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Knights of Columbus end their fair food tradition at Great Northern Fair

A space is open for a new food booth at the Great Northern Fair this year.

The Knights of Columbus 1644 Havre Council will not operate its booth at the fair this year because they do not have a person to order supplies and are short on volunteers, Grand Knight Jerry Kinsella said Monday.

Kinsella said the Knights decided not to do the food booth a few months ago.

"We're gonna let it go a year, maybe regroup next year," he said.  

Kinsella said the person who ordered food and supplies for the Knights last year was not able to do so this year. The rising cost of buffalo burgers - the item the Knights are most known for selling at their booth - and the lack of available volunteers also played a part in the decision.

"It's kind of getting to be kind of a gamble, it's hard to get this all lined up," he said.

Kinsella said he thinks the Knights first opened their food booth at the fair 10 to 12 years ago.

Money raised by the Knights was then donated to other organizations.

"We give away pretty much everything we make," Kinsella said.

He said most of the Knights are glad to take this year off.

"A lot of us are getting older and the younger ones have kids and other activities," Kinsella said.

Dick O'Reilly, a Knight who helped recruit volunteers to operate the booth, said last year 125 to 150 volunteers worked the booth with about five or six working each shift.

Kinsella said a Boy Scout troop was interested in taking over the booth this year, but they didn't have enough people either.

Great Northern Fairgrounds Secretary Linda Ferguson said Thursday she has not heard about any other groups not having their booths this year.

 

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