Hennepin County celebrates Hmong MN Day at State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair drew record crowds again this year, with Hennepin County staff among the thousands of patrons who joined in the celebration of our great state.

More than 35 employees from 14 departments volunteered their time to represent the county and educate the public on our programs and services at the 9th annual Hmong MN Day on September 2 (Labor Day).

Since 2015, Hmong MN Day has been the largest cultural stage event outside of the Grandstand and the only Asian cultural-themed day at the fair. It’s estimated that between 10,000 – 12,000 people attended the event. This year’s theme was a tribute to the late Tou Ger Xiong (founder of the Hmong MN Day at the state fair).

“We are proud to be a part of Hmong MN Day at the fair to celebrate the rich cultural heritage, history and accomplishments of Hmong Americans in Minnesota,” said Danny Lee, senior department administrator for Outreach and Community Supports (OCS). “The purpose is to be the bridge to resources and services for this vibrant community. It’s not just about bringing Hmong families together, it’s also about educating people from other parts of the state, no matter where you’re from.”

Lee said that the Hennepin County booth was the most visited of the day, with nearly 2,000 visitors interacting with county volunteers.

Hennepin County’s engagement team provided important information and resources about elections, environment and energy, child and teen check-ups, public health and Cope services, the Assessor’s Office, Hennepin Health, the Office of Multicultural Services, the Sheriff’s Office, Department Navigators and the Asian Connections ERG.

Engagement staff joined OCS Director Vernona Boswell on stage (1:32:15 mark) where they shared their gratitude with the crowd. Additionally, 3 Hmong TV interviewed Boswell, Lee, Community Engagement Specialist and Hmong and AAPI Liaison Wang-Yu Vu, and Soua Yang from the Sheriff’s Office (1:58:37 mark).

Volunteers reported that it was a fun experience and a great way to engage with the community. 

Thank you to all the amazing employees that came out and proudly represented Hennepin County!