I have just returned from my hometown, Hillsboro, Wisconsin. Every year Hillsboro celebrates its Czech
heritage during a two day festival. There is. of course, Czech food of pork, dumplings, sour kraut and
kolachke. There is entertainment for all ages. Three  bands alternate in playing polka and waltz music
with an open dance floor, there are special featured groups, this year the Swiss Yodlers performed from
New Glarus, Wisconsin and the Clausen Family of exceptionally, talented musicians from Coleman,
Wisconsin. Local children of all age groups perform dances in Czech costumes, arts and crafts vendors are
present selling everything from jewlry to hand made items for outdoors or indoors. The 4-H club of young
people serve banana splits and there are soft ball teams that compete with each other. At the end of the
first day, there is a Polka Mass which is a reverent and joyful celebration of the Eucharist

On the second day there is an ecumenical service that has a patriotic theme and honors the local veterans
with a special focus of prayer for those serving our country in the military services. There is an audition and selection of a Czech Day Queen who will be an ambassador for Hillsboro at other local, state or even
national events for the coming year. Entertainment as on the first day continues. It is interesting to note
that you don't have to be of Czech descent to be a part of the gala affair.

 This  festival is a wonderful way to meet family and friends but also to recall who we are as descendants of ancestors who struggled to make life better for us. We are also made aware of how God worked through
the generations to keep us rooted in our faith.

As a large farming community, it is obvious that people need to be dependent on God for good weather in
order to have prosperous crops. City people take for granted, no matter if there are floods or dry weather,
that they can always buy food in the store. Farm people are always praying for God's intervention to
produce a good harvest to be able to feed the world.