Every year on the day before Lent (Shrove Tuesday), the communities of Liberal, Kansas, and Olney, England, take part in a time-honored tradition: the Pancake Day Race!
Dating back 600 years in England, the pancake race began when “a woman engrossed in using up cooking fats (forbidden during Lent) was making pancakes. Hearing the church bells ring calling everyone to the shriving service, she grabbed her head scarf (required in church) and ran 415 yards to the church, skillet and pancake in hand and still apron-clad. In following years, neighbors got into the act and it became a race to see who could reach the church first and collect a "Kiss of Peace" from the bell-ringer (Pancake Day Story).”
In 1950, Liberal Jaycee President R.J. Leete saw a magazine photo of Olney’s pancake race and was inspired to race against them. The two communities have been racing annually ever since, and thanks to video calling capabilities, they are able to meet each year.
We were the sponsor of this year’s video call between the two racing locations. Elyse Torres, an operations support specialist in Liberal, represented Black Hills Energy at the event.
“We look forward to pancake day every year,” Torres said. “It’s a big event for Liberal!”
The International Pancake Day Race is still the only race of its kind on the planet. If you would like to watch this year’s video call between the two racing locations, visit International Web Chat | pancake-day-usa (pancakeday.net)
Positive Energy
-
Nothing captures community spirit like a small-town parade. They draw friends and neighbors together, highlight young musicians and local groups, and give kids an excuse to eat candy (like they need one!). Many of our employees in Iowa have been celebrating their communities by participating in… -
The COVID-19 Pandemic, combined with an increase in extreme weather events and global conflict, has negatively impacted food prices, making it difficult for many people to afford the food they need to live an active, healthy life. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 38.3 million people… -
Chamber of commerce leadership programs benefit participants and communities. Congratulations to three Arkansas team members who graduated this spring from chamber of commerce leadership programs. Hollie, operations support specialist in the Blytheville, Arkansas, division, and a Black Hills… -
Thanks to Chad, a Service Technician in our Imperial, Nebraska, office, and one of our ambassadors, that hasn’t been a problem in Imperial this season. When Chad and his wife volunteered to coach their daughter’s T-ball team this spring, they quickly realized that the equipment they received from…