A long-standing Batesville tradition returns Thursday as the Kiwanis Club of Batesville hosts its annual Chubby Menard Pancake Day. The event will take place from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, located at 615 E. Main St., according to club President Andy Walmsley.
Tickets for the pancake breakfast are $6 and can be purchased from any Kiwanis member or at the door. Carryout options will be available. The meal includes pancakes, sausage patties, a carton of milk, and individually packaged syrup, butter, and utensils.
Although the exact year the event began remains unclear, it was named in 1972 after Chubby Menard, a memorable club president elected in 1939. Menard was known for fostering humor and motivation within the club, particularly through an unusual initiative involving an “attendance pig.” During his tenure, the club division with the lowest meeting attendance each month was tasked with caring for a live pig until the next attendance count. The participation incentive proved successful, boosting overall attendance. At the end of the year, the pig was butchered and donated to a children’s home in Morrilton.
Proceeds from Thursday’s event will help fund the Kiwanis Club’s work in supporting children and youth in the community. The club sponsors a variety of programs, including an elementary-level reading initiative, the Every Child a Swimmer program, and scholarships for Key Club members. Funds also benefit Kiwanis-affiliated school groups such as K-Kids, Builders Clubs, Key Clubs, and Circle K International (CKI) clubs.
The Kiwanis Club of Batesville holds regular meetings every Friday at noon at Tavolo Italian Ristorante, located at 3000 Jennings Lane in Pioneer Plaza.