Clear cold skies gave way to warmer temperatures as the day went on and there were no shortage of pilots looking to get their morning grub on. As many as 22 planes shared the airport as once. It was also the fly-in breakfast’s 50th anniversary.

A new leader was at the helm for this year’s fundraiser. Helen Vogel took over for Bob Schirlinger at the July 11 Lions Club meeting and hit the ground running to organize the fly-in breakfast. The Lions Club had around 60 of their 66 members on hand starting Thursday to get everything set up.

“You have to clean the hanger, set up all the tables and chairs, then get all of the supplies out and put up the grills,” Vogel said. “It’s a lot of work.”

The only major change this year was introducing a new brand of sausage to complement the pancakes. Around 350 pounds were bought to stock up for a hungry crowd. Vogel said they buy all their materials locally to help stimulate the local economy.

Amidst the fully completed planes that came Sunday, one that’s currently being worked on caught the eye of Justin Forst (standing) and Kyan Forst (crouching).

Even with the inclement weather, Vogel said they received around 1,600 people. This year there was heavy turnout from the beginning. Vogel said she was pleased to see people out in full force.

This large turnout meant they needed dozens of tables and chairs to seat everyone. Vogel said that was the biggest challenge this year.

“We had to find a different place to rent them,” she said. “Other than that, everything went real smooth.”

Marty Ziermann brought his Van’s Aircraft kit plane to the breakfast, accompanied by Milo Durben. Ziermann said the plane meant a lot to him, as he built it with local high school students in the Glencoe area.

“We put it together with eight students,” Ziermann said. “It was about a two and a half year project. They would come in every Saturday morning and Wednesday nights. When they’re in high school, it’s hard to come every day. Many times they couldn’t make it.

Carter Dobi (left) and Blake Dobi (right) are excited as they get to sit in the back of a cop car at Sunday’s fly-in breakfast.

Durben said doing projects with local youth is critical to giving them a chance to find a passion in aviation.

“The biggest thing is getting kids in aviation by building it, feeling it, and seeing how it’s all put together,” he said. “[They get to] go out and fly the airplane.”

Ziermann said one of his students now flies F-16’s for the U.S. government, while another works as an airplane mechanic.

With the year getting longer and weather colder, Durben said this is one of the last events they attend during the year. While they don’t always fly in pairs, Ziermann said it is helpful to have a second set of eyes. Especially when the airways are busy like they were Sunday.

For more information about the New Ulm Lions Club, visit https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/newulmmn/index.php