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
-
Each year Black Hills Energy is able to support United Way in a Day of Caring event as part of the Season of Giving campaign. Several employees from the Bluffs facility in Iowa joined together to help the New Visions Homeless Services get ready for their December Community Christmas by sorting… -
South Dakota Mines recently recognized our company as the 2023 Community Champion at their annual state-of-the-university address in Rapid City. Our company was the business recognized this year for having dedicated time, treasure and talent to further the mission of the school. Attendees of the… -
Members of our team recently volunteered at an outdoor classroom in Lincoln, Nebraska, helping to spread mulch at the Dimensions Education Program’s Nature Explore Classroom. The facility offers programs for children through kindergarten age. The popularity of nature-based outdoor classrooms is… -
The Springdale, Arkansas, Chamber of Commerce held its 57th annual Teacher Appreciation Event in early August. Created as a way to acknowledge and thank Springdale Public Schools’ educators for their work and contributions to the community, the event is the largest of its kind in the nation. More…