4-H Share the Fun

Share The Fun is an opportunity for 4-H members with an interest in performing arts to put their creativity to use and present an act to share with others. Each county/tribal 4-H program showcases Share The Fun performances at their county fair or another showcase event. 

The objective of Share The Fun is to develop youth’s self-confidence when performing before a large audience and to encourage creativity! 

Performances can be original or creatively adapted and can take any format, such as:

• Play
• Club skit
• Specialty acts—such as music, dance, magic, gymnastics, reading, combined vocal and choreography or puppets—involving any number of 4-H members.

Any young person in grades K through one year past high school enrolled in 4-H can participate in Share the Fun. 

They prepare an act to showcase in their county/tribal 4-H program at their county fair or another showcase event. After the showcase, each county/tribal 4-H program can nominate up to three groups to perform at the Minnesota State Fair.

Contact your local 4-H office with county/tribal program specific questions.

Registration

1. Share the Fun leaders complete the Share the Fun online application by Aug. 23.  
2. The submitted application is routed to the local 4-H Extension Educator for verification.
3. All Share the Fun participants register for the state fair following their county and regional process and deadlines.

Cost

Each participant will pay a state fair program fee. Overnight housing and meals are optional. Contact your local 4-H office with county specific questions.

All experiences take place on the second floor of the 4-H Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and include:

• 30-minute rehearsal with the State Fair Share the Fun Director on the day of the showcase. Rehearsal times are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• A showcase performance opportunity with judges providing written feedback to each act. Check out the Share the Fun evaluation sheet.
• 30-minute theater workshop experience for all Share the Fun participants.

You will perform during the encampment your county is assigned to at the State Fair. You can also ask to perform during livestock encampment with your registration - this option is space dependent.  You will be notified of your specific rehearsal and performance time.

Saturday, Aug. 24 - Livestock Encampment

• 8 a.m. -noon: Share the Fun registration and rehearsals as assigned on the 2nd floor/Erickson Stage
• 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Share the Fun registration and rehearsals as assigned on the 2nd floor/Erickson Stage
• 6:30 p.m.: Share the Fun Showcase on the 2nd Floor/Erickson Stage

Monday, Aug. 26 - Encampment 1

• 8 a.m.-noon: Share the Fun registration and rehearsals as assigned on the 2nd floor/Erickson Stage
• 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Share the Fun registration and rehearsals as assigned on the 2nd floor/Erickson Stage
• 6:30 p.m.: Share the Fun Showcase on the 2nd Floor/Erickson Stage

Wednesday, Aug. 28 - Encampment 2

• 8 a.m.-noon: Share the Fun registration and rehearsals as assigned on the 2nd floor/Erickson Stage
• 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Share the Fun registration and rehearsals as assigned on the 2nd floor/Erickson Stage
• 6:30 p.m.: Share the Fun Showcase on the 2nd Floor/Erickson Stage

Friday, Aug. 30 - Encampment 3

• 8 a.m.-noon: Share the Fun registration and rehearsals as assigned on the 2nd floor/Erickson Stage
• 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Share the Fun registration and rehearsals as assigned on the 2nd floor/Erickson Stage
• 6:30 p.m.: Share the Fun Showcase on the 2nd Floor/Erickson Stage

Sunday, Sept. 1 - Encampment 4

• 8 a.m.-noon: Share the Fun registration and rehearsals as assigned on the 2nd floor/Erickson Stage
• 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Share the Fun registration and rehearsals as assigned on the 2nd floor/Erickson Stage
• 6:30 p.m.: Share the Fun Showcase on the 2nd Floor/Erickson Stage

• Acts must conform to the six-minute time limit. Clubs should modify the length of their act if it is over six minutes.   
• Your act must attend rehearsal if you wish to perform at the showcase.
• Be sure to check and resolve all participant conflicts with exhibiting or demonstrating schedules before rehearsal begins.
• Prepare your club - during rehearsal, acts may need to be modified slightly to adapt to the new performing situations or increase the effectiveness of the act. When they occur, these changes will be used as educational tools to illustrate staging techniques. They will be under the supervision of the Share the Fun Director & Coordinator, in consultation with your group’s Share the Fun leader.
• Storage spaces for your props will be very limited and will be provided on the second floor of the 4-H Building during your encampment. 

Clubs with some members younger than the 4-H state fair age requirement may participate in the Share the Fun program with prior approval and proper supervision. Contact Kirstin Delp at delpx002@umn.edu for more information on this policy.

Transportation

Optional transportation services for Share the Fun props will be provided from an off-fairgrounds parking lot to the 4-H Building. Please indicate on your Share the Fun application if you are interested in this transportation.  

More information will be sent out to those who indicate they are interested.

Guidelines

• Props, costumes and scenery need to fit into a small storage area, roughly 5’ x 5’ in diameter.  
• This space will be marked off by county and available on the day your group is scheduled to rehearse/perform. 
• Onsite equipment available to Share the Fun acts, includes one table, two music stands, a folding chair and piano
• A sound system, including ceiling and standing microphones, will be available. State Arts-In Tech Crew participants will run the sound equipment and move microphones.  
• Each act will move props quickly on and off the stage to keep the showcase running smoothly.

Stage area

The Erickson Hall stage is 36” high from the floor level. There are accessible ramps located on both sides of the stage.

Safety restrictions

No live animals, water or other liquids on stage. Acts are also prohibited from throwing anything into the audience.

Recognition and reimbursements

Each Share the Fun participant will receive a recognition ribbon for their performing efforts. There will also be a recognition certificate for each leader. We will announce the top acts at the end of each showcase. 

Livestock encampment housing available

Housing is available for livestock encampment for Share the Fun participants. Housing is not guaranteed for the 4-H Building.