Article by Brad Quarberg, 2016 Maple Leaf Parade Marshal

When two former Oktoberfest festmasters walked into Mike Bakalars’ office in March, he immediately thought the wurst.

“My first reaction was ‘Oktoberfest people stopping by in March? I hope they’re not making a change to the bratwurst,’” recalls the owner of Bakalars Sausage Co., a La Crosse-based manufacturer of natural casing and skinless sausages.

Instead, 2017 Festmaster Brian Rude and 2022 Festmaster Doug Kratt told Bakalars he was the 2024 Festmaster.

“After they assured me that being selected as this year’s Festmaster was for real, I thought of the incredible responsibility and honor it is to be able to represent this community,” he says.

Bakalars, a native of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, graduated from St. Thomas Academy in 1982. He then attended The Citadel, graduating in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and was commissioned as a U.S. Naval Officer.

Bakalars moved to La Crosse in 1990 to begin working at Bakalars Sausage Co. He met his future Frau Bethany Godwin, an Onalaska High School and UWL graduate. They married in 1998 and had the opportunity to buy the business in 2003 and never looked back.

“I can’t think of a better community to raise a family and to own a business than La Crosse and the Coulee Region,” he says.

Balakars has many reasons for believing that, but his perspective and love for the community expanded even more when the company was hit with a natural disaster. Bakalars’ building was hit by a tornado on Sunday, May 22, 2011.

“The power was out, a good portion of the roof was gone, and the structure was not stable,” Bakalars explains. “Our perishable inventory was in danger of being destroyed, and we didn’t know exactly when we would be operational.”

But the company’s dedicated employees worked non-stop. They were able to transfer all the inventory to more than 16 refrigerated semi-trailers provided by Kwik Trip and Transport Refrigeration.

Another local company, Wieser Brothers Construction, stabilized the building, allowing Bakalars to open Monday morning. Xcel Energy restored power by Thursday and the company was making sausage by Thursday afternoon.

“When we decided to build a new facility, the only non-negotiable item was the location – we had to build in La Crosse,” Bakalars says.

Bakalars says his professional career has been focused on creating a great work environment for the company’s employees, manufacturing the finest quality products, and service to the community. He and his wife are actively involved with The La Crosse Mardi Gras, which supports Aquinas Catholic Schools, and the Gateway Area Council Boy Scouts of America.

Bakalars says this year’s Oktoberfest theme, “Friendship, Gemütlichkeit and More,” is a tradition that continues with their family, which includes two daughters, Allison and Emily, and son, Samuel.

His honorary festmaster button colors are black and gold to resemble the company’s logo. Along with the traditional Oktoberfest banner, Gambrinus and maple leaves, the button includes the Bakalars logo and U.S. Navy symbol. The background is Grandad Bluff with the American flag.

“To me, this iconic image represents La Crosse,” he says.

Bakalars also has ties to a decade-old Oktoberfest tradition: The American Legion’s “Slicing of the Golden Brat.” After being approached by the Legion to come up with an event to coincide with the “Tapping of the Golden Keg,” Bakalars and others in 2013 decided on making a big bratwurst, nicknamed the B-52. It’s 8 feet long and weighs approximately 80 pounds. Festival Foods makes the bun.

“It was a big hit and the tradition was born,” says Bakalars.

Legionnaires cook the brat on a specially made grill during night so it’s ready for the breakfast crowd. In 2017, it was left unguarded in early morning for a few minutes and stolen.

“Can you imagine running down Market Street with an 80-pound brat?” says Bakalars. “I’m not sure how many perpetrators there were, but they must have been pretty hungry.”

The brat was recovered a short distance away, but it wasn’t eatable. It was only used for photos and regular brats were served instead.

The incident created a media buzz with Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens mentioning it in his “Manitowoc Minute,” as well as references in national newscasts.

Bakalars says most memories of the fest are more traditional, with his fondest boyhood recollections being La Crosse visits, often during Oktoberfest. He recalls it always being a special time of year, bringing together generations of their family for wonderful memories. He says this year will be even more special.

“I still am not sure why I was selected as this year’s Festmaster, but it is an honor that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” he says.

Meet the 2024 Oktoberfest Festmaster Mike Bakalars

• Native of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; graduated from St. Thomas Academy in 1982; attended The Citadel, graduating in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and commissioned as a U.S. Naval Officer.
• Owner of Bakalars Sausage Co. since 2003
• Married to Bethany L. Bakalars
• Immediate family includes daughters Allison, 21, senior at UW-Madison, and Emily, 18, freshman at the University of Minnesota; son Samuel, 16, sophomore at La Crosse Aquinas High School
• Along with his wife, actively involved with The La Crosse Mardi Gras and the Gateway Area Council Boy Scouts of America
• Quotable: “I still am not sure why I was selected as this year’s Festmaster, but it is an honor that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”