I tell you what, I don’t think I’ve ever received so many effusive comments as I did after I talked about Kevin Duttenhefner on North Dakota Today.  Kevin kindly agreed to answer a few additional questions to go along with the Today segment.  Check all of it out below (Also, I should note that I almost cut-and-pasted his entire email chain to me because IT WAS SO SWEET and I see why everyone loves him so much):

How did you get involved in the Miss North Dakota Competition?

I got involved through a friend, B Michael Quale, who is still on Board of Directors.  I started helping with set and security, and then helped in the kitchen.  I ended up doing the cooking myself when those I helped couldn’t do it anymore.

What is your favorite part of volunteering with the competition?

My favorite part is working with the many other volunteers and getting to know the girls who compete.  I also like cooking and trying to make the classroom look as much of a dining room as I can.  I am not a culinary-trained chef; just a home cook, nothing fancy.  

How do you select your recipes?

I tell the girls I’m King of the Bars: Pasta Bar, Baked Potato Bar, Asian Bar, Wrap Bar, Taco Bar, etc.  It allows me to keep things separate, and then everyone can build their own meal and pick what they like to eat and leave what they don’t like or are allergic to.

What is your favorite cake you’ve ever baked?

I don’t know if I can pick a favorite cake.  I just like being a part of other people’s celebrations.  I’ve done birthdays, baby showers, graduations, retirements, weddings, anniversaries, and more. I guess my most memorable are the weddings in my family.  I’m the oldest of six children and uncle of 14, and have done all of my siblings and am now starting on my nieces and nephews’ wedding cakes, along with some former students, friends, and colleagues.  I’ve never been married and don’t have any children, but being from a big family and teaching for 30 years means I have been part of a lot of lives and have done cakes and cookies to help with a lot of celebrations.

From Amanda: The photo above is of Kevin and Helen Askim, who has helped Kevin the past three years in the kitchen and with security.  Also, note that while I say Kevin is from Mott on ND Today, he’s actually from Dodge.