Stiftungsfestivities traces its roots back to the Bethel versus St. John's game on October 27, 2001.  Johnnie Red, a veteran poster on D3Football.com, decided to host a cookout at the south end of the field, left of the scoreboard next to the Annex building in Science Lot 1.  Armed with a small Weber Grill, some utensils and a cooler full of meat, Johnnie Red filled the grill with burgers.  It wasn't until those in attendance took their first bites that they realized they were part of something special.

The meat had this savory sausage taste to it.  Like nothing anyone had ever tasted before.

"What kind of meat is this," people asked?

"It's called Stiftungsfest,"  Johnnie Red replied. "It's from a small meat market in Young America, Minnesota." 

Some more people walked by and tasted the burgers.  There was no doubt this was the beginning of something special.  Word of future gatherings spread on the MIAC board for future gatherings.  Johnnie Red brought the meat and everyone else brought other fixings.  

The tailgate gatherings began to grow, based on the taste of the burger and the comraderie of the attendees.  After many successful tailgates in Collegeville, Johnnie Red took his burger on the road.  His Stiftungsfest burger made its way to tailgates in McMinnville, Oregon, Tacoma, Washington, Salem, Virginia and Eau Claire Wisconsin.

In 2004, the term Stiftungsfestivities was coined by, of all people, a Bethel fan.  Johnnie Red, torn between liking the name and disliking anything Bethel related, bit his lip and accepted Stiftungsfestivities as the new name of his tailgate.  A banner was created and can be seen at every tailgate.