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NEWS RELEASE
DATE: September 8, 2006
You will not want to miss this great family fun weekend September 16 & 17, 2006. Located at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. In the Schenk building, learn the various German histories with speakers and demonstrators such as Music Makes the Family Tree Grow with Larry Weigel. Frank Jacobs will be showing a film of his recent trip of the Volga German Communities in South America; Norma Pipkin will be doing a skit on The Immigrant Woman. German cooking Making Grebbel with Betty Leiker and Delores Pfannenstiel. Jerry Schmidt with Home Sweet Home in Ellis County will be demonstrating and telling about his miniature building. Sunday afternoon, Joe Erbert will be demonstrating the Dulcimer and folk singer & guitar player Steve Parke will be entertaining. Soap Making will be demonstrated by Judy Walker.
Also in the Schenk building, you will find merchandise booths. Come in and see what the different booths have to offer. Don't forget to view the Miniature Buildings on display. On the grounds, you will find German food & beverage booths, crafts, and demonstrations. Other Craft booths will be located in the Commercial building (southwest of the Gold building). Other activities going on will be Kiderspiele (children's games); tractor pulls; threshing machine demos; and miniature horse cart rides. Check out Gold building for polka music; polka dancing, lessons & contest; crowning of the prince & princess; traditional wedding march. Sunday will be the Polka Mass in the Gold building. You can join in the Texas Hold 'Em Tournament and a German meal will be served in the Schenk building. And don’t forget the jam session late afternoon on Sunday. Bring a toy as we are also collecting for Toys for Tots, look for the large trash can marked with signs, in the middle of the Schenk building. Saturday hours are 9:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Sunday hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. . FREE ADMISSION. FREE PARKING. RV PARKING AVAILABLE.
NEWS RELEASE
DATE: September 7, 2005
Oktoberfest scheduled for September 17th & 18th
Hays Kansas – Organizers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest have announced that several new booths will be featured at the annual German celebration to be held at the Ellis County Fairgrounds on September 17th & 18th. New to the Oktoberfest this year will be a booth selling authentic German imported products! Sunell Koerner, owner of Hays City Mercantile, has been in contact with several distributors in Germany under the direction of a seasoned import store owner in the United States. A wide variety of German imports have been ordered from food to clothing to accessories. While these German items will be for sale throughout the year at the Hays City Mercantile located at 809 Main, this new line of German import products will first be unveiled at the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest.
Jeremy Dannebohm, Co-Chairman of the Oktoberfest applauded this announcement by saying, “The Hays City Mercantile is providing something to our community that is long overdue. As the German Capital of Kansas, it seems natural that we should have some sort of German import shop available for visitors. This is a win-win for everybody! A win for the Hays City Mercantile, a win for downtown, a win for the tourists and a win for the German People of Ellis County. I take great delight in announcing that this new product line will be unveiled during the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest September 17th & 18th as thousands of lovers of “all things German” will make their way to the Ellis County Fairgrounds for a weekend of German heritage unsurpassed in the region. As we continue to raise the bar of excellence for the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest, we stand behind Sunell Koerner and Ken Fitch, who are raising the bar for businesses of this city to have increased pride in what makes Hays so incredible, namely our rich German heritage.”
Messenger, a local bookstore and gift shop will feature Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI items in their booth. In addition to the books, t-shirts, Polka rosary CD’s and cassettes, other Papel souvenirs will be available including Papal Steins, Papal Portraits, books and Holy Cards. In April of 2005, Germans from all over the world rejoiced at the news of the election of the first German Pope in over 1,000 years. This year, the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest plans to commemorate Pope Benedict XVI at the Oktoberfest. Several hundred Papal Steins have already been sold and more will be available for purchase at the Oktoberfest. These steins can also be purchase on-line.
