{"id":88164,"date":"2025-08-11T08:55:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T13:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=88164"},"modified":"2025-08-11T08:55:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T13:55:28","slug":"herzogfest-celebrates-volga-german-heritage-in-victoria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=88164","title":{"rendered":"Herzogfest celebrates Volga German heritage in Victoria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By RORY MOORE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Victoria hosted the 42nd Herzogfest over the weekend to celebrate Volga German heritage across Northwest Kansas.  The family event is named after Herzog, the town that Volga German settlers founded upon arriving in 1876, and has taken place annually since 1982.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival began with the Zog Olympics, where competitors were divided into teams to compete in games like Beer Pong, Bucket Pong and Tabletop Ring Tossing, followed by an evening competition of Horseshoes. The activities built up with more festivities like a 5k and Walk, Valve Cover Races, Drift Trikes, local vendors and live music by various artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey say our town doubles in size every year and it truly does,\u201d Herzogfest Committee President Brenton Hoffman said. \u201cTo see support from all our local businesses and help raise money to keep this festival going every year, it\u2019s remarkable.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To recognize the region\u2019s heritage, Herzogfest featured traditional polka music, a polka Mass, German songs and German foods, followed by the popular Steinhoist Competitions where men and women were tasked with holding out glasses of beer for the longest possible time without spilling until one holder remained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely county-wide,\u201d Hoffman said. We\u2019ve had families move away from this town, and they always come back to celebrate [their heritage] at the fest. So, it\u2019s beyond county-wide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n