By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Food has always been a big part of Oktoberfest in Hays. But this year, big food will also be a feature as the event looks to create the "world's largest bierock" during the 2022 celebration.
"We kicked around different items that may create some interest or fun, like a brat eating contest," said Tom Bird, Oktoberfest vendor committee chair. "But when I started researching bierocks and found that it was more specific to the Volga Germans, in particular western Kansas ... I thought, well, that would be unique."
Key to the effort was finding a sponsor to help take on the cost of creating the monster meal.
After searching for several years, Bird said this year, Hometown Chevy Dealers are making the effort possible.
During the event, they will also be showcasing some of the Chevy 2023 lineup.
Area dealers will distribute 300 tickets to give out for the event. Bird said it was essential to find an event that adds something new to Oktoberfest and draws more people — and partnering with area dealers should do just that.
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"We didn't want the bierock to take away from other vendors that are at Oktoberfest to take away from their food," Bird said, adding they wanted to bring "in a whole new group of people."
Highlighting the bierock, a billboard on I-70 between Hays and Salina is already promoting the event.
What is a bierock?
"The bierock is unique to the Volga Germans," Bird said. With that heritage, it has found a second home across Kansas and is often tied to German settlements in the state.
The savory cabbage and beef-filled yeast roll is closely tied to other dishes like pierogi and fleischkuekle, but remains a symbol of the German heritage engrained in Ellis County, especially around Oktoberfest.
"I was trying to figure out in years past you know, going by some of the vendors that made bierocks, how many are actually sold down there," Bird said.
With on-site and take-away, he calculated that 15,000 to 20,000 bierocks are made and sold for Oktoberfest, many as organizational fundraisers.
But despite their popularity, the close ties to the Volga German heritage limit the reach of the local favorite, which also played into the decision to attempt to create the world's largest.
"There's no provenance on anybody trying the world's largest or large bierock," Bird said. "So we are the first ones."
Being the first attempt allows the group to choose the size of the effort, he said.
"We're just making the claim to see if anybody answers it," Bird said. "We'll make the first claim and see if anybody challenges it."
He also noted that the effort would not result in an official result from an organization like Guinness World Records, as doing so requires significant investment.
But record or not, it will be a massive endeavor. Based on the number of tickets to be given out, he figured the bierock would come in at over 125 pounds.
"It'll be big enough to sack 300 servings," Bird said.
Tackling the attempt is local restauranteur and Oktoberfest board member, Philip Kuhn.
"When I first got the idea, you know, we kind of talked about it and I said, 'You think this is possible?' and so we discussed a little bit," Bird said. "Instead of trying to cook it down there on-site, he's got real big commercial ovens at The Press, that he's able to put it in, and then we'll we will transfer it down there and then reveal it."
For more about the 2022 Oktoberfest, visit oktoberfesthays.com.