In addition, St. Fidelis Parish of Victoria will have a booth featuring rosaries, cookbooks, cathedral throw rugs and St. Fidelis souvenirs. There will also be approximately 40 other booths providing crafts, food, refreshments and homemade products. Food booths will include Kettle corn, galuushkies, baked bread and sweet treats, funnel cakes, brats, BBQ beef sandwiches, green bean and dumpling soup, BBQ ribs and the traditional favorite – beirocks. Local clubs and organizations will have German sausage, homemade jellies and jams, kuchen, spitzbuben, sauerkraut, noodles and beans, cinnamon rolls, smoked meats, and dumplings.
Activities begin with polka music by Joe Dolezal at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. The opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. include the singing of the National Anthem by Margie Broeckelman from Oakley.
A tractor pull is always good family entertainment and it was added to the schedule again this year. On site registration will be held from 9-11 a.m. with the event to begin at 12 noon on Saturday. All vintage tractors from 1959 and older will be allowed to pull with division I, II & III rules applying. Classes will be from 3500-10,000 pounds in 500 increments. The entry fee will be $5 per hook and all money will be paid to the 1st and 2nd place in each respective class. There will also be an antique car, truck, tractor and machinery show on both days. Antique engines and demonstrations of antique machinery, tractors and farm equipment will be held throughout the weekend. A popular event last year was the wheat threshing demonstration. This year a 1940’s vintage John Deere 22 x 36 thresher powered by a John Deere 1948-D will be full operation on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The wheat comes from the Mel Sauer farm near Antonino and horse drawn teams will bring the bound wheat in for threshing. For more information about the tractor pull, antique machinery show or wheat threshing call Larry Dreiling – 785-650-1111 or John Dreiling – 785-650-7728.
The polka bands featured for the two-day festival are Olmar Wittman & the Polkaneers, Country Dutchman, Joe Dolezal, The Herrmanettes and the Ed Pfeifer Band. The bands will play continuous music throughout the celebration.
A polka mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday September 18th at the Gold building located at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. In the traditional polka mass celebration, all the songs and hymns will be preformed in the familiar polka style of music. Mass will be celebrated by Father Peter Mies, OFM, Cap, a native of Catharine, Kansas and now doing missionary work in Papua New Guinea.
An event open to all ages is the skillet throwing competition. This will be held on Sunday at 2 pm. Competitors will see how far they can throw an old cast iron skillet in a fun event dating back to when the women of the home needed to keep the man of the house in line.
For more information about the 4th annual Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest, contact: Leo Dorzweiler 785-625-5394 or Jeremy Dannebohm 785-259-4449
NEWS RELEASE
DATE: August 25, 2005
Oktoberfest will include Wuensching and cooking classes
Hays Kansas – A traditional Deutsche Oktoberfest is planned for September 17-18, 2005 at the Ellis County Fair Grounds and The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association has added several new events this year including Wuensching. The custom of Wuensching (Wishing) on New Years Day is one of the most popular holiday traditions among the Volga German people. It was a day of enjoyment for the entire family and in preparation for the fun day, the children went to bed early on New Years eve because the next morning, even before sun-up, the children began making their rounds to aunts, uncles and neighbors in their community. The children had to wuensch the New Year’s Day wish in German, because if it was said in English, that did not count. After reciting the German wish for a long life, good health, peace and harmony, eternal happiness after death and a Happy New Year, the response would be Ses Wuenschich dir aach. (I wish you the same) Children ages 5 to 15 can earn a prize at the Oktoberfest by learning this traditional New Years Day wish and coming to the Schenk building from 1-3 pm on Saturday September 17th to Weunsch (in German) for Richard Dorzweiler, event coordinator.
Ich wuensch euch ion Glueckseliges neues Jahr, langes Leben, Gesundthelt Friede und Eingkeit, noch Eurem Tot, die ewige, Gluckseligkeit!
