Who is the longest serving volunteer? Elaine Christiansen welcomes visitors to the Hamline Church Dining Hall on the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. For longer than many people have been alive, Christiansen, 95, has been a presence at the Fair. She started volunteering with 4H in 1951, eventually landing at the Hamline Church Dining Hall in 1983. That's 74 years of volunteering and as Elaine will tell you, “I have loved serving people all my live, and my goal is to continue until I’m 100." (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

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