95th Annual Midsummer Celebration
Saturday-Sunday, June 22-23, 2024
3827 Mesaba Park Road, near County Road 5 and Highway 37, Hibbing
Admission $25/$50 (with meals), includes camping
Midsummer Festival (Juhannus) on June 22 & 23 Join us in commemorating our park's 95th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the Minnesota Farmer Labor Party. From film screenings to music performances and lively discussions, it promises to be a weekend filled with camaraderie and celebration.
Saturday at 1 PM, immerse yourself in history with a showing of the 1977 film about John T Bernard, "A Common Man's Courage," followed by a captivating introduction by director John de Graff. Later, revel in the joyous atmosphere with a maypole dance led by Terrence Smith, a performance by musician Emmett Doyle, and the soulful melodies of the Lindula Brothers. Music will be followed by a bonfire in a setting of pristine natural beauty on North Star Lake.
Sunday at 10:30AM marks our Mesaba Park annual meeting, followed by a Mojakka lunch.
In the afternoon, hosted by the Farmer Labor Education Committee (FLEC), join us in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Minnesota Farmer Labor Party with a screening of the documentary The Farmer-Labor Movement: A Minnesota Story.
Expect all the traditions of Midsummer, including good food, cooperation, and lots of community fun and fellowship.
The most official schedule, subject to change of course.
Annual Assessments- a note from our beloved Treasurer- Sinikka
Dear Members,
The International Cooperative Alliance defines a Cooperative as “an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise” based on values of “self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity.” These are among the ideas upon which Mesaba Co-op Park was founded. It was intended as a place to build community; how lucky we all are to be a part of that community today. It is inspiring to look at our list of achievements and realize that we are all a part of realizing those goals, whether it was by laboring at workbees, working with a committee, or contributing to the building fund.
One of the key principles of a Cooperative is “Member Economic Participation,” in which the members “contribute equitably to the capital of their cooperative.” At Mesaba Park, this is achieved through our annual assessments and the accompanying donations from our members. Assessments and donations combined make up 40-60% of our revenue in a year. We could not survive without them. In keeping with the principle of equity, we set the minimum assessment at only $25.00 and ask members to self-apply the idea of a sliding scale and give more if they are able. Many members set their assessment at $50, $100, or even $200. We also ask that members contribute to our building fund, which allows us to maintain our current structures (such as the pavilion preservation), and to plan for additional structures (such as a new bathroom facility) to fit our needs going forward.
I am continually amazed at the cooperation and generosity of our members, so thank you for your contributions to our beautiful Mesaba Park. Our membership truly embodies the cooperative spirit.
Peace,
Sinikka Jacques, Treasurer
On behalf of the Mesaba Park Board of Directors
Payments by mail can be sent to:
Mesaba Co-op Park
PO Box 293
Hibbing, MN 55746
Payments can also be made on our Donations & Rentals page.
28th Northstar Arts Camp for Children- Arts in the Park 2024
June 17-20 Offering children aged 8-13 an enriching experience in creativity and expression.
Featuring indigenous artist Julie Boada, puppeteer and mask maker; Kestra Anderson Watson, potter; and Hibbing High School Theater Director and musician Megan Reynolds, the camp promises a diverse array of artistic experiences.
Music and Maypole dancing will be inspired by Terrence Smith, Oscar Forsman, and Jim Larson. Additional workshops in Chalk Art Stories with Ed Drews, and Yoga Stretches with Angela Schweiberger will be offered as afternoon choices. On Thursday, June 20th, the camp concludes with a Maypole Dance for the community.
Cost of the camp is $90 per camper and includes activities, materials, wholesome lunches, and snacks. Scholarships are available.
Additional funding for the camp has been generously provided by Natural Harvest Food Co-op, the Hibbing Foundation, Lake Country Power’s Operation Round-up, and the Northstar Foundation.
For more information, please contact David Bednarczuk at 218/262-5132.
2024 Midsummer Festival June 22nd & 23rd
Midsummer Festival (Juhannus) on June 22 & 23 Join us in commemorating our park's 95th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the
Minnesota Farmer Labor Party. From film screenings to music performances and lively discussions, it promises to be a weekend filled with camaraderie and celebration.
Saturday at 1 PM, immerse yourself in history with a showing of the 1977 film about John T Bernard, "A Common Man's Courage," followed by a captivating introduction by director John de Graff. Later, revel in the joyous atmosphere with a maypole dance led by Terrence Smith, a performance by musician Emmett Doyle, and the soulful melodies of the Lindula Brothers.
Sunday at 10 AM marks our Mesaba Park annual meeting, followed by a Mojakka lunch. In the afternoon, hosted by the Farmer Labor Education Committee (FLEC), join us in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Minnesota Farmer Labor Party with a documentary screening and a thought-provoking discussion.
Expect all the traditions of Midsummer, including good food, cooperation, and lots of community fun and fellowship.
2024 Notice of Annual Member Meeting
2024 Annual Membership Meeting Notice
The annual Membership Meeting of the Mesaba Co-op Park Association will be held on
Sunday, June 23, 2024, in the pavilion at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting Agenda
· Registration and roll call
· Proof of notice of meeting
· Election of officers and committees for the meeting
· Reading and disposal of last meeting minutes (2023)
· Reports of officers and committees
· Election of directors for two-year term
· Unfinished business
· New business
· Adjournment
Board of Directors
President: Kristin Garwick (6/25), Vice President: Walter Gies (6/24),
Treasurer: Sinikka Jacques (6/24), Secretary: Lily Anderson (6/25)
Oscar Forsman (6/25), Bruce Foster (6/24), Helen Makela (6/24),
Kim Lapakko (6/25), Josh Ridlen (6/25)