Luther graduate and world-famous polka star Mollie B performs at the Winneshiek County Fair

Mollie B

Mollie Busta, a.k.a. Mollie B, is no stranger to Decorah. Busta grew up nearby in Spring Grove, MN and received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Luther College. She was back in Decorah on a hot and sunny Wednesday afternoon to perform with the Jim Busta Band at the Winneshiek County Fair.

The Jim Busta band is a traveling polka band that was started 38 years ago by Mollie's father, Jim Busta. Mollie has been performing with the band for 35 years, along with her brother Chad who has been with the band for 33 years.
 
Performing with the Jim Busta Band is just one way Mollie showcases her talents and spreads her love for polka. She also performs with a band called "Squeezebox," is the host of a Wisconsin Public Television documentary called "POLKA!," and is the creative director and co-producer of "Mollie B Polka Party," a RFD-TV television show that currently airs in over 55 million homes two nights/week. According to her website, "Mollie has shared her many talents with fans in over 25 states and 11 countries and continues to inspire young musicians with her love for music."

Mollie has won the title of "Favorite Female Vocalist" by the U.S. Polka Association and the International Polka Association many times over. She has won multiple awards from the Polka America Coperation, was named the "2013 Wisconsin Polka Promoter of the Year," and was inducted into the Iowa Polka Hall of Fame in 2015.

Mollie says she loves to perform. "The best part of performing is engaging with the audience and watching their reactions. It's so much fun to see people smile."

Mollie B and the Jim Busta Band

A crowd gathers for the afternoon grandstand concert