FALCON HEIGHTS, Minnesota — A week before the Minnesota State Fair begins, storytelling, song and dance come together on stage in the 4-H building after just 8 days.
Four-year-old teens from across Minnesota are writing, building sets, making costumes, arranging music and technology, and rehearsing for this year’s state fair Arts-In musical, “Wonder Full.”
“We just do everything we can, work really hard and have fun,” said Kirstin Delp, director of Minnesota 4-H State Arts-In.
Delp had been directing the show at the state fair for over 20 years and had performed on the same stage as a student in the 1980s.
There are 51 4Hers participating in Arts-In this year, from 18 different countries and all levels of experience. A few members of the band have just started playing instruments.
“Our bass player has never played an instrument and he can’t read sheet music. Yet he indicated on his registration form that he wanted to learn to play the bass guitar. We felt the need for that and so we decided to teach him,” says Delp.
While the artists and the band rehearse, Delp’s daughter Johanna is busy with a needle in her hand.
This is her last year of Arts-In.
“The first day I am always a bit nervous. How are we going to make so many costumes,” said Johanna Delp.
During her five years at Arts-In she has developed many skills.
“Communication and public speaking. If you had asked me last year, I probably would have said no to these kinds of interviews, but it’s my last year and I think I’ve grown so much and my confidence and everything that I could do with the challenge has increased,” said Johanna Delp.
Johanna’s teammates also emphasize the soft skills they develop and the safety in which they can be themselves.
“I’ve gotten pretty good at teaching and my patience has gotten better and better,” said Joshua Nicholson.
“Everyone here is a little community,” said Xiaomi Hollins.
Important lessons that these teens take with them into their adult lives.
“We teach along the way about leadership, about teamwork, about goal setting. Those are things that some people do in the arts, but some people just take one of those pieces and live it out in their own lives,” Kirstin Delp said.
The 4-H Arts-In musical is performed 3-4 times a day in the 4-H building during the Minnesota State Fair.
