Battle Creek, Michigan –
Defense Logistics Agency employees in the Breakfast Capital of the World gathered Dec. 10 for their annual Holiday Pancake Breakfast.
DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon partnered with Chief of Staff Peter Foreman to cook and serve the pancakes while Operations Director Arthur Welsh handed out the sausage links. When asked the secret to a perfect pancake, Cannon said “have Pete make them.” Foreman said his secret ingredient is “practice,” but others say he uses carbonated water to make them fluffy.
Karin DeGraw, the first employee served, confirmed Foreman’s pancakes were “fluffy and round” as she explained why she steered toward his batch. DeGraw said part of the advantage of being the first was “getting my choice between the chefs and all the best items.”
This was DeGraw’s first time attending the holiday breakfast. She said it was “absolutely great” and plans to return next year.
Among the tasty foods employees could choose to go with their pancakes were the cookies and pies from the bake off. Among the selections was a platter of “Big Mac & Fries” that were sandwich cookies made to look like the famous burgers paired with pretzels that looked like French fries. Jodi Ward earned second place for her not-so-fast food. First place went to Angie Wilbur for her chocolate peanut butter macaroons and Kayla DesVoignes’ “Gingerdoodles” took third place.
Like most Christmas meals there was pecan pie, but the awards for the cook off went to other kinds. First place went to Rachael Sosa for her peanut butter pie, Janine DesVoignes’ coconut cream pie was second and Kayla DesVoignes’ key lime pie was third.
The first place award for “Most Elegant” wreath went to Adrianne Gelletich and second place was awarded to April Stark.
Awards for the “Most Creative” wreath went to the Contracting Directorate staff, who took first place, and Lisa Petch took second place for her entry honoring those who are deployed. The first place wreath had features like a tire to give it the right shape, ornaments that reflected aspects of contracting, and the lyrics to holiday carol written by the staff, “The Twelve Months of the Fiscal Year.”
Cannon said he liked how staff used a tire to note recent challenges in tire recycling and how the carol lyrics have phrases like “11 drums of hazardous waste” instead of “11 lords a leaping.”
Before wrapping up the event, Cannon thanked everyone for coming and enjoying time together. He also encouraged them to enjoy time with family during the holidays and “be safe.”