Cove Lutherans' Sausagefest a sellout Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 8 2009 05:31 AM By Don Bolding
Killeen Daily Herald

COPPERAS COVE – Workers at Trinity Lutheran Church's 36th annual German Sausagefest Saturday sold about 1,700 adult tickets for dinner plates and "sold out of everything," event chairman Mike Kriegel reported Saturday evening.

By about 2:30 p.m. Saturday, workers had run out of bulk smoked sausage sold by the pound, and leaders were hoping they would have enough food left for plates until the scheduled end of the event at 4 p.m.

Officials then said they had sold about 1,100 tickets since opening at 11 a.m. at $7.50 for adults and $5 for children.

An official tally will be ready early this week. Last year, the final count was 1,538.

"It was a great day," Kriegel said. "Everything went wonderfully."

The 2,100 pounds of bulk sausage went at $5.50 a pound. About 1,000 pounds were reserved for grilling for plate lunches with sauerkraut, potatoes, green beans and other trimmings.

Following tradition, firefighters and police officers were invited to eat free of charge. "We always take care of our fire and police officers," said event chairman Mike Kriegel.

Saturday's turnout was boosted by warm, sunny weather for people to stand in line for about 50 yards from the ticket booth to the serving tent, which also housed baked goods for sale and chances to win a quilt or merchandise baskets in a silent auction by the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. A band led by Henry Jost alternated between German airs and good old southern country & western tunes.

Talking with Kriegel during a break, Jost said, "Our families go way back here. We were popular because we were the only ones who made sausage." He and Kriegel joked about making off with some of their daddies' sausage to cook and eat on raccoon hunts in the middle of the night.

Church member Rebecca Messner said the sausage is made without additives or fillers from a secret recipe brought from Germany in 1854. A flyer said the recipe has been "perfected and improved by the Mickan family of Copperas Cove. Alfred "Papa'"Mickan modified the original recipe brought to this country by his grandfather, achieving a mild sort of sausage that goes well with everything and that everyone seems to enjoy."

Proceeds are used to benefit different causes each year. Beneficiaries this year are to include church missions, the United Way, the Geography Club at Copperas Cove High School, and the church's building fund and men's and ladies' clubs. Pastor Bernie Schey said the allocations were set before the shootings at Fort Hood Thursday, though, and the church may use part of the money to address needs arising from that incident.

Vyla Merrell, whose husband Robert was Sausagefest chairman last year, said the event had been inside the church until organizers raised concerns two years ago about disabled people having to navigate steps. Merrell presided over the first fest held under a big tent.

The Sausagefest began in the 1950s as an annual church dinner for members and invited guests Sunday afternoon, but the church decided to change the day, open it to the public and make it a fundraiser.

A T-shirt bore the likeness of the Lutheran Church's 16th-Century German founder, Martin Luther, and quoted him as saying, "If there is no laughter in heaven, I would not wish to go there."

Contact Don Bolding at dbolding@kdhnews.com or call (254) 501-7557.