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Event Description:

Sherry Loos Pawelko, the Executive Director of American Historical Society of Germans from Russia will present on the unique history and culture the Germans from Russia brought to the Great Plains region of the United States at the Homestead Education Center on Sunday, December 30 at 2:00p.m.

Sherry heads a national society that seeks to preserve and remember the history of German immigrants to Russia who maintained separate communities there prior to immigrating to the United States. The influence of the Germans from Russia remains extremely visible on the Great Plains, from the popularity of Runza (a sandwich and restaurant with German-Russian origins) to the prevalence of winter wheat (a crop introduced to the Great Plains by the Germans from Russia). Sherry will bring a short film and artifacts to tell the story of the Germans from Russia.

The Winter Festival of Prairie Cultures features decorated trees and tabletop displays featuring ornaments and hand-made crafts that reflect the spirit of hope, humor, traditions, and generosity which characterized settlers of the West. Cultures represented include Czech, French, German, Hispanic, Irish, Polish, Scottish, Swedish, and Welsh.