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HOME ICE: Martin County Arena NICKNAME: Cardinals 4 of STATE HOCKEY Fairmont Cardinals State of Hockey Spotlight Fairmont is a town of about 10,000 people in southern Minnesota, known as much for its beautiful chain of lakes as Martin County's self-proclaimed title of "Bacon Capital USA." Over 150 pig farms produce 40 million pounds of bacon per year as the top pork producing county in the state. Located off I-90, about 11 miles north of the Minnesota-Iowa border, it's a beautiful, hard-working and thriving community. When it comes to ice hockey, while Fairmont is not what one might call a hotbed, times are most definitely changing. And that's no bologna. "The community really comes out to support our teams," said Jessica Grolla- Scholl, president of the Fairmont Youth Hockey Association, a vol- unteer-led organization that runs the local Martin County Arena in addi- tion to the area's youth hockey programming. "We pack the rink for high school games even when we're not always winning, and even if it's extra cold in the stands. We may be small, but we really do love our hockey." ON THE HOCKEY MAP The last few years have seen a significant momentum shift in the Fairmont hockey landscape. Membership in the FYHA has grown to nearly 300 participants (its highest total ever). Its 12U girls team made it to their first-ever State Tournament in 2023. Recently, the 15U girls team won the State Tournament Consolation Championship, and their 12U, Peewee and Bantam teams all went to Regions for the first time. There's also an ongoing effort by the FYHA and other local stakeholders to develop a second indoor rink in the area. Photos / Fairmont Youth Hockey Association P R E S E N T E D B Y by Steve Mann DISTRICT: Jessica Grolla- Scholl PRESIDENT: 280 2023-24 REGISTRATION NUMBERS: 24 M H J ON L I N E . C O M | O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4