Another new event will feature hands-on cooking lessons. Ellis County German cooks will teach the participants how to make recipes that were handed down from their ancestors. Norma Dorzweiler will have a Bierock making demonstration. Bierocks are a local favorite food and those attending the free class may want to get dough on their hands as they help prepare, shape and bake these delicious meat pockets. Hertzen (hearts) cookie making demonstration, will be a class taught by Bernie Schumacher. Participants will help mix, shape and bake these famous heart shaped cinnamon delicacies. Norma Dorzweiler will also show how to make Green bean dumpling soup. This delicious meatless soup was a staple for Fridays and days of fasting in most German households. Another well know German cook is
Betty Froelich, with the Gorham Café. She and her daughter Dee will be showing how to prepare some of their favorite dishes. Samples from all of the cooking demonstrations will be available.
Other activities will include: a polka dance contest and selection of the 2006 prince and Princess, wheat threshing demonstration, a laundry demonstration, Texas Hold Em and Black Jack tournaments, skillet throwing competition and a tractor pull.
For more information about the 4th annual Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest, contact: Leo Dorzweiler 785-625-5394 or Jeremy Dannebohm 785-259-4449
NEWS RELEASE
DATE: September 3, 2004
Oktoberfest adds new events
Hays Kansas - Organizers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest have announced that several new events will be featured at the annual German celebration to be held at the Ellis County Fairgrounds on September 18th and 19th. New to the Oktoberfest this year will be a Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting, Quilting demonstrations, a 10k Volksmarch, free horse drawn hayrack rides, Stimmhafter Wettkampf (media competition) and Tough Trucks sponsored by the Ellis County Fair Board.
Activities begin with the Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 9:30 am followed by polka music by Joe Dolezal on Saturday. The opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. include the German Singers, the official welcome and tapping of the keg to start the two-day festival.
A new activity this year is the Stimmhafter Wettkampf, which translated to English means media competition. "This will be a great way for the local and regional media to get involved with our fest," said Leo Dorzweiler, co-chair of the Oktoberfest. "They (the media) have done a great job of reporting on our festival and have interviewed us for news stories about how we promote our German Heritage. We wanted to take the opportunity this year to provide an official invitation to the media to join us, celebrate with our polka music and be involved in these fun German games," explained Dorzweiler. The idea to have a Stimmhafter Wettkampf, came about this spring to extend an invitation to the local and regional media personalities to participate in the dancing, games and contests such as the skillet throwing competition. Media outlets including the local newspapers, TV and radio stations have signed up to represent their company and compete in several old style German games. The two person teams include journalists, radio station personalities and TV reporters. Although the games will be created to have fun and enjoy the festivities, there is an incentive for each media team to win as many contests as they can. Prizes will be awarded and a traveling trophy will be presented to the winning team. The winning media team will also earn the bragging rights as the champion and title of #1 Stimmhafter Wettkampf winner for their company.
Approximately 50-60 booths will be providing crafts, food, refreshments and homemade German products. Vendors from around western Kansas have signed up to attend the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest. Food booths will include galuskies, baked bread and sweet treats, funnel cakes, brats, BBQ beef sandwiches, green bean and dumpling soup, BBQ ribs and the traditional favorite, beirocks. Local clubs and organizations will have German sausage, homemade jellies and jams, kuchen, spitzbuben, sauerkraut, noodles and beans, cinnamon rolls, smoked meats, and dumplings.
A tractor pull is always good family entertainment and it was added to the schedule last year. On site registration will be held from 1-3 pm with the event to begin at 3:30 pm on Saturday. All vintage tractors from 1959 and older will be allowed to pull with division I with 18" maximum hitch height rules applying. Classes will be from 2000-10,000 pounds in 500 increments. The entry fee will be $5 per hook and all money will be paid to the 1st and 2nd place in each respective class. There will also be an antique car, truck, tractor and machinery show on both days. Antique engines and demonstrations of antique machinery, tractors and farm equipment will be held throughout the weekend. A popular event last year was the wheat threshing demonstration. This year a 1940's vintage John Deere 22 x 36 thresher powered by a John Deere 1948-D owned by Lawrence J. Dreiling will be in full operation on both days at 1 p.m. The wheat comes from a local Ellis County farm, and horse drawn teams will bring the bound wheat in for threshing. For more information about the tractor pull, antique machinery show or wheat threshing call Larry Dreiling - 785-650-1111 or John Dreiling - 785-650-7728.
