Exhibitor Resources

Welcome to exhibitor resources – your one-stop shop for all the Dakotafest exhibitor information you need including the exhibitor manual, schedules, deadlines and much more. Find everything you need in the Exhibitor Manual or use the buttons below to search specific topics.

New Exhibitor Registration & Wristband Process

Overview

Each exhibiting company is provided a daily allotment of wristbands for staff working the booth. Wristbands are required for entry to the show grounds and must be worn at all times during show hours. Wristbands are valid for one day only and correspond to specific show days.

Wristband allotments are based on booth size (see table below). Once a company’s allotment is fully claimed in the registration portal, additional wristbands may be purchased.

Key Notes for Exhibitors

• Wristbands are for employees working the booth only
• Wristbands are daily, meaning there is a new wristband for each day of the show
• Attendee tickets for customers must be purchased separately via the Promotion & Sponsorship page on the website
• Main Contacts are responsible for communicating the registration plan to their staff

NEW! Exhibitor Registration Process

Exhibitor Wristbands are now easier than ever to manage! The process has changed for exhibitor registration so exhibit staff can come through any gate on the show grounds to receive wristbands. The following online registration process must be completed before wristbands will be available for you. This process allows exhibit staff to more easily enter and exit the show grounds and allows IDEAg staff to better track who has acquired the allotted wristbands.

The Procedure

On June 30, the Main Contact for each exhibiting company will receive an email from Dakotafest <ideag@ideaggroup.com> containing a registration link. This link is unique for each individual company/exhibit.

The main contact must choose one of the following registration options.

Option 1: Main Contact Registers All Staff

1. Access the registration link from your email and click view options
2. Select the maximum number of wristbands allotted based on booth size.
3. Select wristbands for each applicable show day (Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday). Be sure to select the “Included” Exhibitor Wristband option for each day to secure your free allotted wristbands.
4. If you need more wristbands than are allotted based on booth size, you may select to purchase them at this time.
5. Complete the registration process.
6. Main contact will receive an email containing multiple QR codes for the registered wristbands.

Important:
If the main contact secures wristbands for all staff, they are responsible for:

• Distributing QR codes or
• Collecting and distributing wristbands daily

Exhibit staff will not be admitted to the show grounds to retrieve a wristband if someone else has it.

Option 2: Staff Register Individually

1. The main contact forwards the unique registration link to booth staff.
2. Each staff member will:
   • Access the registration link from your email and click view options
   • Select one wristband per day they are working
   • If the allotment amount has been depleted for your company by other staff members, the staff member is able to purchase additional wristbands for $6 per day at this time in the registration process.
   • Complete the registration process
3. Each staff member receives an email with their own QR code(s).

The registration system will keep track of ticket allotments and will not allow staff to claim more allotted tickets than are assigned to the company. 

Wristband Pickup

• Setup Days: Visit the Show Office
• Show Days: Visit any gate on the show grounds

IDEAg staff will scan QR codes (mobile or printed) and distribute wristbands.

Entry Requirement:
Staff will not be admitted to the show grounds during show hours without either:

• A valid wristband or
• A QR code ready for scanning

Additional Wristbands

• Additional exhibitor wristbands may be purchased for $6 per wristband, per day
• Purchases can be made in advance through the online ticket portal or purchased on site
• PDF order forms are no longer accepted
• No refunds are available on wristbands

If you have questions or need additional assistance, please contact Pam Noffke at pnoffke@fb.org or call 651-384-1141.

Update Your Product Categories & Company Profile

Need assistance updating your company profile on our website. Follow the directions on the next page.

Buy Tickets for Your Customers

Buy tickets for your customers at only $6 each. Tickets are personalized with your company name. Order as many as you need and we will print and ship them to you for distribution. You pay for only the first 20 tickets ($120) and then are billed following the show for tickets that are redeemed at the gates after the first 20 tickets.

Show Schedule

Exhibitor Move-In

Monday–Friday............................8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
August 10–August 14

Saturday, August 15...................8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 16......................Noon – 5:00 p.m.

Monday, August 17.....................7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
 

Show Hours

Tuesday, August 18.....................8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 19..............8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 20...................8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
 

Exhibitor Access During the Show

Vehicles can enter/exit the show site each day of the show between 7:00 a.m.–8:30 a.m. Gates close to vehicles at 8:30 a.m. each morning. Vehicles can exit the show site after the show is closed from 4:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 18.....................7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 19..............7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 20...................7:00 a.m. – Dusk
 

Exhibitor Move-Out

Thursday, August 20...............4:00 p.m. – Dusk

Friday, August 21.....................8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 22..............8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Monday–Tuesday...................8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
August 24–25

Important Deadlines

Forklifts, Hydraulics, and Material Handling

Please read carefully.

