Icelandic exchange student returns for Summerfest

Olafsson lived with the Stevermers in 1992-1993

SLEEPY EYE -- A Reykjavik, Iceland businessman who attended Sleepy Eye High School as a foreign exchange student in 1992 and 1993 returned for Summerfest last weekend.

Thorbjorn "B. J." Olafsson lived with the Pat and Earle Stevermer family of Sleepy Eye 34 years ago as a high school senior.

Olafsson said he was very impressed with Summerfest, an event that grew from Sleepy Eye Corn Day that included a huge free sweet corn feed in Allison Park in Sleepy Eye until Del Monte Corp. closed its Sleepy Eye plant several years ago.

"It was such a great time, I really don't have words to describe it," Olafsson said about Summerfest. "I even ate sweet corn in Allison Park like I did at Corn Day. I also remember eating a corn dog back then. I loved all the other food, the classic car show in the park and the big parade with marching bands and other music."

Olafsson said some of his favorite memories of Sleepy Eye in the early 1990s included playing basketball for Sleepy Eye High School, which had one of its finest teams back then.

He recalled what it was like to play for former Sleepy Eye High School Boys Basketball Coach Scott Hadley.

"He was a good coach. He really worked us hard. I remember him telling us to run drills back and forth for hours sometimes on the basketball court, then shoot free throws," said Olafsson. "It all helped me to really appreciate basketball. I went to Sleepy Eye High School and saw the high school gym. I'll never forget running into the gym back then full of fans, the band and cheerleaders. It really reminded me of fond memories back then. I got to play on the best team the school ever had."

He was a busy student in Sleepy Eye, competing on the golf team, singing in the high school choir and playing drums and guitar in the jazz band.

"I remember finding a couple other guys and forming a rock and roll band in Sleepy Eye. High school teacher Larry Hanson took me to Mankato to get a guitar," said Olafsson. "We played rock and roll at some dances, did some of Elvis' tunes and participated in a talent show at the New Ulm mall."

Playing pick-up basketball games at South Park in Sleepy Eye was another fond memory.

"I'd play basketball just about all night there with friends every night we could until winter," he said. "I remember playing ball with Shane Heiderscheidt."

Another fond memory was traveling to Graceland to tour Elvis Presley's home in Memphis.

Olafsson, who toured Sleepy Eye with his wife, Erna Kjartansdottir, said he returned at just the right time to reunite with his host family and see old friends.

"One of my classmates, Jeff Hauser, of the Twin Cities even came to Sleepy Eye to visit," he said. "My only regret is that it took so long to come back and reunite. I hope to return to Sleepy Eye in the next few years with my son. He wasn't able to come with me this time because he was running a marathon in Iceland."