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St. Louis Front Page P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com To advertise, contact: advertising@slfp.com |
Wurstfest Celebrates Hermann's History of Sausage-Making by Betty Magrath, SLFP.com photos by Bob Moore, SLFP.com HERMANN, MO, (SLFP.com), March 23, 2003 - The popular German festival, Wurstfest, sponsored by the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce, reaffirms Hermann as the "Sausage-Making Capital of Missouri". The two-day event, March 22 - 23, highlighted 160-year history of sausage making in this historic town on the Missouri River. Wurstfest began 24 years ago in Hermman as an event to promote the traditional sausage-making of the German residents. Patty Held-Uthlaut, director of public relations, Stone Hill Winery, noted that the festivities now features six local wineries and area shops and museums offering craft demonstrations. "We have a competition with amateurs and professionals who enter their sausages," stated Held-Uthlaut, in an interview. "This year, we had over 200 entries, which are being judged today at the Hermannhof Winery. Here, at the Stone Hill Winery, we have vendors who handing out samples of their gourmet sausages. You can probably taste over a hundred different types." The warm spring weather and tantalizing aroma of delicacies such as Bratwurst, Leberwurst, Schwartenmagen and Sommer Sausage drew hundreds of visitors to Stone Hill Winery. Adjacent to the Pavilion, members of the Held family, owners of Stone Hill Winery, demonstrated old-time sausage-making skills. Families and friends sat at picnic tables on the grassy hills overlooking the town and listened to live German music. Traditions are important to the Germans. In an interview following a performance by the Rineland Wurstjaegers, accordionist Marilyn Loehnig, described Fastnacht. "On the night before Lent, called Fastnacht, children of the village would go from door to door asking for Fetkuechle, or donuts. The men of the village would ask for sausages," said Loehnig. The men would hang the sausages on a pole and go singing and dancing thru the streets, ending up at the town hall. There the women would prepare the sausages and other delicious German dishes for the entire community. Afterwards the people would dance the old German dances until midnight. It was the last big party until after Easter. Antique sausage-making and winemaking equipment were on display in the historic Fest Halle. For the second year, a Brat Knot-Tying Contest was held with participants, in two age categories, being judged on their ability to stuff a length of sausage and then tie it into a knot. An encore performance of the Wiener Dog Derby took place Sunday at the Dick Ochsner Ball Field in the Lower City Park, with Dachshunds competing in the "Derby Dash", fashion shows, and the "Longest Wiener Dog contest." 
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