The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association will be providing shuttle bus transportation from the parking lot to the front door of the Schenk building for those who might find it difficult to walk through the parking lot. Drivers may drop off senior citizens at the festival grounds and then catch the shuttle bus from the parking lot. Golf cart rides will also be available for those that need assistance in getting around the festival grounds.
The polka bands featured for the two-day festival are Olmar Wittman & the Polkaneers, Country Dutchman, Joe Dolezal, The Hermanetts and the Ed Pfeifer Band. The bands will play continuous music throughout the celebration. Polka dance lessons will be held on Saturday at 5 p.m.
A polka mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday September 19th at the Gold building located at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. In the traditional polka mass celebration, all the songs and hymns will be preformed in the familiar polka style of music. Mass will be celebrated by Father Earl Befort.
Other activities for Sunday include: 1 p.m. Dance contest and selection of the 2005 Prince and Princess, 1:30 pm horseshoe tournament, 2 p.m. Kids games and skillet throwing competition, 3 p.m. Tough Trucks.
For more information about the 1st annual Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest, contact John Smith 785-628-1040 or Leo Dorzweiler 785-625-5394.
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PRESS RELEASE
DATE: August 3, 2004
Success of Oktoberfest creates problems
Hays, Kansas - Too many people. That is a good problem to have for only the 3rd annual Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest. Members of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association had to make some tough decisions recently to accommodate the growing crowds that have turned out for the annual Oktoberfest which will be held on September 18-19th. The problem is with overcrowding in the Schenk building at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. It is one of the most popular locations for the crowds to gather because of the live polka bands and dancing. The Sunday morning polka mass has also been held in the Schenk building. It fills up to capacity and overflows outside the building because so many people want to attend the special mass service that includes songs and hymns preformed in the familiar polka style of music. "We just out grew the capacity of Schenk building in only two years," said Leo Dorzweiler, Co-Chairman of the Oktoberfest. "There is plenty of room at the fairgrounds for everyone to enjoy the fest, but the packed dance floor and seating inside the Schenk building needed to be looked into". A special meeting was held to discuss the options and consider switching the polka dancing and live bands to the Gold Building and relocating the craft booths to the Schenk building. Both buildings are basically the same size, but the layout of the Gold building allows more usable and open square footage to be gained for the dance floor and seating for the polka mass. "We had to decide something quick before our brochures went to print and to let all of the vendors and bands know that we were trying to improve the situation with the crowded dance floor," indicated John Smith, Chairman of the association. "I'm sure the dance floor will still be packed even in the Gold Building," commented Dorzweiler, "People just want to dance! But at least we can try to accommodate more people inside the Gold building. It is a great problem to have. So many families want to come out and enjoy the Oktoberfest".
Polka music will begin in the Gold building at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday Sept 18th with the Joe Dolezal polka band. Craft vendors will be set up in the Schenk building at 10:30 a.m. and will include homemade items, baked goods and various arts and crafts. The Opening Ceremonies and German Singers kickoff the festival at 10 a.m. followed by the crowning of the 2004 Prince and Princess and a traditional wedding march at 1 p.m.
A polka mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the Gold Building. Other activities for Sunday include a dance contest, horseshoe tournament, skillet throwing and wheat threshing.
For more information about the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest, contact John Smith 785-628-1040 or Leo Dorzweiler 785-625-5394.
