Where the buffalo roam . . .

Attending a buffalo roast brought back memories of singing the song, "Home on the Range" as a child, you know, where the buffalo roam and the good 'ol days?


There was only thoughts of lip-smacking buffalo and ham, along with other great fixin's at Medo Lutheran Church, a respite in the countryside south of Pemberton this past Sunday. Close to 200 people have attending this event in each of its 24 years, traveling through the flat, fertile lands of southwestern Minnesota to this tiny oasis. On this September 15th, my husband and I weren't the only ones standing in line awaiting the gates to open to taste a delicacy not often had for meals anymore.

"We were sitting have one of picnics in the park way back, and wondered what could we do different," said Ruby Isebrand, co-chair since the event started - except for the couple years when two other church women thought it good to rotate leaders (that lasted only a couple years). "John Weir and Rev. Gregg Welander said, how about a buffalo roast? Someone had mentioned they heard of it and we thought, no one else does it. So we looked into and here we are."

It's the first and only such dinner this writer has heard of in Minnesota, much less a small church group. Their first buffalo meat was bought from a Pierre, South Dakota business, in the same area as "Dances With Wolves" was filmed in 1990. Today, they secure their meat from Big Woods Bison in Nerstrand, and have it processed through Nerstrand Meats - which is one of the best places in Minnesota to buy all sorts of meat and treats.

While the buffalo comes from the northeast, the ham comes from a grocer to the northwest in Mankato. So a Medo meal visitor gets the choice of buffalo or ham, or in my case, I took both. Along with coleslaw, baked beans, fresh bread or buns for a sandwich (and condiments, but none are needed as it melted in your mouth), mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh tomatoes, huge sliced pickles and a selection of desserts that never ended, seconds were allowed but how you'd be hungry after that plateful is hard to figure out! Add coffee, lemonade filled by two cute munchkins and where could you feel more spoiled at a meal?

Ten-year-old Kiera Knutson and nine-year-old Electra
Knutson worked with a smile during the dinner.

"Melva Schull chaired the first event and we got about 275 people then, but get over 200 now," added Ruby, who glistened about the forehead as she bounded from the kitchen to the hall, making sure the volunteers were doing their jobs plus the hungry throngs were receiving all they needed for a great meal experience. Over 30 church volunteers worked tirelessly and smoothly through the two-hour meal. Pastor Laurie Stoeger was one of the greeters this year, but last year entertained the troops by playing the banjo. "While it was a great idea, we thought that people couldn't listen a whole lot because they were busy eating and visiting," Ruby chuckled. Doesn't matter anyway, as Pastor Laurie said her banjo was in repair right now!

They purchase and then roast about 120 pounds of buffalo, which they also sell to those who want to take some home for tomorrow. Perry Mortensen's family roasts the buffalo. When they first started the meal, it cost $3.85 a pound for buffalo meat, now its up to $9 a pound. About 80 pounds of ham, and more pounds than you'd want to carry of potatoes are processed as well. Chuck and Gert Schubbe mastered potato duty years ago and still smile while they work.

Kitchen Duty
Back row: Chuck Schubbe, Ron Schull, Darryll Schubbe; front row: Melva
Schull, Sonja Swanson, Erikah Kirksey, Vi Gonsolus, Gert Schubbe,
Vera Gonsolus and Ruby Isebrand.

Ruby's been a loyal Medo Lutheran since 1974, when her husband and she bought a farm near Pemberton. Now a hobby farm, they both stay busy enough, but remain just as active in church activities. "We used to have a lutefisk dinner for many years, but it became too much work to make all the food back then." It seems like they found their niche here!

Elnore Lindeland waited by the entrance table for her family before she wrote the check for all to eat. Just about to turn 90 years old the next day, she recalled vividly many dinners she worked - she chaired the lutefisk dinner many years. She had been raised near Owatonna, and a member at Medo since 1946. Her husband's family was one of the charter members of Medo, way back in 1868. As we talked more, we learned of similar people and places we both frequented, as is with every meal I attend. The world is indeed small if you take the time to meet the person next to you!

Elnore went on. "There's only one person older in the congregation, and he's four months older but not in good health." The Lindeland's celebrated their farm's 100 years at the church's 125th anniversary a while back. She is indeed a local treasure.

Medo volunteers pitch in

As the church quickly filled, it was a rare sight to see so many young men taking the time to get a meal. And with the youth filling roles as table clearers, coffee pourers, lemonade chasers, it was clear the buffalo roast was - and has been - a hit, drawing in those not usually seen at most church meals. There were about 17 take-out meals, "more when the guys are in the field" added Ruby.

"It's a long day preparing, serving and cleaning it all up, but it's worth it," she said. It must be, because when you have a congregation of 300, with about 50 weekly steady members, pulling it altogether is a work of art. But the September meal was a very special one indeed.

Recipe from the women of 

Medo Lutheran Church:

 

Apple Bars

 

2 and 1/4 cup flour

1 cup butter

1 1/2 Tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg yolk + milk to make 1/2 cup

 

1 and 1/2 cup slightly crushed corn flakes

4 cups sliced apples

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

 

2 egg whites, stiffly beaten

 

Cut butter into flour, sugar and salt.  Add liquid (milk & egg yolk).

Roll out 1/2 the dough to fit in a jellyroll pan.  It works best if you roll the

dough out between two well floured sheets of wax paper.  You may need to

work a little flour into the dough when rolling it out.

 

Spread crushed corn flakes over dough.  Mix apple slices, sugar & cinnamon

together and place on dough.  Roll out top crust and place on top.  Spread

the beaten egg whites on top.  Bake at 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  Drizzle a

thin powdered sugar icing on top while still slightly warm.  These freeze well.

Upcoming Meals:

 Sept, 20 - First Presbyterian Church, Bemidji, Roast Beef Dinner, 4:30-7

Sept. 28 - Pine River United Methodist, Pork Chop Dinner, 4:30-7

Oct. 8 - Vang Lutheran, Dennison, 34th Lutefisk Dinner, 4:30-7

Oct. 15 - First Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie, Lutefisk Dinner, 4 - 7 serving