It’s go big or go home for Todd Hepler, co-creator of the world’s largest ice cream sandwich, and after today, the second-largest cake in Minnesota.

But the Hy-Vee manager, community volunteer and father of six claimed another title recently: one of Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans (TOYM).

Hepler, who moved to Austin about a year ago from Cedar Falls, Iowa, claimed the same title in The Hawkeye State five years ago. However, he said, being a Minnesotan for such a short time makes this award even sweeter.

“To get the honor in Minnesota is even better, and only being in Austin a year, I really thought it was quite an honor,” said Hepler, 40. “I don’t feel like I’ve made that big of an impact yet.”

The Austin Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce) nominated him for the award, which he will accept Dec. 6 in Hastings, Minn. Although Hepler is not a Jaycee member, he has been active in Rotary, the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). He gives speeches to non-profit groups, and accomplished yet another big feat this month: riding 100 miles with his 13-year-old son in Whitefish, Mont. mountains for Ride to Cure, a JDRF fundraiser.

“We go out and have to raise $4,000, and they take us somewhere in the United States,” said Hepler, who has also completed a Death Valley ride for the organization.

Hepler serves on the Hy-Vee Board of Directors, where only five store directors in the company are chosen each year.

His store also participates in Austin Public Schools’ Character Counts program, which recognizes students who show good character.

At the end of every quarter, Hy-Vee will hand-pick 10 students from every grade to have a four-course “wow” meal with Hepler, he said.

“And get out of school, of course,” he added.

Hepler’s next “big” fundraiser, held this afternoon, is a 35-sheet marble cake to raise money for the first Hy-Vee Scholarship at Riverland Community College. Businesses could sponsor parts of the cake, and free will donations are accepted for pieces or entire sheets of the cake. The goal is to raise $5,000, which will be matched by another donor dollar for dollar. Hepler said the $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to one RCC student.

“It’s going to be quite fun to watch it be put together,” Hepler said on Wednesday. “We have got everything donated; there is zero cost to this.”

Hepler’s hand-made, 2,500-pound world’s largest ice cream sandwich — certified by the Guinness Book of World Records — was crafted by he and his co-workers in Dubuque, Iowa in 1999.

“No one has even tried to break it in 10 years,” he said.

Upon reflection of his fundraising ideas, Hepler admits some of them are a little out-of-the-box.

“I’ve done a lot of crazy things,” he said.

The TOYM program is Minnesota’s only statewide recognition program for outstanding young leaders, acknowledges the efforts of young leaders who have contributed to the state through service, thought and influence, community involvement or entrepreneurship.

Started in 1950, the TOYM has recognized the leadership of more than 400 young people, including Walter Mondale, Marlene Johnson, Dave Winfield, Tim Penny, Matt Blair, Joe Senser and Martin Sabo.

Nominees must be between ages 18 and 40; however, they are not required to be Jaycee members.

Hepler will now advance to the Ten Outstanding Young Americans competition, a prestigious honor that includes names like Joe Biden, Dick Cheney, Peyton Manning, Pat Boone, Bill Clinton, Ann Bancroft, Richard Nixon, Ross Perot and Elvis Presley.

In 2006, Craig Byram, an Austin Jaycees member and attorney at Hoversten, Johnson, Beckmann & Hovey LLP, was also named an Outstanding Young Minnesotan.