MHA puts homeschooling “front and center” in the public eye at the Minnesota State Fair. Our volunteers staff the MHA booth in the Education Building, and receive free admission tickets in the bargain.
The Minnesota Homeschoolers’ Alliance is the only homeschooling organization that meets the public at the Fair. Every year we’re approached by families large and small, teachers, college professors, politicians and others who tell us how great it is to see MHA promoting the homeschooling option in the Education Building. It’s always gratifying to see the positive response the public has to homeschooling.
Staffing the booth is a very rewarding experience for our members. Here are some comments they’ve entered in the journal we keep at the State Fair Booth:
“We had a great morning here. Pretty busy - steady flow of people. Lots of interest in homeschooling. New people just getting started and glad that we were here with such great resources.”
“Had a few people who were looking into the option. Most had preschoolers. A few were parents of teens looking for alternatives. Great discussions!”
“Another great year at the booth - many good questions!”
“Our family loves manning the MHA booth.”
The Education Building opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 9:00 p.m. every day of the Fair. This means that we have three four-hour shifts to fill each day:
- 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
We provide two free State Fair admission tickets to the volunteers working each shift, so it’s not only a great time, but it’s free! The MHA Board of Directors shares the fun by holding a “Meet the Board” night at the Fair, when they actually staff the MHA Booth. As Fair time approaches, check our Board Meetings link for the date and time to meet the MHA Board of Directors at the Fair.
You need to be an MHA member to staff the State Fair Booth. If you’re not currently a member, just join MHA. Then watch for the notices posted in our quarterly newsletter, The Grapevine, as the Fair draws near. We start signing up volunteers for the State Fair Booth in mid-July, and we’ll provide all of the necessary details and contact information in The Grapevine. If the dog gets to your copy before you do, just e-mail a list of your preferred days and time slots to our State Fair Booth Coordinator at statefair@homeschoolers.org, anytime after July 15.
THANK YOU TO THE 2009 MHA STATE FAIR VOLUNTEERS: ANOTHER GREAT YEAR AT THE FAIR!