Lafayette turkey bingo returns after a year off

by Ruth Klossner
Lafayette American Legion Post #300 kicked off Thanksgiving week with a revamped version of Turkey Bingo Saturday evening. After not being held last year, the event moved to the Lafayette Fire Hall and was held in cooperation with the Lafayette Area Lions providing the gambling license.
A big crowd turned out—nearly filling the fire hall—to play either 20 or 40 games. Turkeys were awarded for successful bingos, with packages of hamburger given out after cutting cards, in the event of multiple bingos.
While most players were from the local area, two Twin City residents took part, after hearing about the event only an hour or so earlier.
Nikki Nicklas of Apple Valley and Gerri Gefre of Plymouth had spent the day in New Ulm and were heading north when they spotted the donkeys, horse and old pickup in the Hoffmann pasture at the corner of Highway 15 and County Road 1. After passing it, they turned around. Seeing Tonya Hoffmann outside, they asked if they could take some photos with the truck. Nicklas got a photo of herself and her dog Max alongside the truck with its Christmas tree—and donkeys and the horse in the background.
Hoffmann told the women that turkey bingo would be held at 7 p.m. and the two decided it would be fun to do on a Saturday night. Gefre was especially interested as she calls bingo for the Ronald McDonald House in the Twin Cities. The two sat in the back row, got to know some locals, and enjoyed being in Lafayette.

For more photos of Turkey Bingo, check out the November 26 issue of the Winthrop News.