Types of Services and Charges:

• A $104.50 (includes SD sales tax) fee per exhibitor lot will be assessed for forklifting service if ordered and paid for on or before Wednesday, August 5.
• A $156.75 (includes SD sales tax) fee per exhibitor lot will be assessed for forklifting service if ordered after August 5. No services will be provided until payment has been collected.
• A $52.25 (includes SD sales tax) fee per exhibitor will be assessed for package delivery service (package(s) delivered to the on-site receiving area via FedEX, UPS, Speedee, etc., that requires a utility vehicle to deliver items to the exhibitor’s booth). If an exhibitor does not want to pay for this service, they will need to pick up their shipment from the receiving area. Please contact the show site office for instructions where you can pickup your package(s).
• If you require hydraulics, please make arrangements with Show Management. Exhibitors using the hydraulics will be required to replenish the hydraulic fluid. The same fee structure for forklifting applies to hydraulics.
• The forklift fees are a one-time charge for move-in and move-out services.

Procedure

• Exhibitors requiring forklift or delivery service must submit the forklift form to IDEAg via email (with credit card info) or via mail (with check) by Wednesday, August 5 for priority service.
• When the exhibitor’s truck arrives on site and is ready to be unloaded, the exhibitor or driver will need to notify the show office that they are ready to unload. You can do so by calling the Dakotafest onsite show office, 605-995-1058. Pre-ordered exhibitors will be given priority. No appointments will be taken.
• The truck driver must know what lot/booth number the delivery goes to.
• Forklift service is limited to 30 minutes at a time, if the lift cannot be completed in the 30 minute time period, then the company will be put back on the list for forklift service at a later time.
• For safety reasons, requests to use forklifts to raise people up for assembling or dismantling of displays will not be granted. Show management will supply a list of man-lift rental companies if needed.
• Forklifts are not permitted to enter or drive onto trucks. The trucking company or exhibitor is responsible for getting items in position so the forklift can lift the item from the ground or loading dock.
• Show staff will not drive self-propelled vehicles off of trucks, the truck driver or exhibitor must do that.

Please direct questions to one of our Operations Managers: Taylor Anderson, Taylor.Anderson@IDEAgGroup.com, 651-316-4373; or Megan Asleson, Megan.Asleson@IDEAgGroup.com, 651-316-4372.

Insurance Forms Example

Company shall secure and maintain, at its expense, at all times during the Event, the following insurance with limits no less than listed below: (a) Workers compensation and employer’s liability insurance in accordance with the laws of the State where the Event is located; (b) comprehensive general liability insurance for personal injury, contractual liability, and operation of mobile equipment, and products liability; (c) automobile liability insurance; and (d) sufficient insurance to protect the Company’s personal property and the property of its employees, representatives, agents, servants, contractors, guests, licensees and invitees at the Event.

• Class 1 Exhibitor (Exhibitors with a 10’ x 10’ booth that do not exhibit equipment or chemicals):
  General Liability—$1,000,000 each occurrence and $2,000,000 each occurrence
  Automobile Liability—$500,000 each occurrence
• Class 2 Exhibitor (All other exhibitors): General Liability—$1,000,000 each occurrence and $2,000,000 each occurrence
  Automobile Liability—$1,000,000 each occurrence
  Umbrella Liability—$1,000,000 each occurrence

All such insurance shall be primary and shall name IDEAg and its owners, subsidiaries and affiliates and the Event facility owner and manager as additional insureds. All coverage shall be written on an occurrence basis. IDEAg RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PROHIBIT COMPANY FROM SETTING UP OR OPERATING ITS BOOTH WITHOUT HAVING PROVIDED A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE.

Exhibitors are required to submit a copy of their Insurance Certificate to IDEAg Group by Friday, July 24, 2026. Insurance forms can be emailed to IDEAg@IDEAgGroup.com or faxed to 847-483-1379.

Please see the sample insurance policies on pages 52–55 for an outline of the information required from your manufacturer or distributor.

Official Vendors & Suppliers

This helpful document will provide you vendor contact information for resources such as booth furnishings, tent rental, lawn mowing and much more.

Official Food Vendors

Providing food in your booth for attendees or staff? Make sure you order from this list of fantastic food vendors. Contact information provided within.

Sponsorship & Advertising Guide

You can check out a list of available sponsorships and ads by heading over to our Sponsorship page. These are updated real time so you can see what has been sold and what is still available.

Or, you can download and save the PDF catalog with the forms below.

Exhibitor Lounge

The exhibitor lounge is open 7AM to 4PM Tuesday and Wednesday and 3PM Thursday. We welcome all exhibitors to enjoy the available coffee, water and snacks. You can use the lounge to catch up on emails, take a business call, or just get out of the heat for a bit. It is in booth #424 near the show office.

Thank you to our sponsors.

Contact Us

Mark Gold, Director, Event Sales
651-384-1160 | Mark.Gold@IDEAgGroup.com

Scott Odin, Event Sales Representative
651-316-4369 | Scott.Odin@IDEAgGroup.com

Neil Southworth, Event Sales Representative
651-316-4371 | Neil.Southworth@IDEAgGroup.com

Can’t find what you’re looking for? You may also call 800.827.8007.