Fish fry organizer Jerry Sandau said the event is the Legion’s largest fundraising event of the year and always brings a large crowd. During the lunch and dinner rush it is not unusual to see a large line of cars stretched down Minnesota Street to collect a fish dinner.

“It is going very well today,” Sandau said.

It is fifty-fifty whether diners will eat-in at the Legion or take-out. Sandau said following COVID, the fish fry was all take-out. Last year was the first time since COVID they were able to let people eat-in.

“Its pretty equal for dine-in and take-out this year,” Sandau said.

Anita Hoffmann (left) and Connie Johnson (right) serve of fish dinners during the New Ulm American Legion’s fish fry. Hoffmann and Johnson were among the 60 volunteers helping with the annual dinner.

Legion Commander Brian Krosch said for the fish fry they had 57 boxes of fish, each weighing 20 lbs.

Sandau said they had 240 lbs of potatoes to make the potato salad.

Sandau and Krosch said for the past few years the potato salad was made by Carol Waibel and many people enjoyed it as much as the fish.

Waibel later said the secret to her potato salad was adding a little sugar to sweeten it.

In order to prepare for the fish fry on Friday, the volunteer cooks began preparing food on Tuesday. On Friday, there were over 60 volunteers in the Legion. Sandau said they worked in two shifts throughout the day with 30 volunteers per shift.

Vehicles line up for fish outside American Legion Post 132. Friday was the 29 Annual Fish Fry Dinner.

Legion General Manager Nancy Gohnert said this was her first fish fry with the Legion and was extremely impressed with the organization.

“Sandau has it all down on paper,” she said. “He has a system like you would not believe.”

All proceeds from the fish fry go to the Legion’s general operation funds. Sandau said the funds will go to helping any veteran in need, whether that is medical needs or helping cover electric bills. Krosch said some of the funds also assist with sending students to Boy State and Girl State.