Wildfire Prevention - State Fair

Smokey Bear @ the MN State Fair

Purpose: Wear the Smokey Bear costume during a heavily attended event to encourage wildfire prevention. Work together with the Voice of Smokey volunteer (you may want to have a friend or family sign up to volunteer as Smokey's Voice).

Authorized Duties:

• Walk among fairgoers in the DNR Park area at the MN State Fair, costumed as Smokey Bear for two one-hour intervals.
  • These appearances are scheduled for:
  • 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM AND
  • 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
• Arrive on-time for your shift at 10:30. Half an hour of dressing time for Smokey is part of the shift.
  • If you need more time to dress, arrive earlier. Coordinate with your Voice for assistance.
  • Plan ahead so that transportation delays, finding parking, navigating the fairgrounds, etc. do not prevent you from being on-time.
• Pose for photos and interact with fairgoers in a respectful manner. 
• Smokey encounters should be brief and gentle. Only brief hugs, high fives and handshakes. No long or tight hugs, rubbing backs, or vigorous shaking when greeting visitors.
• For photos, aim for both hands to be clearly visible! Put hands at your side, up in the air, or a hand up with a thumbs up. If you can't see well, it is best to play it safe and keep hands off visitors. 
• Take breaks during appearances every 15 minutes or as needed to hydrate or cool off, out of sight from the public.

Restricted:

• NO PHOTOS ARE ALLOWED OF SMOKEY IN LESS THAN COMPLETE COSTUME. This is a Federal rule. Additional rules regarding do’s/don’ts of Smokey Bear costume usage are available at smokeybear.com
• Smokey is to remain on the grounds of the DNR Park area.

Qualifications – to play Smokey, you must be:

• 18 years of age or older, and:    
  • No shorter than 67” in height to fill out the costume.
  • Have chest/waist measurements no larger than 46” to fit in costume.
• Lively and animated while interacting with people non-verbally.
• Smokey does not speak. This is a federal rule. The voice of Smokey should communicate and help Smokey move around if needed. 
• Physically capable of:
  • climbing stairs to the employee area in the DNR Building while in costume
  • getting into and out of the costume (with assistance)
  • walking around the DNR Park area
  • coping with extreme heat:
    • The costume can get very hot – we suggest that you bring extra changes of clothing, sweatbands for wrists, bandana for around your head, etc.
    • A cooling vest and ice packs to wear under the suit are provided.
    • Water and Gatorade will be provided in the staff fridge.
    • A shower is available to cool off/clean up afterwards – BYO towel/soap

Time Commitment:

• Volunteers must be present on the DNR Park grounds for the entire shift from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Shifts will not be split.
• Volunteers may be limited to a maximum number of days depending on volunteer interest for:
  • Smokey Bear on the DNR Grounds
  • Voice of Smokey on the DNR Grounds
  • Fire Prevention Building

An admission ticket will be provided for each day you volunteer. Maps, tickets, and instructions will be mailed to you ahead of your shift date(s).

Please note: if friends/family accompany you to the Fair they MUST be signed up as DNR Volunteers and take the safety training in order to help you.

All volunteers must pass a background check.

State Fair Safety Training

• All volunteers must complete the annual online safety training – including quiz – to be eligible to work at the Minnesota State Fair.
• Please go to the DNR State Fair Safety Training page for instructions.