Fest-goers aren't chicken about dancingOrganizers pleased with

new events

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- People certainly weren't afraid to dance like chickens on the final day of the first weekend of Heritagefest Sunday at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

Hundreds of fest-goers jammed the Rosen Tent and danced the Chicken Dance in late afternoon. The new event drew a large crowd that included many youngsters, young adults, middle-aged adults and senior citizens.

Two youngsters even received awards for the "Best Chicken Legs." The winners were Kelsey Koch, 12, of New Ulm and Jamison Valenta, 17, of North Mankato.

Heritagefest Executive Director Kathleen Backer was particularly pleased with the new events, which included sauerkraut wrestling and former Johnny Cash band guitar player Bob Wootton and the band Six Mile Grove on Saturday.

"Anytime you try new things, there are people that tell you it will never work," Backer said. "But these new things went great. Plus it's fun to see such strong representation of all age groups and see audiences getting so involved."

Backer said she was often questioned by people just prior to the start of Heritagefest about whether there would actually be sauerkraut wrestling.

She said leading off the sauerkraut wrestling with New Ulm natives Terry Sveine and Sam Raitz against Jeff Dittrich and Chris Hiller made it very appealing.

"No doubt we gave people lots of new choices, and I think they liked them," Backer said. "Bob Wootton and New Odyssey played to great crowds Saturday."

Heritagefest Board President Hugh Nierengarten said he felt people got more entertainment and age group variety at this year's Heritagefest.

"It seemed people really enjoyed Bob Wootton especially," Nierengarten said.

Nierengarten said the festival is about people having fun. He thought the new events filled the bill.

"The sauerkraut wrestling was fun and popular, as long as you weren't downwind of the sauerkraut, if you don't enjoy the smell of it," Nierengarten added.

On Friday, the ten-member band Powerhouse will hit the stage. They'll play everything from swing, modern, Motown, big band and Chicago-style music.

Three-time Grammy nominee LynnMarie and the Boxhounds will bring a new dimension to accordion music. They'll add high energy to folk, cajun, country, Tex-Mex, rock and roll and polka music.