The History of Lefse Dagen

"What could we do that would be unique and imaginative for the Starbuck Centennial Celebration?" That question was pondered by the planning committee as they made preparations for the July, 1983 event. During the brain storming, one member jokingly suggested making a big lefse! Once the house laughs had subsided, the idea began to sound quite appropriate for this predominantly Norwegian community. The Starbuck Lions Club was contacted to test the feasibility of this idea and to possibly enlist their help to carry out this challenging task! Eight men agreed to accept the challenge to make the WORLD'S LARGEST LEFSE!

This eight man Starbuck Lefse Team had to think BIG as they worked out the details for this novel undertaking. They were to make several practice runs prior to the big public event on July 1, 1983 on the abandoned Starbuck Depot grounds. The griddle was formed by welding together two sheets of steel to make a 10' by 10' griddle weighing 1200 pounds. It was placed on top of three rails north of the Depot. Charcoal briquets were used as the source of heat. When the briquets became hot enough, the heavy griddle was slid along the rails directly over the hot briquets. Meanwhile, Larry Kittelson, local baker, rolled out the lefse dough on the large, cloth-covered plywood deck. The recipe called for 30 pounds of potatoes, 35 pounds of flour, 1 pound of sugar, and 4 pounds of shortening. The BIG lefse was transferred to the hot griddle using a special, slatted, cylindrical roller crafted by Maurice Walline. The largest lefse was measured at 9' 8" and declared by a WORLD RECORD in the "Schibstad Book of Records in Norway"! The members of the Starbuck Lefse Team were: Maurice Amundson (originator of the idea), John Gorder, LuVerne Jorgenson, Tilford Jergenson, Larry Kittelson, Earl Larson, Chuck Wahlquist, and Maurice Walline. Helping greatly with the promotion were Joyce Wahlquist, Chamber of Commerce Secretary, and Audrey Amundson.

The Starbuck Depot Restoration Group, organized in 1986, decided that the World's Largest Lefse record should be commemorated each year along with an open house of the Depot. The first recognition of this historic event took place on May 16, 1987 with a celebration called Lefse Dagen ("Lefse Day"). This celebration is now well established and continues to take place annually in the middle of May.

For more historical information about Starbuck, Glenwood or other area communties in Pope County you may contact the Pope County Historical Society and the Starbuck Chamber of Commerce