Waseca’s Ken Borgmann

The Waseca Sleigh and Cutter Festival is celebrating 75 years of winter spectaculars in 2025. A full schedule of contests, prizes, fireworks, food and much more begins Jan. 18 and continues through March 1. Ken Borgmann, who has led the committee which organizes the Sleigh and Cutter Festival since the early 1990s, is stepping down after this year.

Originally from Sauk Center, about an hour west of St. Cloud, Borgmann first heard of Waseca during a strike at the printing company he was working at up north. He filled a position at Brown Printing for about three months, then returned home. He recalls, however, that leadership at Brown Printing loved his work so much they wouldn’t stop calling him, so he ended up moving to Waseca in 1979. Borgmann and his wife Pug had married in 1965; their three children began attending Waseca schools and eventually graduated as Blue Jays. Monique lives in Waseca, Michon lives in White Bear Lake and Chad lives in Janesville. 

Borgmann, now 80, lives on about 22 acres along Snake Trail Drive. His involvement with Sleigh and Cutter began when his daughter, then a student at the University of Waseca, pointed out to him, “Sleigh and Cutter is falling apart, no one wants to take charge of it.” Looking into it himself, Borgmann concluded, “There wasn’t a lot of community involvement, same with the horse people, so I started to dig in. I asked the question, ‘Who comes to this and who supports it?’ 

“I went to the Rotary Club, spoke at one of their luncheons and gave them my vision. Afterward several businesses approached me and said, ‘We didn’t realize how much was involved.’ 

“We started the Frosty and Medallion contests, and everything has grown from there.” Borgmann was adamant about how important that first meeting was.  

Sadly, this will be Borgmann’s last year as leader of the 14-member Sleigh and Cutter committee.  Later this spring, he and Pug plan to move north to their hometown of Sauk Centre. “I’ve got a lot of family up there–cousins, extended family. So does my wife, and we want to go back.” A retiree for the past 18 years, he spent 26 years as a customer service manager for Brown Printing before the company closed. 

His replacement as head of the Sleigh and Cutter committee will be Scott Roemhildt. Jen Burt is Gambling Manager, Madeline Johnson Assistant Gambling Manager and Kelly Miller CEO.

Borgmann emphasizes he does not want any locals to think he doesn’t love their town. “Waseca’s support and friendship has been phenomenal. This town has been off-the-charts good to me: a lot of that has been because of Sleigh and Cutter, but not all.”  He says his wife always tells him, “You can’t walk down the street without saying hi to somebody.” He would like to point out how helpful Susan Eberline and Jolene Gunderman have been with Sleigh and Cutter.

Since his retirement at 62 years old, Borgmann has occupied his time both with Sleigh and Cutter and as a member of the Waseca County Sheriff's Posse. He recently lost a Quarter/Paint horse after 32 years and the sorrow could be heard in his voice. He says there’s never been a time in his life he hasn’t cared for animals or had pets. He also loves spending time outdoors.

To Borgmann’s knowledge, Waseca’s Sleigh and Cutter Festival is the longest running festival of its kind in the country. He reveals 2025 will feature the biggest fireworks show the event has ever sponsored, and says he’s grateful he gets to be a part of it–even if it is for the last time.