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The fireworks weren’t the only sparks flying at the fair. Whether it’s through a kiss by the DNR building, an extra dinner tray or singing for food, these couples found lifelong partners through the youth development program.
‘I was working at 4-H the day he proposed to me’: Marie Zimmerman and Nate Zimmerman – Glencoe
Before the Zimmermans were romantic partners, they were opponents. The 38- and 37- year- old became friends as high schoolers, when they were both McLeod County 4-H ambassadors.
Marie clearly remembers when Nate decided to sign up for the 4-H Favorite Food competition in 2005 — a category that she tried to win every year but never could.
“That year he made ribs in a crockpot, and not only did I not win, he also beat me,” said the mother of two. “He got an engraved cake pan that says it belongs to a reserve champion, and the last laugh is mine, though, because I married him, so now I have the cake pan.”
By the end of that summer, they were dating. Now, they’ve been married for 15 years and have two kids. Marie is the club leader of her children’s 4-H club.
“I was working as a 4-H summer intern in college,” Marie said. “Nate came to take me out on my lunch break, and he proposed to me in the Wright County Courthouse.”
Neither Marie nor Nate joined 4-H to find a spouse, but Marie said that 4-H allowed her to make meaningful connections with people outside of her community and school. She and Nate grew up on opposite sides of McLeod County.
“I think the great thing about 4-H then and now is that you meet kids that you wouldn’t meet otherwise,” Marie said.
‘It was the moment that kicked off the rest of our lives’: Aaron Janz and Leah Janz – Burnsville
Aaron Janz remembers the exact moment he met his wife Leah Janz for the first time as 4-H staff workers at the 2003 Minnesota State Fair. He was 21, she was 20.
The Wisconsin native was trying to figure out how the PA system in the 4-H dorm office, when Leah walked in.
“And I said, ‘Who are you?’” Leah said.
“And I immediately shot back, ‘Well, who are you?’” Aaron said. “I immediately thought that I liked the sass … so I wanted to see who this person was.”
They hung out that evening, exploring the fair together with a group of friends.
“He was just really easy to talk to, and he was a good listener, and he was interested in me as a person, and I think that's what really caught my attention the most,” Leah said.
The next day, they had their first kiss by the DNR building. They got married in 2006 and now have two kids — both of whom are involved in 4-H.
Aaron said that he looks forward to attending the fair every single year with his family.
“It’s so nice to come back and just reflect on how our relationship started,” said the 43-year-old. “It’s an exhilarating experience to be at the fair, whether it’s day one or day 12.”
‘He had grabbed my dinner tray for me’: Steve Lammers and Ashley Lammers – Hutchinson
Steve and Ashley were both students at the University of Minnesota, but they met working at the 4-H building during the 2013 Minnesota State Fair.
“Steve knew some of the gals that I was working with from college, so he kept coming over and chatting and making up small talk,” Ashley recalls. “And at the end of one of our shifts …Steve asked if I wanted to go upstairs and eat dinner with him at the 4-H Cafe.”
Steve’s chivalry caught Ashley’s eye: he grabbed a dinner tray for her so she didn’t have to carry it.
“I thought that was very sweet, very gentleman-like, and I feel like that just kind of set the tone of our relationship,” said the 31-year-old.
Their first date was a few weeks after the fair, where they volunteered distributing food at a church and got malts after. They’ve been married since 2016 and have four sons.
‘You get to find that needle in a haystack’: Aaren Mathison and Dena Mathison – Preston
Aaren and Dena met as 4-H workers at the 2006 Minnesota State Fair, but they were only friends — until they reconnected at a fellow 4-H’er’s wedding in 2011.
“On the way over, my mom’s like, ‘Man, you should really find some guy like Aaren to date,” said Dena, a high school teacher. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, he’s gonna make a really good husband for somebody someday.’ Little did I know that person was me.”
They finally became official on New Year’s Day in 2012, and got married in 2013.
“When we told our friends that we were officially dating, they were all like, ‘finally you’ve put a label on what’s been happening for like, the last six months,’” Dena said.
Aaren said that 4-H gave him the chance to meet others with similar interests and values. This was especially helpful when he moved from rural Minnesota to the Twin Cities for college.
“I grew up on a family farm,” said the 38-year-old. “The school year would get done, and then I would just be farming all summer. And the only time I really left to go to town was for the county fair. And then if you do well at the county fair, then you could go to the State Fair … it was a huge way to connect with people that had similar interests and such.”
Aaren is now on the fair board for Fillmore County, and Dena volunteers at the 4-H food stand. In a few years, their kids will be old enough to qualify to attend the state fair as a part of 4-H, just like their parents. Aaren said 4-H’s success is dependent on adults stepping in to support the program.
“If someone doesn’t do those things, then the program doesn’t continue on. And so that’s why I’m always willing to be that someone to do it.”
‘We’ve always joked that before our 25th wedding anniversary, the only time that we were separated was when our children were born’: Cindy VanDerPol and Josh VanDerPol –Clara City
Both Cindy and Josh were part of 4-H, but they actually met at the 1988 State Fair while they were participating in another youth program, the National FFA Organization.
The first time they saw each other was when they were helping unload livestock. Cindy said she was attracted to Josh’s blue eyes and tall stature.
“I’ve always been a hard worker, so I was willing to help him clean out his pig pens, I was willing to help him wash his pigs,” said the now mother of three and grandmother of four. “He was willing to help me get my sheep ready for the show.”
Their first date was at the fair’s haunted house. They exchanged numbers at the end of the fair, but then Josh lost Cindy’s number. Luckily, Cindy took initiative and gave Josh a call that September. By the end of the year, she was wearing Josh’s class ring.
“He loves to tell jokes, and I love to laugh, so we just had so much fun together,” Cindy said.
They’ve been married for 32 years, and have only missed the State Fair three times.
‘The late night at the fairgrounds is like magic’: Anna Wagner Schliep and Mike Schliep – St. Paul
Anna and Mike met at 4-H’s leadership conference, Building Leadership and Understanding, in 2006. However, they didn’t become close until they were both counselors at 4-H camp when they were 15.
They remember dancing together at 4-H dances and participating in Minnesota 4-H State Arts-In, where 4-H’ers put together a theater production in the 4-H building to perform during the Minnesota State Fair.
Anna and Mike were also both 4-H state ambassadors, who are 4-H’ers that are chosen by 4-H to be spokespeople for the program and promote recruitment. One of their key memories is walking around the fair at night with other state ambassadors going to vendors and singing for food.
“If you catch them as they’re shutting down, you see if they give you some of the stuff they’re going to throw out, basically. And we would stand in the street with a herd of people and sing a silly song,” said Mike, who’s now a father to two children. “Sometimes they’d give you one donut for your whole group of 10 people, and you’d all take the smallest bite.”
The couple is now both 35, but Anna is still part of 4-H. This year, she started a job working in communications for 4-H.
“I’ve always wanted to work for 4-H again,” she said. “It’s so much fun.”
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