My days in Hays, Kansas provided a wonderful experience from August 5-7, 2026 for the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia International Convention.
I was deeply impressed how the Ellis County Historical Society and the Volga German communities have embraced the celebration of 150th anniversary of the Volga Germans from Russia settlement in Ellis County, Kansas – “Unsere Leute Unsere Heimat.”
With the convention bus tour, I visited the Catholic churches at Liebenthal, Schoenchen and Victoria.
I was especially interested in visiting St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Schoenchen. Mike Werth gave an excellent presentation. Bishop Joseph Werth of Siberia, Russia visited Schoenchen in July 1995 to meet his Werth relatives. Bishop Werth joined the first Journey to the Homeland Tour in May 1996 to visit his ancestral Black Sea German villages near Odesa, Ukraine. His Werth family once lived in Schoenchen, Volga Region, Russia.
The highlight of my visit was the performance of "Josie’s Gift" at the impressive Performing Arts Center, Hays High School on August 6.
The play was a deeply emotional loving story of the Volga German pioneers who settled the prairie land of western Kansas. My appreciation to the director, the performers, and all involved in the play, "Josie’s Gift." This was truly a legendary historic event for Hays and Ellis County.
Finally, my congratulations to Sunflower Chapter of AHSGR for hosting the outstanding well organized 56th AHSGR International Convention.
With fond memories of my visit to Hays,
Michael M. Miller, Director Emeritus
Germans from Russia Heritage Collection
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, Fargo