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Rock County annual dairy breakfast set to be served up Saturday

EVANSVILLE — Paul Bunyan would be proud of Rock County’s enthusiasm for pancakes.

Saturday morning, nearly 4,000 people are expected to head out to John and Sherry Crull’s 229-acre, 60-head dairy farm on Highway 14 to stack their plates with piles of flapjacks and other country breakfast delicacies at the county’s 32nd annual dairy breakfast.

“There’s quite a bit of excitement this year,” said Sandy Trustem of the Rock County Dairy Promotion Council.

But breakfast goers aren’t the only ones eager for this year’s breakfast.

The Crulls have been primping their farm to make sure it’s in tip-top shape when thousands join them for breakfast.

The Crulls have been anticipating this year’s breakfast since 2006, when they expressed interest in hosting the event, Sherry Crull said. But the family wasn’t expecting the heavy snowstorms last winter.

The weight from record snows damaged two buildings on the farm, which needed to be replaced before Saturday’s breakfast.

Aside from getting farms geared up and ready to go, breakfast co-chairperson Julie Funk said it takes hundreds of volunteers and enormous amounts of food to make the morning successful.

“There is a real strong core group of farm families that we depend on each year to come and work along with 4-H families,” Funk said.

“Everybody knows what they’ve got to do,” Trustem added. “We’ve been doing it for so many years, it’s become routine.”

Because the farm is on Highway 14, breakfast-goers cannot park at the farm. Instead, people should park at Landmark Cooperative, 6631 County Highway M near Evansville and ride a shuttle to the farm.

Despite the preparations, Crull said she has some apprehension.

“My stomach is nervous at times, but I think it’s going to be alright,” she said. “We just want everybody to have a good time and to feel comfortable.”

IF YOU GO

What: 32nd annual Rock County Dairy Breakfast featuring all-you-can-eat pancakes, ham and other food, as well as crafts and games.

When: 6:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

Where: John and Sherry Crull Farm, 12000 W. Highway 14, Evansville.

Parking: Landmark Cooperative, 6631 County M, Evansville. Shuttles will bus guests to the farm.

Cost: $6 adults, $2 children younger than 10.

BREAKFAST NUMBERS

What goes into a dairy breakfast?

-- 120 gallons of milk.

-- 360 boxes of pancake mix.

-- 68 gallons of syrup.

-- 2,736 servings of applesauce.

-- 1,488 servings of yogurt.

-- 1,500 cartons of white milk.

-- 3,000 cartons of chocolate milk.

-- 120 gallons of ice cream.

-- 3,500 cheese sticks.

-- 3,600 ham patties.