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PRESS RELEASE
Date: July 29, 2004
Media competition planned for Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest
Hays, Kansas - Mike Corn wins the skillet throwing competition and the Hays Daily News team are crowned champions of the 2004 Stimmhafter Wettkampf These could be the headlines following the 3rd annual Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest as the result of a new event that organizers of the annual German festival are planning for the 2004 Oktoberfest. Midwest Deutsche Association members are adding a new game to the German Oktoberfest to be held on September 18-19, 2004 at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. It is appropriately named Stimmhafter Wettkampf which translated to English means media competition. "This will be a great way for the local and regional media to get involved with our fest," said Leo Dorzweiler, co-chair of the Oktoberfest. "They (the media) have done a great job of reporting on our festival and have interviewed us for news stories about how we promote our German Heritage. We wanted to take the opportunity this year to provide an official invitation to the media to join us, celebrate with our polka music and be involved in these fun German games," explained Dorzweiler. The idea to have a Stimmhafter Wettkampf came about this spring to extend an invitation to the local and regional media personalities to participate in the dancing, games and contests such as the skillet throwing competition. The basic concept is to have several media outlets including the local newspapers, TV and radio stations form a two person team to represent their company and compete in four or five old style German games. The two person teams would be made up of journalists, radio station personalities and TV reporters. Although the games will be created to have fun and enjoy the festivities, there is an incentive for each media team to win as many contests as they can. Prizes will be awarded and a traveling trophy will be presented to the winning team. The winning media team will also earn the bragging rights as the champion and title of #1 Stimmhafter Wettkampf for their company.
The 2004 Oktoberfest celebration will be geared for families, adults and kids and should have a little something for everyone. Activities will include polka bands, German storytelling, a horse shoe tournament, tractor pull, German singers and craft booths. Several dozen vendors and exhibitors are anticipated to be showing their crafts and homemade items.
Of course, a traditional Oktoberfest would not be complete without the scrumptious food booths and good German cooking. Local clubs and organizations will have German brats, funnel cakes, sausages, bierocks, homemade jellies and jams, kuchen, spitzbuben, sauerkraut, green bean and noodle soup, cinnamon rolls, smoked meats, and dumplings.
For more information about the3rd annual Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest, contact John Smith 785-628-1040 or Leo Dorzweiler 785-625-5394.
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PRESS RELEASE
Date: June 15, 2004
Booth space available for Oktoberfest
Hays, Kansas - Organizers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest invite civic clubs, community organizations, church groups, and other vendors to reserve booth space for the 3rd annual Oktoberfest to be held on September 18-19, 2004 at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. Booth space is available for arts and craft vendors, homemade items, baked goods, and other products. To request additional information about booth size, fees, etc.. or to reserve a booth, call 785-625-5394.
Church groups or other vendors wanting to reserve a booth to serve food and drink, should contact Leo Dorzweiler 785-625-5394.
The 2004 Oktoberfest will be a family celebration of the local German heritage. Polka bands, German storytelling, a horse shoe tournament, tractor pull, games, German singers and a polka mass are several of the activities planned.
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PRESS RELEASE
DATE: September 5, 2003
New events scheduled for Oktoberfest
Hays Kansas - Organizers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest have announced that several new events will be featured at the annual German celebration to be held at the Ellis County Fairgrounds on September 20th and 21st. New to the Oktoberfest this year will be a tractor pull, strudel making demonstrations, fashion show, antique truck and tractor exhibit, and a Genealogy room with German books and related material.
Activities begin with polka music by Joe Dolezal at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. The opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. include the Singing of the National Anthem by Debi Moore - Mrs. Kansas International, a German welcome by Michael Augustin from Leonberg, Germany and a ceremony which will officially crown Ellis County as the German Capital of Kansas. Dr. William Keel from Lawrence, Kansas will do a Schnitzelbank and the Hays High International Club will sing traditional German Songs. Polka music by The Herrmanetts will follow the tapping of the keg to start the two-day festival.
A new activity this year is the Genealogy and German book room located in The Schenk building. Genealogists and computers will be available for people to research ancestry. Many books, genealogical publications and German material will be on hand. At 1 p.m. on Saturday in the Commercial Exhibit Building will be a strudel making demonstration. Irene Zerfas and other ladies of Bukovina German heritage will demonstrate making Apple Strudel, a German delicacy that was passed down through the generations. They will demonstrate how they roll, form and wave a piece of dough into a razor thin blanket, then slice and fold in the apple mix.
