Hmong Cornhole Club Welcomes All in Minnesota is a Minnesota’s biggest cornhole club. They meet Monday nights at an armory. People throw bean bags into holes on wooden boards. They chat, fist bump, and keep score. Kids run around.
Dia Lee says it strengthened their community. She didn’t know anyone there before.
Dia and her husband Houa are now top players. Houa says it’s important to have a comfortable place to belong.
The club started in 2021 with a small group. Now it has 120 players. They host weekly events and fundraisers at the armories and sometimes restaurants.
It grew popular in other states too after starting in Minnesota.
Co-founder Alan Lee says they made it so Hmong people could fairly compete in the mostly-white sport. But they realized anyone can excel with practice.
Non-Hmong player Jim Bruce joined. He says the Hmong players are among Minnesota’s best now. He likes the community feeling with families.
The armory has meaning for Alan and other Hmong who got Toys for Tots gifts there as kids.
The club brings the Hmong community together and connects them to others. Dia says anyone can join their family.
