In Minto, 37th annual bologna feed draws a crowd
Jan. 21—MINTO, N.D. — The smell of sausage and chatter of many voices filled the Minto Community Center on Friday, Jan. 20, as hundreds gathered there for the 37th Annual Harvey Ave. Bologna Feed.
Bologna, pork with sauerkraut, spaghetti and pasta salads lined the buffet. Attendees piled their plates high with slices of the more than 70 varieties of ring bologna entered into the bologna feed and cook-off.
In the kitchen, away from the festivities, groups of judges picked out the best bolognas of the bunch, deliberating among themselves about the attributes of sausage and cleansing their palates with wine between bites. Once judges were done trying slices from each ring and ranking their favorites, extra slices were mixed together and added to the buffet line, creating a grab bag of bologna slices for event attendees to try.
The bologna feed was
started as a small bologna making contest in 1987
by Chris Misialek, the Harvey Avenue Saloon's former owner. Since then, the event has grown from a small contest hosted at the bar to a large fundraiser that draws sausage makers and lovers from around the region to the town of 616. All proceeds of the event go to support the Minto-area Boy Scout, Girl Scout and Cub Scout troops.
This year's turnout was much better than the three years before, when the bologna feed coincided with blizzards, said Steve Novak, owner of the Harvey Avenue Saloon and one of the event's organizers. He estimates around 360 people came to the event.
"It's unbelievable — better than expected," he said. "A person gets goosebumps seeing a crowd like this."
Isabel Niswonger of Minto celebrated her 95th birthday at the bologna feed, surrounded by family. Novak led the room in a round of "Happy Birthday" for the longtime Minto resident, who is known by many in town for baking the best buns.
Niswonger and her family come to the bologna feed every year.
"For several years, there would always be somebody out of my family that was judging and it's a nice place to go and visit with your friends," she said.
Parents of Minto-area Scouts run the event and help with judging efforts. Though her family lives in Alvarado, Minnesota, Jessica Syverson's daughter is part of a Minto Girl Scout troop, which brought Syverson to the event. Originally from Minto, she knows the familiar faces in town.
"There must be a lot of out of town people here because I don't recognize probably 90% of them," she said. "It's a big draw, not just for Minto but for the whole community."
Toni Pulak, a Girl Scout Troop Leader and Boy Scout cub master for her children's troops, said troop leaders work for months to plan and put on the event, which includes the bologna, other food, a silent auction and raffle. She said she was excited about the turnout this year.
"It's typically not good weather, so we were lucky to get good weather," she said. "This crowd is amazing to see."
What makes a good bologna?
Syverson likes hers simple and traditional.
"I don't like it too spicy," Syverson said. "Nothing goofy, no jalapenos or anything like that."
Pulak likes some of the nontraditional additions, but does have a preference in the type of meat used.
"We are hunters so we use our venison in bologna, so my favorite is venison bologna," she said.
Niswonger is not picky.
"I just like it," she said.
Prizes were awarded to the makers of the best tasting and best looking bolognas. Steven Mondry won first in the best tasting category, followed by the Tilted Kiltz and Oslo Hog Farm. Jimmy Barta won the best looking category, with Weber Meats coming in second.
