Conley Carstensen helps cashier Jen Englin with a customer at the 4-H food stand Wednesday. The stand has their own building, so folks ran in for refuge when downpouring rains came around 3 p.m.

NEW ULM– Though rain sought to damper opening day, the 4-H food stand ensured those who persevered could support local farm kids.

Torrential rain came at around 3 p.m., sending attendees running to the nearest barn shed or their vehicles. Fortunately, the rain cleared up before many of the food trucks opened for business at 5 p.m. The 4-H food stand provided refuge from the storm and food for those who came to eat before supper.

Shannon Marotzke is the assistant food service manager for the 4-H food stand. She said there are several moving parts setting up for the fair each year.

“We have multiple meetings,” Marotzke said “Deciding what we’re going to serve, what we aren’t going to serve, pricing, ordering. Getting everybody signed up to work the different positions for the kids to earn money for State Fair. A lot of calling for donations, dealing with different businesses in town to get food orders in.”

Marotzke said, for all the different moving pieces involved in setting up and operating the stand, one thing has relatively stayed the same.

“Mostly everything on the menu has been there for multiple years,” she said. “I have been here for seven years now and it’s pretty much all been the same. They’ve gotten away with a couple of things that turned out not to be as big as sellers as they thought they would be. Otherwise, it’s been the same for multiple years.”

A unique feature of the 4-H food stand is the club volunteers. Cashier Jen Englin explained how the system works for the 4-H kids.

“Jobs are based on age,” Englin said. “The harder, more complex jobs go to the older kids and [vice versa]. It’s a good experience to learn how to work. We’re profiting as a 4-H organization. The kids have to work in the food stand to go to the state fair with an animal project.”

One of the younger kids working was Conley Carstensen. He assisted the cashier, helped the customers order, and brought them their drinks. He said his favorite part of the job was bringing people their drinks. His least favorite was washing tables.

Thursday is Senior Citizen Day. A program will start at 10 a.m. on the Civic Center Stage featuring the Ken and Ken show and a presentation for the Outstanding Senior and 2023 Century Farms. The first demo derby will start at 7 p.m.

Friday is Kid’s Day. A magic show and balloon artistry will begin in the Civic Center at 10:30 a.m. Kids tractor pull will start at 3 p.m. Sara Evans has pulled out due to laryngitis. Ricochet will still be performing at 7, but now Josh Gracin will go on at 8:15 and RaeLynn will start after him at 9:30.

Saturday will feature funny bunny games starting at 11 a.m. in the rabbit/poultry barn. Also starting then is the Minnesota Gladiolus Society Show in the Civic Center, showing off plenty of beautiful flowers. The second demo derby will start at 6 p.m.

Sunday will see a 4-H club collaboration at 1 p.m. followed by a Parade of Champions at 2:30 for the 4-H clubs. A woodcarving and firefighter auction at 3 will see all proceeds raised go to the New Ulm Fire Department.