A Fashion Show featuring the attire of early day German pioneers will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday in the Commercial Exhibit Building. The Honas family wedding dress, over a hundred years old and brought from Bukovina, Austria, will be displayed. Wedding dresses and Sunday clothing from the Rathbun family worn by the Bukovina Germans at the turn of the century will be modeled and displayed. Other clothing of the period will be presented from the Ellis County Historical Society collection. One modern entry is a formal Romanian ladies outfit worn today in the former Bukovina crownland, now a part of Romania.
New kids games will be provided that actually date back to the 1880's. A Wuensching (wishing) booth and other traditional Volga-German games will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. A new event open to all ages is the skillet throwing competition. Competitors will see how far they can throw an old cast iron skillet in a fun event dating back to when the women of the home needed to keep the man of the house in line.
A tractor pull is always good family entertainment and it was added to the schedule this year. On site registration will be held from 9-11 a.m. with the event to begin at 12 noon on Saturday. All vintage tractors from 1959 and older will be allowed to pull with division I, II & III rules applying. Classes will be from 3500-10,000 pounds in 500 increments. The entry fee will be $5 per hook and all money will be paid to the 1st and 2nd place in each respective class. There will also be an antique car, truck, tractor and machinery show on both days. Antique engines and demonstrations of antique machinery, tractors and farm equipment will be held throughout the weekend. A popular event last year was the wheat threshing demonstration. This year a 1940¡¦s vintage John Deere 22 x 36 thresher powered by a John Deere 1948-D will be full operation on both days at 3 p.m. The wheat comes from the Mel Sauer farm near Antonino and horse drawn teams will bring the bound wheat in for threshing. For more information about the tractor pull, antique machinery show or wheat threshing call Larry Dreiling - 785-650-1111 or John Dreiling - 785-650-7728.
Approximately 40-50 booths will be providing crafts, food, refreshments and homemade German products. Vendors from around western Kansas have signed up to attend the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest. Food booths will include Kettle corn, galuskies, baked bread and sweet treats, funnel cakes, brats, BBQ beef sandwiches, green bean and dumpling soup, BBQ ribs and the traditional favorite, beirocks. Local clubs and organizations will have German sausage, homemade jellies and jams, kuchen, spitzbuben, sauerkraut, noodles and beans, cinnamon rolls, smoked meats, and dumplings.
The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association will be providing shuttle bus transportation from the parking lot to the front door of the Schenk building for those who might find it difficult to walk through the parking lot. Drivers may drop of senior citizens at the festival grounds and then they catch the shuttle bus from the parking lot. Golf cart rides will also be available for those that need assistance in getting around the festival grounds.
The polka bands featured for the two-day festival are Olmar Wittman & the Polkaneers, Country Dutchman, Joe Dolezal, The Hermanetts and the Ed Pfeifer Band. The bands will play continuous music throughout the celebration. "We had such a good time with all the local polka bands getting together for the 125th Volga German Celebration, that we wanted to build on that," said Leo Dorzweiler. "It provides a good old fashioned celebration that families, senior citizens and the younger generation will be able to come out and enjoy. If you have never learned how to polka dance, this festival would be a great opportunity to learn". Polka dance lessons will be held on Saturday at 5 p.m.
A polka mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday September 21st at the Schenk building located at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. In the traditional polka mass celebration, all the songs and hymns will be preformed in the familiar polka style of music. Mass will be celebrated by Father Kevin Weber.
Other activities for Sunday include: 11 a.m. Horseshoe Tournament, 11:30 a.m. Walker Army Airfield presentation by Steve Arthur, 1 p.m. Dance contest and selection of the 2004 Prince and Princess; 2 p.m. Kids games and skillet throwing competition, 3:30 p.m. wheat threshing demonstration.
For more information about the 2nd annual Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest, contact John Smith 785-628-1040 or Leo Dorzweiler 785-625-5394.
