August 21, 2022 – Allenton, Wi – Every year it’s the popular Allenton Picnic and every year there is a familiar face, Pat Hart, volunteering her time at the hamburger stand at Veterans Park in Allenton, WI.
Pat Hart has been serving burgers and brats, fries and chicken sandwiches for 45 years with the American Legion Auxiliary.
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“This hall was always here… but when I started it wasn’t this nice,” said Hart, taking a break during a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Hart cheers the addition of the screens that help keep out the bugs.
Dressed in a yellow t-shirt and burnt red apron, Hart is the energy and organization that keeps the food stand functioning.
Her to-do list starts months before the annual picnic; ordering food and lining up volunteers for the ice cream stand and the hamburger stand. Hart heads to her ‘office,’ which is the cardboard square on the floor next to the fridge. She reaches for a clipboard stored atop the appliance and runs through a typed list of names and phone numbers.
“This shows the shift for tomorrow – 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.,” she said. “And then picnic is supposed to end at 7 p.m. Sunday… but we’ll see.”
Hart’s mother, Cora Boden of Nabob, started running the food stand. “She was a busy lady,” said Hart. “There were 10 kids in the family, but she was involved in everything including 4-H.”
Hart’s children are also following in her footsteps as they fill orders at the stand too.
“The time, dedication and number of hamburgers she’s made over the years is truly remarkable,” said son Brian Hart.
The Allenton Parade steps off at 11:30 a.m. followed by music and food and fun at Veteran’s Park. Come join us and stop by the hamburger stand to say ‘Thanks’ to Pat Hart.
