Ellis County Historical Society
GRAINFIELD — Their journey brought them to Ellis County in 1876. But have you ever wondered where your cousins went when they left?
Chances are, some of them headed west and settled in Gove County!
As the original six Volga German villages in Ellis County grew, younger generations began looking for land and opportunities to build lives of their own. Farms could only be divided so many times, and Kansas offered something their ancestors had not known in Russia—the freedom to purchase land according to their means and build a future for their families.
Carrying the same faith, traditions, and determination (some might call it stubbornness!) that brought their ancestors across the ocean, these families spread across western Kansas.
New communities took root in Rush, Trego, Ness, Gove, Logan, Sheridan, Rooks, Graham, Scott, and Lane counties. Towns such as (Buffalo) Park, Grainfield, Morland, Collyer, Grinnell, Angelus, and St. Peter became home to generations of Volga German families.
Although miles separated these communities, family ties remained strong. They shared the same traditions, enjoyed the same foods, celebrated together, and often shared the same family names.
What began with six villages grew into a homeland stretching across the Kansas plains.
Now, 150 years later, it’s time to bring the cousins together again!
One of the final celebrations of the Volga German Sesquicentennial year will honor that westward journey and the communities these families built. And what better way to celebrate than with good food, lively polka music, old friends, new acquaintances, and perhaps a few cousins you haven’t met yet?
Don’t let the name fool you! This celebration is much more than beer tasting and dancing!
Guests can enjoy live polka music, sample specialty beers, visit with friends and family, and celebrate the traditions that have connected generations of Volga Germans.
And, of course, no Volga German gathering would be complete without a whole lot of authentic German food!
The $25 admission includes a German food buffet, featuring a delicious assortment of traditional family favorites.
The menu is still being finalized, but there’s already plenty to tempt your taste buds. Guests can look forward to GCDC’s famous bierocks (German stuffed rolls), Grun Bohna und Kneebble Suppe (green bean dumpling soup), Deutsch Kartoffelsalat (German potato salad), and the Ellis County Historical Society’s famous Spitzbuben jam cookies.
And that’s just the beginning! The 2023 event featured 20 different food items, and organizers hope to offer another generous assortment of traditional dishes this year. If time permits, frozen bierocks will also be available to purchase by the dozen.
Beer enthusiasts can enjoy an optional tasting flight of four specialty beers for just $5 additional. A variety of regular beers will also be available for purchase. Water, coffee, and tea will be provided.
Grandma’s Recipe Deserves a Place at the Table!
Do you have a favorite family German recipe? Maybe Grandma made a salad or dessert that everyone still talks about. Organizers would love to include it!
Families are invited to contribute a favorite dish to the celebration. Each dish will have a special sign recognizing the family and its recipe, making the buffet a celebration of the foods and traditions passed down through generations.
To share a family favorite, simply text Kay at 785-673-3039 to reserve a spot for your dish.
Advance Tickets Required by November 4
With so many delicious foods to prepare, organizers want to make sure there’s plenty for everyone. Tickets must be purchased in advance by Wednesday, November 4.
Ticket prices:
• $25 per person — Includes the German food buffet
• Additional $5 (optional) — Tasting flight of four specialty beers
• Regular beer available for purchase
• Water, coffee, and tea provided
To purchase advance tickets, simply TEXT:
GCDC: 785-673-3039
ECHS: 785-893-1431
And remember, you don’t have to be German, drink beer, know how to polka, or even love German food to have a wonderful time!
Come for the experience! Bring your friends, enjoy the food and music, share some laughter, reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and maybe discover a family connection or a new tradition along the way.
After all, our ancestors didn’t travel across an ocean and build communities across the Kansas plains just so we could become strangers!
The cousins are getting together again, and EVERYONE is invited!