The purpose of the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association is to celebrate the German Heritage of Ellis County, Kansas and throughout the Midwest area through an annual Oktoberfest celebration.  The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association is a non-profit organization.  Any monies that the Association accumulates will be used to preserve the German Heritage of the Midwest.       The idea to have a “Genuine German Oktoberfest” began in the fall of 2001 when Leo Dorzweiler, long time member of the Ellis County Volga German Society, felt there was the need for such an event.  For many years, the Volga German Society organized an Oktoberfest that was celebrated in conjunction with the annual Fort Hays State University homecoming festivities.  The FHSU Oktoberfest, always held the Friday before homecoming, evolved and changed over the years since it first began in 1973.  Many local residents, including Dorzweiler, felt it was evolving into something that was not a true Oktoberfest and celebration of the local German heritage.  A group of community volunteers first met on November 20, 2001 to discuss interest in starting a new celebration. Their vision of an Oktoberfest was one that would include more traditional German events and would create more of a family atmosphere.  The first formal announcement about the group’s plans to hold a new Oktoberfest came in the Hays Daily News on January 27, 2002.   The actual Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association began on June 22, 2002 with the passing of the articles of incorporation and formation of a core group of officers.  The Chairman for the first Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest that was held on September 21-22, 2002 was Leo Dorzweiler and the Co-Chairman of the event was John Smith.  The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association, a nonprofit organization, is a group of volunteers from Hays, Ellis County and other nearby communities that supports the mission of the Oktoberfest Chairman and Co- Chair to organize and hold one of the finest and most authentic Oktoberfests in the Midwest.  Members volunteer their time and talents to plan the event, raise money, promote our German Heritage and coordinate the activities for the two day festival.  Membership is open to any person that is interested in furthering the cause of the organization and promoting the German heritage of Ellis County throughout the Midwest.  A membership fee of $5 per person is paid annually. As written in the by-laws of the association, all profits generated from the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association are donated to the Ellis County Historical Society Museum.   If you are interested in becoming involved with the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association, please contact Leo Dorzweiler 785-625-5394.   2002 Oktoberfest - Chairman, Leo Dorzweiler - Co-Chairman, John Smith 2003 Oktoberfest - Chairman, John Smith - Co-Chairman, Leo Dorzweiler 2004 Oktoberfest - Chairman, John Smith - Co-Chairman, Leo Dorzweiler 2005 Oktoberfest - Chairman, Leo Dorzweiler - Co-Chairman, J. Dannebohm 2006 Oktoberfest - Chairman, Leo Dorzweiler  2007 Oktoberfest - Chairman, Leo Dorzweiler  2008 Oktoberfest - Chairman, Leo Dorzweiler - President, Tom Meis 2009 Oktoberfest - Chairman, Leo Dorzweiler - President, Tom Meis 2010 Oktoberfest - Chairman, Leo Dorzweiler - President, Tom Meis