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: August 25, 2003
National German organizations recognize Ellis County as the official German Capital of Kansas
Hays, Kansas - Ellis County has always had a strong German Heritage and a history of German traditions that dates back to 1876. Now the German Heritage of the Ellis County communities will become more well known by other residents of Kansas and visitors to the Sunflower State. On September 20th, a ceremony will be held during the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest that will proclaim Ellis County as the official German Capital of Kansas. This important event in the history of Ellis County is scheduled to coincide with the opening ceremonies of the annual Oktoberfest. Local politicians, community leaders and officers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association will attend the ceremony that will begin at 10 a.m.
Two national German organizations have recently recognized Ellis County as the German Capital of Kansas. The Germans from Russia Heritage Society and the Bukovina Society of the Americas have provided letters of support and certificates to endorse this title for Ellis County. In a letter of support from Aloys Feist, the president of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society, it was noted, "The annual ethnic German events and community celebrations far exceed those of any other counties in Kansas". The Germans from Russia Heritage Society is a national organization with headquarters in Bismark, North Dakota. Its purpose is to bring people together who are interested in discovering the common history unique to Germanic Russian ethnic groups and to preserve the many elements of their rich heritage. The society serves its membership in various ways including educational and social opportunities, research, publications and historical preservation. Membership information is available by contacting the society at GRHS - 1125 West Turnpike Ave - Bismark, ND 58501-8115.
Many of the citizens of Ellis County and surrounding communities are descendants of German immigrants who came from the Volga River region of Russia. These settlers were people who migrated from Germany to Russia following the end of the Seven Years War in 1763. In October and November of 1875, many of these immigrants left their villages along the Volga River and traveled to Saratov, Russia to begin their journey to America. The first Volga Germans arrived in Hays in the middle of February 1876. The communities of Catherine, Herzog, Pfeifer, Munjor, and Schoenchen were settled during the spring and summer of 1876.
Another group of German immigrants arrived in Ellis, Kansas from what was known as Bukovina, which is currently part of Romania and the Ukraine. These settlers were people who migrated from Germany to Bukovina in the late 1700's and early 1800's. After one to two generations of living in Bukovina, land became scarce and many of the German immigrants came to the United States as well as Canada and South America. In 1886, the first Bukovina Germans arrived in Ellis, Kansas and acted as scouts for a larger group that settled there in 1887.
The Bukovina Society of the Americas has also provided letters of support and certificates endorsing the ceremony that will proclaim Ellis County as the German Capital of Kansas. "We whole-heartedly endorse this activity for the continued promotion of our German traditions, music, food and language for future generations to be proud of". The Board of Directors of the Bukovina Society will attend the opening ceremonies to sign and present the certificates to the officers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association.
The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest is an annual celebration of German traditions, food, music and family fun. Festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 20th. The polka music of Joe Dolezal will kick off the celebration. At 10 a.m., the traditional German welcome, tapping of the keg and the German Capital of Kansas ceremony will take place. Admission to attend the two day celebration is free and includes activities such as: wheat threshing demonstrations, a fashion show, polka dance lessons, horseshoe tournament, skillet throwing competition, strudel making and a polka mass.
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PRESS RELEASE
DATE: April 7, 2003
Ellis County to become official German Capital of Kansas
Hays, Kansas - Shortly after the final presentations and polka songs were played to conclude the activities for the German Heritage Days the weekend of April 4-6th, invitations were mailed to the newly elected commissioners in Hays, Ellis, Victoria and other politicians to attend a special ceremony proclaiming Ellis County as the "German Capital of Kansas". Various city and county officials as well as state representatives have been invited to participate in this event which will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2003. Ellis County and the city of Hays will be proclaimed the official "German Capital of Kansas". The ceremony will include local politicians, members of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association as well as several VIP guests that plan to attend the 2nd annual Oktoberfest. An official proclamation and ceremonial signing of the 2003 Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest certificate will be held prior to the traditional tapping of the keg.
