Regan Buchholz can certainly tell a tall tale. As proof, the Bonduel man was just named the winner of the 2025 Burlington Liars’ Club contest.
According to Buchholz, “My parents were so poor that they had to bury Grandfather naked just so my dad had a suit to wear to the funeral.”
The retired letter carrier said it was only the third time he entered the contest.
“I’ve always had a good sense of humor,” Buchholz said. “I was sitting around, watching TV and thinking of something goofy or funny that people would get a kick out of.”
Winning came as a surprise.
“I was shocked when I opened the email,” he said. “Honorable mention would have been an honor itself.”
Not one to rest on his laurels, Buchholz already has a few ideas for entries in the 2026 contest.
“I didn’t want to enter everything at once,” he said. “One of them has to do with ice fishing.”
Buchholz grew up in the Bonduel area, moved to Green Bay for 11 years and then moved back to Bonduel. He was a city letter carrier in Green Bay for 34-plus years, retiring in 2020.
His retirement is now spent enjoying ice fishing, watching the grandkids on occasion, woodworking and traveling.
“It’s relaxing,” he said of retirement. “If you’re doing something and feel like quitting early, there’s always another day.”
According to its website, the Burlington Liars’ Club started as a joke in 1929.
A Burlington newspaper reporter wrote a story about how the “old timers” got together each New Year’s Day and lied for the championship of the city. He told a fellow reporter of his plan, and the story was “sprung” just before New Year’s.
They considered the story a good local joke; however, city editors shared it with wire services. The following December, the Associated Press and other news agencies began phoning Burlington to find out if the city’s annual contest would be repeated.
Letters began to trickle in from the four corners of the country commenting on the “contest.” They furnished the inspiration for a real contest instead of a phony one, national in scope, and the Burlington Liars’ Club was formed to carry it on.
LIES, LIES AND MORE LIES
The Burlington Liars’ Club is flooded with entries from around the country, but none were as good as that entered by Regan Buchholz, of Bonduel.
Receiving honorable mention, in no particular order, were the following entries.
“In spring 2025, I consulted a meteorologist, who in the past had correctly predicted the number and severity of the upcoming hurricane seasons for southwest Florida. His words were ominous: 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and six major hurricanes.
“When I saw him at the end of the season, I asked him why his prediction so badly missed the mark, since no hurricanes had reached Florida in 2025.
“He responded that the hurricanes were confused. They could not find the Gulf of Mexico.” — Dennis Lynch, Sarasota, Florida
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed dry eyes and several years ago began using eye drops pretty regularly. I’ve gotten so good at it I can now do it with my eyes closed.” — Thomas Steffy, Burlington
“I have to stop sending my lies to the Burlington Liars’ Club. I already have two pants on fire.” — Dale Wheelock, Delavan
“The intense heat from the less-filtered sun has been playing havoc with my garden. This year I have fried green tomatoes on the vine.” — Sandy Wagner, Burlington (granddaughter of Hubert “Pink” Schenning, one of the club’s founders)
“My brother went out jogging backwards and gained weight!” — Gerard Vail, Chicago (the club’s champion in 2021)
To enter the contest for 2026, email entries to championlies@gmail.com or mail them to The Burlington Liars Club, P.O. Box 156, Burlington, WI 53105. Be sure to include your name and address.
To become an official card-carrying member of the Burlington Liars’ Club, include $1 for each membership along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
