Balaton’s summer celebration came a bit earlier this year, but the change did nothing to dampen the spirits of young and not-so-young alike
As she sat under a canopy visiting with two of her former students at Friday’s 6th Annual Borchert Challenge, JoAnn Borchert watched as a number of her relatives putted their way across the Balaton Bay Golf Course putting green.
There was her son, Steve, and his wife, and there were a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren — all descendants of JoAnn and her late husband, Ron, the namesake of the event.
“It seems brand-new every year, yet sometimes it seems as if it has gone on forever,” JoAnn said.
Ron, a teacher and a coach who died in 2019, was well known in Balaton as a champion of recreation and sports in the 1960s, ‘70s and ’80s. JoAnn knows that the annual tournament is something her late husband would’ve loved to attend.
“It’s always nice to see different groups come around,” said JoAnn. “Ron would treasure this time. If he could be here with these people, nothing would be better. I like to think he still knows, that he’s still part of it.”
The Borchert Challenge is essentially a putting tournament with holes sectioned off by string. This year, the first 20 kids played free, as a goal was to get more youth involved. It seemed to have worked, as the putting green at Balaton Bay Golf Course filled up quickly Friday.
Proceeds from the Borchert Challenge are filtered into the Borchert Challenge Endowment Fund, created in 2023 to promote a legacy of recreation in Balaton. Donations will remain with the Southwest Initiative Foundation Borchert Challenge Endowment fund in perpetuity. Each donated dollar generates earned annual income that is available to the City of Balaton. It is at the Balaton City Council discretion how the funds are spent.
The City can use funds on park projects, for a local match for future recreation grant projects, to hire an independent contractor or employee to promote a special recreational activity.
The endowment fund has grown to more than $75,000. Investment earnings from 2024, 2025 and 2026 will provide the City with at least $4,116.34 of spendable dollars.
“We’re also working with the Southwest Initiative Foundation on a nonendowment fund,” said Bradley Knudson. “Lots and lots of people want to do projects. We’re looking forward to that so we can be asking people to make contributions to projects that will happen in their lifetime.”
• Fun Fest festivities kicked off with the always-fun Lit’l Miss and Lit’l Mr. contest at Victory Church. Emcee Kelly Hanson welcomed the crowd and introduced the judges.
“It is such a perfect evening, and we are so, so excited to kick off Balaton Fun Fest tonight,” Hanson said.
Hanson interviewed each of the 12 contestants after their initial introduction, with questions on where they go to school, favorite ice cream flavor and favorite thing to do in Balaton. “What do you want to be when you grow up,” garnered answers from cop (Jason Daniels) to farmer (Wyatt Swan) to babysitter (Maddie Kaare).
Eventual Lit’l Mister Everett McCarthy did a detailed drawing of an eagle.
Lit’l Miss winner Vivian Kor created and choreographed a tumbling routine that was performed to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
During the judging, all 12 returned to perform “Yankee Doodle.” Each contestant wrapped up their night by receiving free fishing poles from the Balaton Sportsman’s Club.
• The weekend included various golf tournaments, and two new events: a 3-point shooting competition that included young children and a few adults as well, and “Water Wars” where a number of fire departments from around the area competed. And a special touch came when retired firefighters Joan Baack, Peggy Wichmann and Pat Rutz donned firefighter garb and competed in the ceremonial first round.
• The winner of the $250 Fun Fest Calendar Raffle was Sara Timmerman.
