With less than five days before the 2023 South Dakota State Fair officially opens, the fairgrounds were a beehive of activity Thursday afternoon, as final preparations were underway.

Above: partitions are in place and the show ring is set up in the new Dakota Events CompleX, with a huge pile of wood shavings waiting to be scattered.

Below, staff from East River Nursery puts the finishing touches on the space outside the FFA Adventure Center.