Minnesota State Fair

How Minnesota Optometrists Reach the Public During the Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State fair is one of the largest state fairs in the nation, and is often dubbed The Great Minnesota Get Together. For the sixth straight year, the Minnesota Optometric Association ID's and staff members came out in force to volunteer at the MOA booth at the State Fair. The local NBC TV affiliate, KARE 11, sponsors a unique opportunity for health providers with its HealthFair 11 Building, and thousands of Minnesota State Fairgoers are the beneficiaries.

Optometrist Murray Hanson, O.D., answers a visitor's question. Dr. Lane Robeson welcomes one of the first fairgoers to visit the booth.

This year the State Fair ran from August 23 through Labor Day, September 3. The Health Fair 11 Building houses a real health fair, every day, for 12 days, free of charge at the Fair every year. Booths are free to the selected participating organizations, and the MOA has been selected since its first year to participate. Over 5,000 fairgoers, from grandmas to toddlers received eye screenings, that included visual acuity, Optos retinal screening or both. And thousands more folks just stopped by to ask a question or pick up educational materials.

Scheduling volunteers in several shifts every day for 12 days was not easy, but with efforts of the board of trustees headed by event chair Dr. Linda Chous, Deputy Executive Director, Jessica Miller handled the logistical challenge prior to and during the event — right down to blue MOA volunteer T-shits and a pocket containing meal tickets and Fair passes.

Beth Gillthvedt, O.D., MOA volunteering eye doctor says, "Where else can you get such exposure for the entire organization?"

"This is a great way to bring young and new MOA members into a great shared effort," said Dr. Tiny McCarty, MOA President. "We are able to really relay a key message that everyone, young and old, needs to have regular, comprehensive eye exams."

Not only do thousands of Fairgoers find out more about healthy eyes and locate their local optometrists, the MOA also receives TV coverage by KARE 11 TV.