Picking up the spare leftovers
Bridging Brown County holds 2nd annual Turkey Bowl
Darrell Brey, a member of the State Street Theater team at the Turkey Bowl fundraiser, hit a hot streak during the second game. In the photo he is about to collect his third strike in a row for a turkey. He would actually get a fourth strike on the next frame earning him a rare “hambone.” Photo by Clay Schuldt
A bowler on lane 3 at Concordia Lanes hopes to pick up a spare during the second annual Turkey Bowl. Photo by Clay Schuldt
New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce Office Manager Crystal Johnson watches her last ball roll down the lane. The ball was ultimately a strike – her third in a row—giving Johnson a final frame turkey. Photo by Clay Schuldt
The six award certificates to be given out during Bridging Brown County’s “Turkey Bowl” fundraiser. Prizes were awarded in six categories. One of the prizes is “The Big Turkey.” The person who has the most turkey during the bowling fundraisers receives a free Thanksgiving turkey. Other prizes were awarded for Top Bowler and Top Team. There were also prizes for lowest score, most gutter balls and best enthusiasm. Photo by Clay Schuldt
Darrell Brey, a member of the State Street Theater team at the Turkey Bowl fundraiser, hit a hot streak during the second game. In the photo he is about to collect his third strike in a row for a turkey. He would actually get a fourth strike on the next frame earning him a rare “hambone.” Photo by Clay Schuldt
A bowler on lane 3 at Concordia Lanes hopes to pick up a spare during the second annual Turkey Bowl. Photo by Clay Schuldt
New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce Office Manager Crystal Johnson watches her last ball roll down the lane. The ball was ultimately a strike – her third in a row—giving Johnson a final frame turkey. Photo by Clay Schuldt
The six award certificates to be given out during Bridging Brown County’s “Turkey Bowl” fundraiser. Prizes were awarded in six categories. One of the prizes is “The Big Turkey.” The person who has the most turkey during the bowling fundraisers receives a free Thanksgiving turkey. Other prizes were awarded for Top Bowler and Top Team. There were also prizes for lowest score, most gutter balls and best enthusiasm. Photo by Clay Schuldt
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NEW ULM - Several teams spared their time Thursday afternoon to support Bridging Brown County during the second annual Turkey Bowl at Concordia Lanes.
Groups from across Brown County formed teams of four or five players to bowl in the fundraiser for the networking nonprofit.
Bridging Brown County is a leadership program that brings participants together to network and learn about Brown County. The program highlights local history, encourages community involvement, introduces participants to places and opportunities. The organization's nine-member board represents the three geographic regions across the county.
Bridging Brown County hosts monthly business tours, leadership development sessions, and education on the region's economic and social landscape.
Bridging Brown County Executive Director Karen Haala said the organization has operated as a nonprofit since 2003. The Turkey Bowl fundraiser was started last year. Since the fundraiser took place close to Thanksgiving, they thought they would call it a Turkey Bowl as a play on words. In bowling, three strikes in a row is called a "turkey." Special prizes were awarded in six categories. One of the prizes is "The Big Turkey." The person who has the most turkey during the bowling fundraisers receives a free Thanksgiving turkey.
Other prizes were awarded for Top Bowler and Top Team. There were also prizes for lowest score, most gutter balls and best enthusiasm. Haala said the best enthusiasm awarded would be selected by the Bridging Brown County board of directors.
The bowling fundraisers also serves as a team building and networking exercise, with many of the teams formed from area businesses or organizations.
The New Ulm Area Chamber staff took the afternoon off to show support for Bridging Brown County.
Chamber President Sarah Warmka said they love Bridging Brown County and their leadership program they offered and was happy to bowl a couple games to help.
The Chamber team admitted they were not expecting to win the top team award.
Chamber Office Manager Crystal Johnson said typically only bowls once a year and anticipated throwing several gutter balls.
Johnson did throw a couple gutter bowls during the contest, but to the excitement of the Chamber team, she did managed to get three consecutive strikes of the final frame of their last game.
Johnson said it was her first-ever turkey.
State Street Theater's board of directors also sponsored a bowling team. The entire team wore Hawaiian shirts that previously served as a wardrobe for a production of "South Pacific."
Lorie Jewell, executive director of State Street Theater, said she took part in the most recent Bridging Brown County leadership program and describe it has "eye opening."
Jewell grew up in New Ulm, but was surprised by how much there was to learn about Brown County. She said the leadership program gave her a great opportunity to explore the other communities in Brown County and learn what type of businesses were out there. Recently, they visited Springfield and were able to tour Sanborn Manufacturing.
Jewell said she did not know about Sanborn Manufacturing before the tour and was surprise at the size of the business, which is a global supplier of air compressors.
As for the bowling, State Street Theaters team made a strong showing. Jewell said their top bowler was Darrel Brey, the State Street Theater board treasurer.
Brey bowls on two separate leagues and provided advice for the rest of the team.
"The secret to bowling is you don't need to throw the ball as hard as you think," Brey said. "You need to focus on the pins."
Brey did manage to get a turkey in his second game. In fact, after getting the turkey, he bowled a fourth strike in a row, which in bowling is called a "hambone."
He was not the only bowler to get a ham bone. One lane over, Jason Steele, playing on the Jensen Motors team managed four strikes in row. He said the secret was to not take it too seriously. He said if he were trying, he would not bowl as well. He said it was all about having fun and good vibes with friends.
Haala said the support for Bridging Brown County was greatly appreciated. The proceeds from the fundraiser will help keep participant costs for the leadership program affordable.