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Vinni Lettieri is working overtime for the family business and a spot in the Wild's lineup N O V. / D E C . 2 0 2 3 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M 27 Photo / Andee Bender/The Minnesota Wild, Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images P R E S E N T E D B Y ike most Minnesotans, Vinni Lettieri has been going to the State Fair since he was a small boy. He'd go to the Midway to hop on the rides and try to win prizes. He'd go down the Giant Slide, head to the Miracle of Birth Center to check out the calves, piglets and lambs, rush over to FA N Central to meet his favorite athletes from all the pro sports in town and eat whatever he could on a stick. Since becoming a pro athlete, the former Minnetonka High School and University of Minnesota standout hasn't lost his love for the fair. In fact, every summer, from late August through Labor Day, Lettieri looks forward to it so much he attends the fair on an almost daily basis. Of course, part of that is because he has to be the only professional athlete in Minnesota history who actually has a job at the fair. For 35 years, his parents, Tino and Michelle, have had a stand at the fair. Tino, who was born in Italy, is the former goalkeeper for the Minnesota Kicks and Strikers. Michelle is the daughter of Lou Nanne, the former North Stars GM, coach and defenseman. They own Tino's Pizza-on-a-Stick at the Fair, and as you may guess, they've got some of the most mouth-watering treats you can ever ask for at the fair. The pizza on a stick is scrumptious and the pizza dough balls will leave you wanting more. For as long as he can remember, Lettieri has worked shifts at the family's stand with his sister, Bianca, and cousins like Louie and Tyler Nanne, two of Grandpa Lou's other grandchildren. "Everyone gets a shift," Lettieri said, laughing. "Sometimes it's harder for me just with workouts and stuff getting ready for the season, but my wife (Cassandra) and I and Tyler love getting bossed around by Tino." So he doesn't treat you like an NHLer? "Uhhhh, no. Not at all," Lettieri said.