HUMBOLDT— Those converging on St. Peter’s Lutheran Church fellowship hall Saturday can depend on several things. They will be served as many pancakes and sausage as they can eat, they are sure to run into someone they know and Neil Hartwig will be there helping.
Though he won’t be at the front door as in years past, Hartwig, 86, can be found “working the floor,” cleaning and replacing place settings or serving customers.
For 35 years Hartwig collected the money of patrons of the annual Ground Hog Feed.
“I had that job because I was secretary/treasurer of the Lutheran Men’s Club,” he said. “A couple of years ago I said someone younger needs to do this.”
Darrell Krone was happy to oblige.
“I never did get back in there,” Hartwig said of the church kitchen.
The 54th annual event is a project of the Lutheran Men’s Club where monies and donations received go to its District Project, the high school after prom event, the church youth group and a few other interests.
For the last couple of years, the men have fed in the neighborhood of 600 people, considered a good crowd, but as the price per pound of hogs fluctuate, so does the final tally for the club’s coffers.
This year 13 hogs were processed at Moran Locker for Saturday’s breakfast. “It’s getting harder to find a processing plant that can do it for resale,” Hartwig said. “A lot of plants have quit processing for resale because of the regulations.
“We’re so happy with the processing though; it’s so much different than what you can buy in the store.”
The group always offers extra sausage, bacon and ribs in packages for sale during the day.
Hartwig has lived in Humboldt all his life, except the 26 years from 1948 to 1975 that he spent in the Army. After he retired from the Army, he returned to Humboldt and as a member of the Lutheran Church, began his term with the fundraiser.
“It’s been amazing to watch the growth of the kids,” he said. “I see people with their little tots come in and remember when the parents were tots being brought by their parents.”
Members of the club will be busy during the week getting ready for the 6 a.m. opening on Saturday.
“We make sure the grills are clean and ready, we wrap silverware and we have to put craft paper all over the kitchen floor,” Hartwig said. Supplies of pancake batter, syrup, eggs, 50 gallons of milk, butter and coffee will be purchased and extra helpers from the church young people will be signed up for a work shift.
