27 Years of Insight: Why the Fair Will Always Be Home

Twenty-seven seasons. That’s how long the Minnesota State Fair has been a thread running through my life. From a 13-year-old breaking karate boards in the Education Building, to long shifts selling tickets at the gates, to training 250 volunteers a day at Kidway, a fan photographer in the Fox 9 Booth, moving millions at the free park-and-ride, to decades of living in a tent on the campground, the fair has been both a workplace and a second home.

It’s where I’ve weathered storms (literally and figuratively), where I’ve found joy and community, and where I’ve learned some of my biggest life lessons. It’s been a place to celebrate milestones, to honor those I’ve lost, and to rediscover myself again and again.

Looking back, the fair has marked almost every season of my life.

• As a teenager, it was a place to build confidence and courage.

• As a young adult, it taught me the grit of hard work.

• In leadership years, it became a platform to create systems and legacies, like the Lions Club partnership that still flourishes today.

• In seasons of personal upheaval, the fair was a constant, anchoring me when my life felt like it was spinning out of control.

• And in more recent years, it has been a place of deep reflection, carrying memories of Aunt Faye, my parents, and the countless friendships that have grown from this shared tradition.

The fair isn’t just an event to me; it’s a mirror. Every year I step onto these grounds, I see not just where I’ve been, but who I’ve become.

What I’ve learned is this: the fair isn’t just about food on a stick, rides, or even the spectacle of it all. It’s about community. It’s about legacy. It’s about finding joy in the ordinary and meaning in the moments that sneak up on us, the late-night storm in a tent, the hug of an old friend at the gates, the laughter on a long drive with family.

The fair has shown me that life is best lived the same way the fair is experienced:

• Fully immersed.

• Surrounded by people.

• Open to wonder.

• Rooted in tradition but always ready for something new.

This year, as I celebrate my 27th season, I see the fair not just as a job or tradition, but as a living scrapbook of my life. A place where grief and joy coexist. A place that teaches me resilience, connection, and gratitude.

So when people ask why I keep coming back, the answer is simple: because the fair will always be home.