Meet the CEO of the Minnesota State Fair
Tue, February 24, 2026, at 11am
Renee Alexander
CEO
Minnesota State Fair
Event to be held via Zoom.
Renee Alexander, the 23rd CEO of the Minnesota State Fair, will be our featured presenter for the February 24 UMRA Forum, meeting at 11 a.m. by Zoom. Alexander’s first job at the State Fair was as an intern in 1989. She took over the top job in 2023, following the 26-year tenure of her predecessor.
The University of Minnesota has had a presence at the Great Minnesota Get-Together ever since the first State Fair in 1859. During these times, the U of M has had a footprint at eight sites on the State Fair campus, including the Crossroads Building on Dan Patch Avenue; the Gopher Dairy Bar; the CHS Miracle of Birth Center; and the Driven to Discover research exhibit building where, in 2025, fair-goers participated in more than 50 faculty-led research projects. One year, U professors gene sequenced the State Fair corn dog!
University of Minnesota Extension is everywhere you look, with 4-H still the largest youth engagement program in the state and certainly at the fair.
The U of M Twin Cities campus is a giant neighbor of the State Fair, with the two institutions anchoring the center of the metropolitan area. How are changes in our state and world affecting both? What are the prospects for the U and the State Fair to continue to work together? We’ll have a chance to check in on these questions with Alexander when we have our own “Great UMRA Get Together” on February 24.
Register online for this workshop through the UMRA member portal. Registrations will be accepted any time up to and including the day of the webinar. The Zoom link to join the webinar will be sent to you in the confirmation email, and a reminder email the day before the program.
Please register and join us at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24.
—Jan Morlock, UMRA Program Committee
Upcoming Events
Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda.
UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club (aka UMRA Book Club II) will discuss the Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel by Jhumpa Lahiri when it meets at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 23, via Zoom. The nine short stories in the collection speak to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.
Discuss long term care options with Fred Andersen.
Chris Coleman, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity president and CEO and a two time alumnus of the University of Minnesota, will provide a deep dive for UMRA’s October 27 luncheon forum into how Habitat creates, preserves, and promotes affordable homeownership for low-income households.
Join Leader Neal Gale for the November 2 hike in the heart of Minneapolis’ Minnehaha Falls – Mississippi River area.
Bob & Jean Hall and Andy Whitman, participants.
How much do the experiences of our earliest years shape who we become — and even our physical health — decades later? For more than 50 years, University of Minnesota researchers have been exploring that question through the Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Risk and Adaptation. In this UMRA Living Well Workshop, Professor Jeffry Simpson, PhD, will draw on findings from the study to explore the connections between our earliest relationships and our health later in life.
The theme for November is "Hands"
Join us for breakfast and discussion about this year's election results.
UMRA’s Cabinets of Curiosity tour will offer an insider's look into the important work happening at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. We will enjoy a walking tour through patient exam rooms, student learning areas, and clinical/surgery suites, highlighting how faculty experts and student veterinarians collaborate to deliver life-saving care.
Gift planning strategies and ideas for impactful tax-efficient gifts to accomplish your goals.
Professor Kathryn Pearson, a well-known and respected specialist in U.S. politics and political behavior, will help us to decipher the results of the 2026 midterm elections as the guest speaker for UMRA’s November 2026 Luncheon Forum.
Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda.
The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris Sweeney.
Consult with a tax professional to come up with a financial plan well before year end.
Join us as we navigate the trails at the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge Education and Visitor Center.
The theme for December is "Pathways and roadways."
"Landscape" is the theme of the UMRA Photo Club meeting on Tuesday, January 12.