Funding a concern for Fisherman’s Breakfast

Friday is the annual Fisherman’s Breakfast in St. Anthony and some locals are worried it could be the last year of the 59-year tradition.

Every Memorial Day Weekend, the breakfast marks the kick-off of the summer season for fishing and camping. Volunteers cook up hash browns, pancakes and sausage from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We draw people from all over the intermountain area– approximately 4,000 people every year,” said Harry Halkar, co-chairman for the Fisherman’s Breakfast.

The breakfast is totally free, and funding is one reason why some are worried about its future.

“This thing costs, give or take, just a few dollars close to $3,000 every year that we do this,” said Brett Mackert, co-chairman for the Fisherman’s Breakfast. That expense is after donations of food.

“We have had some funding issues because a couple of our major suppliers have had to back out,” said Halkar.

“To keep this thing going, we need to have the financial backing as well as have some manpower packing,” said Mackert.

The planning committee used to include dozens of members; now there is just a handful.

“We don’t have a lot of younger businessmen here in town to take it over,” said Halkar.

Despite the challenges, the organizers are determined to keep it going. One young resident, Joe Murray, started a Facebook page called “you Know you live in St. Anthony if…” Members of the group have been commenting on a post about the breakfast, and that may lead to more support.

Halkar is hopeful and said, “I see it going on for a lot of years yet.”

The breakfast takes place at Clyde Keefer Memorial Park in St. Anthony. Besides all the food, there will be entertainment at this year’s breakfast including music and cowboy poets.