John's Journal Archives: A Pretty Fair Day For Football Players At State Fair

This story was originally posted on John's Journal in August 2013. With the 2024 Minnesota State Fair starting in a few days. it’s a good time to revisit a situation that is pretty unique: high school athletes who are also busy with a farm life and showing livestock. Enjoy.

When I talked on the phone with Nolan Hohenstein on Wednesday, the Jackson County Central senior football player was adamant that he was not going to miss Friday night’s season opener at St. Louis Park.

“I’ll be there,” said the 6-foot-4, 275-pound two-way starting lineman. “I might be there a little late but I’ll be there.”

He had a competitive conflict, as did senior wide receiver Scott Christopher. They were showing livestock at the Minnesota State Fair and getting across town to the game might be dicey. Christopher, in fact, did not make it to the game because he was winning a blue ribbon with his blackface lamb at the same time.

Hohenstein got to the field just in time, driving from the fair with his parents. He used a porta-potty as a locker room, putting his pads on and jogging onto the new turf field at St. Louis Park about 15 minutes before kickoff.

“I was trying to stay calm,” he said after Class 2A Jackson County Central defeated Class 5A St. Louis Park 21-7. “My nerves were getting to me a little bit and I was getting pumped up. We got over here quick, got dressed and got ready for the game.”

Oh, he also had a winning day in the swine barn. His crossbred barrow was named reserved middleweight champion, reserved crossbred champion and finished third overall.

Nolan was glad that he was able to sleep in a bit Friday morning … which for him meant not waking up until 7 a.m. “But it was a long day, showing all day. It was rough getting here but I got here.”

The fair wouldn’t have presented a conflict if not for Zero Week, in which 22 Minnesota football teams began the season a week earlier than the rest. But it’s a good thing the JCC Huskies played their opener so close to the fairgrounds.

Christopher and Hohenstein have been on the fairgrounds since midweek and will head home Sunday. Scott was disappointed to miss the game, but he vowed he won’t miss any more.

“It was really hard,” he said. “I’ve had a month to think about it. It’s just the way my sheep started looking better.”

The rewards at the fair include more than ribbons and titles. Some of the top animals are sold at auction, often for thousands of dollars.

Huskies coach Tom Schuller – whose team reached the 2A state semifinals at the Metrodome last season – was glad to see Hohenstein arrive but said the Huskies missed Christopher’s presence.

“Scott has had a great fall for us,” Schuller said. “He’s been one of our most effective receivers and he also gives us a little bit of spelling at d-back.”

The Huskies had plenty of firepower against St. Louis Park. They controlled the game with a dominating ground game; Keegan Moore carried 16 times for 119 yards and a touchdown and Luke Norland ran 25 times for 102 yards and two scores. In total yards, the Huskies outgained the Orioles 332 to 154. St. Louis Park, which has never reached the state playoffs, is large enough to play 5A football but the Orioles’ best season in the last decade was a 4-5 record in 2008.

“I was extremely pleased with the effort, to be sure,” Schuller said. “For a first game, I thought we played really well. (The Orioles) are in the midst of building a program and getting more kids out. If you’re going to play 5A football you’ve got to have all one-way players and they’re not there yet. They’re in progress right now.”

Behind Jackson’s ground game are linemen like Hohenstein and Matt Schmit, a 6-5, 235-pound senior. They are experienced, smart football players.

“Nolan’s played since he’s been a sophomore and he’s a great two-way player,” Schuller said. “We saw what life was like without him this week in practice and it was a little bit scary. Put him beside Matt Schmit and you’re talking about two 4.0 students who work really hard in the weight room. They’re really well-rounded student-athletes.”

After Friday’s game, the large contingent of Huskies fans walked onto the field to congratulate their boys. They gathered in one end zone, smiling, laughing and talking about football and farm life.

“We got through the fair,” Schuller said. “I think Honie’s pig did great. I don’t know how the lamb did for Christopher, but we got the animals all racked up and ready and we won the football game, so it was a great night for us.”

--MSHSL senior content creator John Millea has been the leading voice of Minnesota high school activities for decades. Follow him on Twitter @MSHSLjohn and listen to "Preps Today with John Millea” wherever you get podcasts. Contact John at [email protected] or [email protected]