There are several attractions, museums and four or five festivals or events that promote the German traditions and polka music of Ellis County. Because Hays and the other communities in Ellis County are well known for their German Heritage, organizers of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association felt that the distinction of being "The German Capital of Kansas" would be a wonderful honor to help kick off the Oktoberfest celebration. This title will not only help with the publicity of the Deutsche Oktoberfest, but other groups that organize German events and polka festivals in Ellis County will be able to use this promotional distinction to help generate exposure for their events. Many other towns in Kansas promote their heritage to help advertise their communities, and this will allow the local museums, city officials and even businesses to add one more marketing tool to help spotlight the communities in Ellis County.
The Oktoberfest celebration will begin at 10 a.m. on September 20th and continue through Sunday, September 21st with the final polka band jam session from 4-6 p.m.
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PRESS RELEASE
DATE: September 6, 2002
Hays Kansas - A traditional Deutsche Oktoberfest is planned for September 21-22, 2002 at the Ellis County Fair Grounds. The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association is organizing this first annual festival. Individuals from surrounding communities have joined together to organize an Oktoberfest celebration that will be geared more for families and kids but should have a little something for everyone. The festival kicks off on Saturday at 10 a.m. with Opening Ceremonies and German Singers. A horseshoe tournament is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. followed by the crowning of the 2002 Prince and Princess and a traditional wedding march at 1 p.m.
Other activities will include polka bands, German story telling, games for the kids, German singers and craft booths. Several dozen vendors and exhibitors are anticipated to be showing their crafts and homemade items.
Of course a traditional Oktoberfest would not be complete with out the food booths and good German cooking. Local clubs and organizations will have German brats, funnel cakes, sausage, bierocks, homemade jellies and jams, kuchen, spitzbuben, sauerkraut, green bean and noodle soup, cinnamon rolls, smoked meats, and dumplings.
The polka bands featured for the two-day festival are Olmar Wittman & the Polkaneers, Country Dutchman, Hermanetts and the Ed Pfeifer Band. The bands will play continuous music throughout the celebration. "We had such a good time with all the local polka bands getting together for the 125th Volga German Celebration, that we wanted to build on that," said Leo Dorzweiler. "It provides a good old fashioned celebration that families, senior citizens and the younger generation will be able to come out and enjoy. If you have never learned how to polka dance, this festival would be a great opportunity to learn". Polka dance lessons will be held on Saturday at 5 p.m.
A polka mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday September 22, 2002 at the Schenk building located at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. In the traditional polka mass celebration, all the songs and hymns will be preformed in the familiar polka style of music.
Other activities for Sunday include: 1 p.m. Dance contest and selection of the 2003 Prince and Princess; 2:30 p.m. - corn shelling demonstration;
3 p.m. - wheat threshing demonstration.
For more information about the 1st annual Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest, contact John Smith 785-628-1040 or Leo Dorzweiler 785-625-5394.
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PRESS RELEASE
DATE: July 24, 2002
Hays Kansas - The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association have finalized plans for a Polka Mass that will held during the 1st annual Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest. The polka mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday September 22, 2002 at the Schenk building located at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. In the traditional polka mass celebration, all the songs and hymns will be preformed in the familiar polka style of music. Arrangements have been made to have the local polka band Country Dutchman play for this mass. They are a 6 piece band that includes musicians Ray Basgall from LaCrosse, Jerry Brungardt-Garden City, Harold Dorzweiler-Catherine, Lon Palmer- Hoisington, John Stetinger and Mike Stetinger both from Great Bend. The mass will be celebrated by Kevin Weber from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church-Hays. The Catherine choir will be singing the hymns. This is the first time a polka mass has been scheduled in conjunction with an Oktoberfest in Hays. Members of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association felt it was important to plan a polka mass with this festival because the original German immigrants to this area were a deeply religious group. Much of the German heritage that is passed on today, still has very close ties to the church and the religious customs brought over with the early pioneers that built the beautiful churches in the surrounding communities. For more information about the 1st annual Midwest Deutsch Oktoberfest, contact Leo Dorzweiler 785-625-5394.
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