On July 19, 2024, Dale and Shaina Peterson and family held their first St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital Friday Fish Fry at the Portage County Fair in Amherst. Dale had always wanted to do a fundraiser for this foundation. “We have been blessed with healthy children and not everyone gets to say that,” he told the Spirit.

Dale had the idea of having a Friday Night Fish Fry at one of the concessions stand to raise money. “Everyone loves Fair food,” he said. “Corn dogs, burgers, elephant ears, etc. But in Wisconsin, fish fries are a main staple of dinners that family and friends go out for.”

He went to the Fair Board to ask to have a fish fry stand. The Fair Board accepted the idea, and that got the ball rolling. With the help of local community members, the family was able to buy or borrow deep fryers, received french fries as a donation, and ordered the rest of the supplies through Whitetail Lanes, who allowed the family to use their kitchen for delivery and prepping. Friends donated money to help cover the cost of goods.

“We would not have been able to get this done without our children and their girlfriends that Friday,” Shaina said. “We made a great team. Dale and our twin boys, Ty and Mason, were the deep fryer preppers (fish, french fries, and dinner rolls); the girlfriends, Carlene Beyer and Sam Knab, were the expeditors (boxing up the meals); and our daughter, Hailey, and I were the order takers/cashiers.”

Each meal includes cod with tartar sauce, french fries, coleslaw, and a dinner roll.

The fundraiser’s goal was 150 dinners at $15 each with all proceeds to go to St. Jude’s. “We had a donation jar at the counter,” Shaina said. “So many gave extra and some didn’t buy a meal but put money in the jar because they wanted to donate. We fell a little short of selling out. However, with the great community we live in — phone calls were made and word of mouth helped as well — the donation chain began to pour in and we received cash donations to add to our fund and that made our total reach $6,002! This was above and beyond what we even imagined.

“So once again, the Peterson family would like to thank everyone for the support whether it was a purchase of a meal and/or a donation. Our hearts are full!”

The second annual Fish Fry Fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, July 18, at the Portage County Fair in Amherst. The stand is located under the grandstand with serving starting at 4 p.m. and going until they are sold out.

The Peterson family and friends at the 2024 Fish Fry Fundraiser.