SECRET (NO MORE) SNOWMEN

We've all heard of the Secret Santa program that many people get involved with during Christmas. Minneota had a different kind of secret this holiday season.
A Secret Snowman. Or, to be more specific, 57 Secret Snowmen.
Placed in front of businesses in town recently were three-foot tall snowmen made out of maintenance-free materials, including a 4" x 4" post-sleeve for the main body.
Like Santa sneaking into your home on Christmas Eve, someone had managed to keep most people in town in the dark as to the identity of those making the snowmen and those delivering them.
Most business owners contacted by the Mascot were unaware of who made the snowmen.
"I have no idea," said Beth Buysse of B Lenore. "But I sure would like to thank whoever did make them."Initially, many felt they were the product of the Hope Lutheran Church mission group that made wooden snowmen two years ago for sponsors.
"No," said Terri Myhre, the coordinator of the mission group. "But they sure are cute."
While most were unsure who placed the snowmen in front of their business, a few people claimed they knew but were not supposed to tell.
Well, the jolly elf is none other than Kevin Jerzak, the manager of Minneota Building Materials.
"I made a few of these for Halloween last year," Jersak said on Saturday, pulling out a similar 4 x 4 pumpkin. "I told my wife, Sandy, that I was going to make a bunch of snowmen for the businesses in town this year."
What surprised Jerzak was that there 57 businesses in the community.
"I thought there were maybe 30," he admitted. "But when my wife and I drove around and wrote down all the names of the businesses, I was really surprised. I made 60 in all, including three that I gave to my daughters."
Jerzak said he made the snowmen to add a little holiday cheer to the people in town.
"I didn't do it for the publicity or anything," he said. "And I wasn't promoting (Minneota Building Center) or trying to sell anything. The reason for the snowmen was for a day brightener for people and Christmas joy to share. It was also for something positive and happy instead of negative news. I just thought it would brighten people's spirits a little."
Jerzak estimates that it took him three months to make the snowmen, working on them off and on when he found the time.
The snowmen are built to withstand the elements. Besides the maintenance-free PVC post sleeve body, the snowmen's caps are made out of a PVC post cap, the base if from decking fascia, the noses are Gatorade caps, the eyes are plastic caps, the scarves are ribbon, and the corncob pipe is made from a dowel and the actual piece of a corncob.
“My wife went out to a cornfield and got a bunch of corncobs," Jerzak laughed.
Kevin, Sandy and three of their four daughters Trisha, LeAnn and Kelly (a fourth daughter, Michelle, lives in South Dakota) helped deliver the snowmen.
"We went out at six o'clock one night and no one really saw what we were doing," he said. "It really was a feel good moment for me and my family as we distributed these snowman around town. Hope we didn’t miss anyone."
It's hard to keep a secret in a small town, and when asked, Jerzak admitted that he was the maker of those cheerful snowmen.
Who says you can't build a snowman without snow?