Schmeckfest volunteer: 'It's amazing how smoothly it runs after all these years'

FREEMAN — A lot of work goes into creating the smorgasbord of German food that is the staple of Schmeckfest in Freeman.

Fifteen to 20 men worked Wednesday morning to chop meat that comes in 60-pound boxes, send it through a meat grinder twice with spices mixed in between runs and feed it into a sausage press for the finished product.

On Wednesday afternoon, a few women gathered in Freeman Academy’s Pioneer Hall kitchen to start making pluma moos, a fruit soup made with prune and raisin juice.

Volunteers make or use about 350 pounds of stewed beef, 300 pounds of sausage a night, 240 pounds of potatoes, 24 gallons of knepf or dumplings, 29 quarts of pickles, 20 pints of jam, 14 gallons of lard for sauerkraut and 150 kuchen pies a night, said Deb Beier, president of Freeman Academy Auxiliary. That group organizes the annual event.

“It’s amazing how smoothly it runs after all these years,” said Vivian Friesen, 75, Freeman.

The 52nd annual Festival of Tasting kicks off Friday and continues Saturday, March 26-27 at Pioneer Hall. The event pays tribute to the traditions of Germans-from-Russia Mennonites who settled in Freeman and raises money for Freeman Academy.

The meal features stewed beef, sauerkraut, fried potatoes, cheese buttons, bratwurst, green bean and noodle soups, pluma moos, poppy seed rolls, lettuce salad and kuchen.

This year’s musical is “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” a production by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

“People will really enjoy it and come away with good feelings,” Beier said.

A country kitchen market is planned. Demonstrations and displays involve bierocks, or German meat turnovers, cheese and fruit pockets, New Year’s cookies, rosettes, basket weaving, canning and rope- and soap-making. Tatting is new this year, Beier said.

A couple of weekends ago, Beier was among women who made noodles, laid out on 54 tables, for noodle soup in Pioneer Hall’s basement.

In the kitchen, Carolyn Preheim, co-chairwoman of the food committee, was busy straining prunes and raisins so the juice could be used for pluma moos.

The juice is mixed with dry ingredients and heated milk. The soup is cooled in a container with ice, then placed in pails. Fruit is added next.

“We’re planning to make 46 batches, which would be 46 gallons, for the two days this weekend,” Preheim said.

Friesen, who mixed the soup base, enjoys gathering with others to cook food.

“It’s just really a fun time when we see each other and prepare the delicious food,” she said.

Many of the volunteers who prepare food for Schmeckfest are alumni or parents of graduates of Freeman Academy.

Chris Miller, Freeman, a 2004 alumnus, laid out the finished sausage product on a rack. Sausages are kept in a cooler before they will be smoked overnight in a small smokehouse east of Fogel Hall, he said.

“Ever since I have gone to school here, in fifth grade ’til now, I have been volunteering my time,” Miller said, adding he has worked with making sauerkraut and on musicals. “The event brings the community together and gives time for parents to help volunteer. It’s a nice little tradition they have going on.”

LeRoy Hofer, 80, Freeman, has been volunteered with sausage preparation for 25 to 30 years. He helped operate a meat grinder with Dean Schrag, Parker, to make sausage for this weekend’s meals.

Previously, Hofer has fried potatoes, worked on the serving line and has worked the dishwasher.

“It helps the school. It helps the community,” he said.

The sausage-making process is repeated for demonstrations, Hofer said.

And next week, preparations will repeat so that revelers have fresh food to indulge in for the last weekend.

Schmeckfest facts:

- Dates are March 19-20, March 26-27

- Meal is served from 4 to 7 p.m. The musical starts at 8 p.m.

- Meal tickets are sold only in advance for $20 for adults and $8 for children ages 2 to 10. Tickets are sold out for Saturday. For tickets, call 925-4542, e-mail schmeckfest@hotmail.com or visit freemansd.com/schmeckfest to place an online order.

- An extra night of the musical was scheduled for March 25, so tickets are available.

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