are welcome.  We are excited to host this event as a collaboration of central Minnesota dairy and agricultural organizations to promote our local industries and products!  New this year is the addition of a 1K Kids Fun Run, with FREE registration!

Race Information: 

Location:  Stearns County Fairgrounds, Sauk Centre, MN
Start/finish line between fair office, 4H building, and general livestock building

Date:  Saturday, August 1st, 2026

1K Kids Fun Run Time:  8:00 am

5K Race Time:  8:30 am

5K Early Registration Fee: $15.00 (Price increases to $20 July 24th)

1K Kids Fun Run Registration Fee:  FREE!  Registration includes t-shirt, race swag bag, and post-race refreshments!  This event is for ages 12 and under.

DAIRY FARMERS:  If you are actively dairy farming, you and your immediate family members can receive FREE registration!  Click on the "Questions" button under Race Contact Info at the bottom of this page to request a coupon code for you and your family!  Please note:  check your spam folder if you don't notice an email from us within a couple of days!  You can also directly email plwuertz@meltel.net to request the coupon codes.

Course Description:

Both the 1K and 5K routes begin and ends on the Stearns County Fairgrounds across from the fair office, near the general livestock and 4H building.  The course will leave the fairgrounds and go out and back on the beautiful Lake Wobegon Trail!  The race will be chip-timed by Pickle Events.

Packet Pickup and Race Day Registration:  Race bag & bib check in and race day registration will be available at the race start/finish line. Early packet pickup for everyone registered by July 29th will be available on Friday, July 31st at the Agriculture Building (formerly Commercial Building) at the Adventures in Ag welcome desk.

Race Day Schedule:

7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony

8:05 a.m.  1K Kids Fun Run Start
8:30 a.m. 5K Race Start
Immediately following the race - Closing Ceremony and Awards – 

8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Passport to Adventures in Agriculture in the Agriculture Building (previously the Commercial Building).  Each participant will receive a passport for this exciting new event in their race bags!  Check back here for more information coming soon.  

Registration:

All participants registered before July 22nd are guaranteed a t-shirt and early bird pricing.  Race shirts are not guaranteed after July 22nd. 

Online registration closes at midnight July 29th.  Day of registration will be available starting at 7:15 am at the Stearns County Fairgrounds. 

This is a walking and running only event. We do not allow inline skates, bicycles, etc. If you would like to push a stroller please be courteous of fellow participants and line up near the back of the race start. 

Race Entry Includes: 

Chocolate milk and snacks post-race
Stearns County Fair Milk Run t-shirt (guaranteed to those that register by midnight July 23rd)
Race swag bag 
Passport to Adventures in Ag card

Runner's Shirts:

Shirt sizes are ONLY guaranteed for registrations prior to midnight on July 23rd.
Race day t-shirts are distributed on a “first come, first serve” basis.

After the race: 

Enjoy locally produced cold chocolate milk from Stony Creek Dairy and snacks.  Take a selfie with a calf at the finish line photo op area!  You can also meet Stearns County Dairy Princesses as well as some of our Stearns County Commissioners.  

New this year!  Join in the fun with the Passport to Adventures in Agriculture!  This new event will take place in the Agriculture Building (previously the Commercial Building) and will include Stearns County Farm Bureau's Adventures in Agriculture and other new, fun agriculture stations and activities for all ages.

Parking:

View parking options at this link: Fair Map & Parking - Stearns County Fair.  Entrance to the fairgrounds is free.  Parking at the fairgrounds is $5.00/day.  Please have cash available to pay for parking.  

Results:

Results can be found at this link: www.pickleevents.com

Awards:

All 1K participants will receive an award when they cross the finish line!

5K Awards for the overall top female and top male 
Awards in each age division:

14 & younger

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-55

56+

Sponsors:

• Stearns County Dairy Advisory Committee
• Midwest Dairy, Undeniably Dairy
• Central MN Dairy Initiative
• Stearns County American Dairy Association
• Stearns County Farm Bureau

Enjoy the Stearns County Fair!

There is no gate fee for the fair, so come for the run and stay for the fun by enjoying the Stearns County Fair after the race!