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Annie Huidekoper knows she is an incredibly fortunate person. She loves her job, and she knows there are a lot of people that can't say that about their careers.

So it's very important to follow your gut, follow your heart. This is the message she told to 50 juniors and seniors who attended the annual Work Skills Day competition Feb. 24, held at Lakes Free Church in Lindstrom. Huidekoper was the keynote speaker for the all-day event.

Huidekoper grew up loving baseball, and one of the highlights of her childhood was serving as batgirl for her dad's baseball teams.

Her love of the game drew her to her career working in baseball. Huidekoper was one of the first employees with the St. Paul Saints organization, and after a brief stint with the Minnesota Twins, is back with the Saints.

She encouraged the students from Chisago Lakes, North Branch and Rush City to focus on their interests as they move toward a career.

"I just went for it. I trusted my gut. Look at what you're looking for in a career and that will make you happy," she said.

Huidekoper said at one point, she was working for a health insurance company, but she knew she wasn't happy there. She heard about the Saints starting up in St. Paul, and she made a call to the front office, looking for a job.

"I called because, what's the worst that can happen? I have an interesting conversation with someone but I don't get the job?" she said.

But she did get offered a job, and loves working for the Saints, managing community affairs and helping with promotions.

She cautioned that the teachers in the room probably wouldn't agree, but she'd rather hire someone based on the person they are than what kind of grades they get in school.

"I care more about what things you've been involved with that show what kind of person you are, and what you care about, than your grades," Huidekoper said.

Following the speaker, students then competed in three work skills areas: interviewing, problem solving and job applications. They also had time to visit different career and educational booths, such as Job Corps, Workforce Center and Anoka Ramsey Community College.

Throughout the day, students are encouraged to mingle and get to know one another, competing for the sportsmanship award by answering questions designed to help them get to know people better.

The countywide competition started out in a simpler form in 1977 in which a few students from each of the schools participated. The event has grown over the last three decades, and many local employers and agency people have it on their calendars as a yearly event they support with their time, experience, and knowledge.

The day is the culmination of a curriculum the students work on for many months in their respective schools.

All the students are enrolled in an employment skills seminar which teaches the skills needed for a job search, the application and interview process, and finally the understanding and knowledge to maintain a job and acquire more advanced work skills through their employment. Work Skills Day is the event that allows for the "real life" application of the students hard work in the classroom, organizers say.

Student event winners were as follows: Interviewing - 1st Frances Turitto (NB), 2nd Maddie Rindahl (NB), 3rd Alyssa Menhorter (NB), 4th Karli Dickie (NB), 5th Josh Scherer, honorable mention - Kayla Kern (NB) and Kyle Frieler (CL)

Problem Solving: 1st Frances Turitto (NB), 2nd Josh Scherer (NB), 3rd Kalya Kern (NB), 4th Katie Nier (NB), 5th Carolann Mantueffel (NB), honorable mention - Thler Riebe and Ron Eagan

Applications: 1st Francis Turitto (NB), 2nd Allyssa Mewhorter (NB), 3rd Madeline Rindahl (NB), 4th Mark Nadnais (NB), 5th Ron Eagan (CL)

Sportmanship Team Award - 1st North Branch

Work Skills Day is sponsored by the Chisago Lakes, Rush City and North Branch school districts and St. Croix River Education District.

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