Niemanns Heading To State Fair With Curtain, Play

Anna Niemann started sewing in the spring. Her Hennepin County Grand Champion ribbon shows she's a fast study.

Anna, 12, is one of a dozen members of the Victory Robins 4-H Club, which meets in Golden Valley. Her 4-H projects this year were two items she sewed—an Easter dress and a curtain for her bedroom.

She won blue ribbons for each at the Hennepin County Fair in June and won Grand Champion for the curtain. She is the only member of her club exhibiting this year at the .

"My mom used to sew and so that kind of made me want to learn how to," Anna said. She also liked the idea that she could sew what she wants, instead of relying on what stores have to offer.

After she made her Easter dress, she decided to change her environment.

"She took a day and just redesigned her room and drew it out," said her father, Terry Niemann. Part of that change involved designing and sewing new curtains, which she made from ribbons, hot glue, fabric and round mirrors, which echo the polka dot pattern on her walls.

Her sister, Lydia Niemann, 9, made a pillow for the Hennepin County Fair. She was too young to compete for ribbons, but the woman who judged her project praised her work.

The two girls also will perform in a musical play at the State Fair. It's called "In DeNile," and it's the story of the son of the pharaoh, who would rather be in an band than lead the country. The 4-Hers from around Hennepin County will perform "In DeNile" at 10 and 10:30 a.m. Sept. 4 at the 4-H building.

Anna and Lydia's family tree is full of clover. Their mother, Amy, and their father, Terry, used to be in 4-H, and Amy is a fair judge and is the leader of the Victory Robins.

Amy said she wanted to start a club in the area of Robbinsdale, where they live. She gathered some families she knew through word-of-mouth and at the Kelly Drive Pumpkin Festival in Golden Valley. They now have six families in the club and expect more will start during the next school year.

"4-H is a great supplement to school," Amy said. It's a great way to get students who are bored by school to learn by doing, she said.

The club's project this year was a garden at . The Statewide Health Improvement Program through the Minnesota Department of Health and Health Eating Minnesota, through BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota, gave the club money to start the garden.

So far, the club has donated almost 60 pounds of produce to in Golden Valley.

"To give people fresh produce, too, is huge," Amy said. They're applying for more grants this coming year so they can double the amount they can produce—and donate.

After the fair, Anna expects to start designing a decorating project that, she hopes, results in another Grand Champion ribbon next year.

"I think I'm gonna make a shade for my closet," she said.

For more information about the Victory Robins 4-H Club, email Amy at tniemann@prodigy.net or call her at (763) 537-6535.