Varme Polse: The Only Nordic Fest Treat Available Since Year 1

Work is underway on the first Nordic Fest booths in 1967.

In the review of Nordic Fest archives to date, I noticed that only one food booth: the popular varme polse has been in operation continually since the first Nordic Fest, courtesy of the local chapters of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. 

In a March 11, 2015 interview, Ruth T. Woldum, a sorority member who served on the committee that organized varme polse at the first Nordic Fest in 1967, shared several interesting insights:

• The Nordic Fest committee issued a call for nonprofit food booths in planning the first event. Beta Sigma Phi chapters responded, researched recipes, focused on authentic Norwegian sausage preparation, and a hit was born.
• Varme polses sold for 50 cents in 1967.
• Resources in Calmar, Provitin and Dubuque have helped prepare the sausages each year especially for Nordic Fest. 
• Proceeds from varme polse sales have been divided among participating Beta Sigma Phi chapters over the years. Each chapter votes on how to distribute all booth proceeds to community and charitable needs. Projects strengthened by Nordic Fest sales include the Decorah High School After Prom and Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, among many others.  
• Cake and ice cream cakes have previously been offered by Beta Sigma Phi at Nordic Fest. Varme polse remains the hit with the crowds. 
• Like many of the official nonprofit food booths at Nordic Fest, there have been years of running out and years of leftovers. Ordering supplies given uncertainties of year-to-year weather and crowds is a continual challenge.

Ruth said, "It was trying sometimes, long hours, taking roasters home at night to wash, and more. But the results were encouraging. We learned a lot in those early years. The committee has done a good job of getting it all down to a science now."

Thank you Ruth and all the members of Beta Sigma Phi over the years for both your yummy treats and for putting those proceeds to work in the community! 

Thank you, Darrell Piece: A Nordic Fest Founder Tribute

Nordic Fest founders Darrell Pierce and Jerry Aulwes and the daughters of Nordic Fest founder Phyllis Leseth being interviewed for the #nordicfest50 project in May 2014

Late last week, Nordic Fest founder Darrell Pierce gained a front row heavenly seat for the 50th Nordic Fest when he unfortunately lost his long battle with multiple myeloma. Darrell lived a beautiful lifetime enacting the Jaycee Creed that "service to humanity is the best work of life." To read more about Darrell's incredible life, click here. 

Darrell, his fellow Jaycees and community volunteer extraordinaire Phyllis Leseth partnered with Dr. Marion and Lila Nelson and Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum starting in 1966 to organize the first Nordic Fest in 1967. They modeled the Nordic Fest after a Junction City, Oregon Scandinavian festival that focused on non-commercialism and nonprofit benefit. Their core focus remains true for Nordic Fest nearly 50 years later. 

In May 2014, as pictured above, Darrell joined his fellow interviewees at Vesterheim just a few minutes late as he processed all the terrible realities that cancer treatment brings but still shared his key recollections for the project research. He brought a big a smile and added much to that morning. 

A small part of that interview is shared here:

Question: Darrell, what does it mean to you to have the 50^th Nordic Fest approaching?

Answer: Well, in my particular situation, I think I better put it on my short bucket list.  I hope – I hope that I make it and – and if you can’t have a sense of humor with cancer, I guess you’re already done for so – because that’s a year from this coming Fest.   I – I hope dearly that I’m able to make that.  But it means also that we’re – we’re all now in our – in our seventies, which seems incredible.  Because when we started it, we were so young, failure wasn’t even in our vocabulary.  I mean, we just didn’t think there was any way it could fail.  And then we were told once we get past the third year, it probably was going to sustain itself and keep going and how we do things.  So, for me, it’s – it’s very meaningful.  It’s -- In addition to our kids, it’s also part of our legacy.

And a personal note from Dawn: Darrell, many hearts are breaking in this terrible process of telling you goodbye. Decorah and Nordic Fest are so much stronger because failure wasn't in your vocabulary. Thank you for helping so with this project's research despite all you faced. Thank you for supporting me so when Dad passed ten years ago. You certainly leave a beautiful legacy for your incredible family. Thank you for your service to humanity that resulted in a beautiful Nordic Fest core. 

I bet you've already connected with Phyllis, Marion and my dad. May you all have the best seats in the house as you watch over us during the 50th Nordic Fest. You are loved and treasured. Always! 

Early Promotion of Nordic Fest: One Example

Renowned Decorah accordion player Hans Aschim at the Norwegian-American Museum during an early Nordic Fest. Photo courtesy Ruth Ann Sacquitne.

Early promotion of Nordic Fest took place largely via trips to then-common travel shows or related regional events to raise awareness and encourage visits to Decorah. One such example of dozens if not hundreds of volunteer efforts took place during the summer of 1970. A few notes from that visit:

• Nordic Fest and the Museum jointly attended the International Folk Festival in Bettendorf, Iowa. 
• Mr. and Mrs. Maron Nelson, Mary McGee, Darrell Henning and Steve Johnson attended, representing the Museum.
• Nordic Fest board chairman Gary Svenson, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Tjelta manned a food both that sold Norwegian dishes. The varme polse offering was quite popular. 
• 14,000 people attended the International Folk Festival.
• Many visitors to the Decorah contingency had good questions about Nordic Fest, the Museum and Decorah.

While attending the International Folk Festival, Miss Decorah, Cheryl Adrienne Brown, was named Miss Iowa. Miss Brown became the first African American to participate in the Miss America pageant. The Decorah contingent shared their pride in Miss Brown by adding a handmade sign to their area proudly proclaiming Decorah as the "home" (albeit college home) 

Did you first learn about Nordic Fest via a travel show or other personal regional appearance like the International Folk Festival? If so, please share your experiences in the comments below. 

Happy 98th Birthday Phyllis Leseth!

Phyllis Leseth receives the high volunteer honor of the Nordic Fest flag from board president Barb Amundson

Tomorrow marks the 98th year since Decorah was forever strengthened in many ways by the birth of the late Phyllis Leseth. Her tireless publicity efforts and deep passion for Decorah leaves a stunning legacy for Nordic Fest. To learn more about Phyllis's beautiful life, click here. 

In 1981, radio station KWLC sat down with all Nordic Fest founders to capture important history on the occasion of the 15th year. Phyllis's interview is known to survive and is shared with you today in honor of her birthday. The 18 minute interview full of interesting information, linked below, is courtesy of Vesterheim and Phyllis's family, digitization courtesy of Josh Holland. 

Happy Birthday, Phyllis!