By Jacob Halper Fall is a time of reflection and transition. In my work as a 4-H educator, the county fair is over, many youth went on to state-level showcases, and we begin planning for the new year. As we reflect on the past year, many focus on the county fair and how to improve it. The article The County Fair as Celebration and Cultural Text captures the beauty of the chaos so simply as, "Periods of intense excitement alternate with periods of intense calm." Intensity is something I believe resonates with all youth development professionals. For many the hard part is the calm, but it is important to stop and intentionally explore the story that was told amidst that intensity. The county fair is a time of connection, reconnection, and public display. In Minnesota 4-H we often use the language of “showcase”. These youth showcases represent another concept I am familiar with: youth storytelling. Stories and storytelling come in as much variety in their definition as their ac
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