2025 Wrap Up: Statewide Tour Stop in Fergus Falls

With book-end visits in October, Otter Tail County had the good fortune to participate in MHC’s Sketches of Minnesota program, not just once but TWICE! For those not familiar with Sketches of Minnesota, here’s a short synopsis:

• Community members are invited to a free dinner to talk about their community/communities.
• The improvisational gurus with Danger Boat Productions are on hand to facilitate the evening.
• Over dinner, each table of guests is given four questions to discuss about their community. 
• During this time, the improv actors are visiting the table talks to pick out bits and pieces of the conversation.
• Over dessert, the actors treat the audience to a number of short skits that highlight some of the evenings’ topics.

As a Board member of MHC, I had the good fortune to participate in both of their visits to Otter Tail County.  Late in October, I made my way to Thumper Pond (in Otter Tail City), to be part of the conversation hosted by NY Mills and the NY Mills Regional Cultural Center (home to the Great American Think Off). I met lots of new and old friends there.  Sharing a meal with new acquaintances is always a bonus for me. 

However, earlier in October, my outstate hometown of Fergus Falls was not only able to host a Sketches of Minnesota event, but also a two-day visit with Minnesota Humanities Center CEO Kevin Lindsey, and staff members Ann Mayers, Sung Ja Shin, and Jessica Rust. 

We kept them busy from the time they arrived until they headed home. First stop, Fergus Falls Public Library, where they met with educators and community members to talk about current education programs and the release of MHC’s new Native American Lives Series of books.  From there we held a gathering of community members and MHC grantee organizations around robust appetizers at a local restaurant just ahead of a screening of the film Reconstruction Destructed, which was co-produced by MHC. And, as if that hadn’t been a long enough day, the team accepted my invitation to wind down on a warm autumn night on my screened porch.

The following day included classroom readings from the Native American Lives Series which are currently being distributed to school districts across Minnesota.  An early afternoon luncheon, hosted by my organization West Central Initiative, included about 40 community leaders who participated in a more statewide-focused conversation about the humanities and what MHC means to them and the state of Minnesota. Many of them left with a better understanding of the work and an appetite for more grants in Greater Minnesota.

The icing on the cake after two days of making community connections was a very energetic, engaged, and “bursting at the seams” audience for the Sketches show.  I say “bursting at the seams” because the dinner venue was at SRO (Standing Room Only), and the enthusiasm of those attending was contagious. Kevin led an amazing talk back after the performance and everyone agreed that Danger Boat Productions nailed it with their skits about Fergus Falls.

Thank you, MHC. I am SUCH A PROUD BOARD MEMBER!