Outdoor event rich in Pennsylvania Dutch heritage promotes cultural vigor

        The clock started ticking the moment Joseph Fenstermacher, 14, began to scoop the water from a trough and into a metal bucket.

        He quickly placed the bucket onto a wheelbarrow and sprinted with the heavy load across the field—the objective of the race is to return back with as little water spilled as possible. Soon after he reached the finish line, the judges measured that Fenstermacher had spilled 5 inches of water along the way.

        The wheelbarrow race and other family-oriented activities were open to the public for free Sunday, June 7 during the Goschenhoppen Spring Frolic at the Henry Antes Plantation in Upper Frederick. The second annual event drew about 250 participants from several nearby counties onto the 34-acre plantation once owned by a prominent 18th-century German architect and builder.  The event was hosted by the Goschenhoppen Historians, an educational society dedicated to preserving and teaching Pennsylvania Dutch folk culture.

        Although the frolic doesn't hold a historical significance in particular in the Pennsylavania Dutch roots, the open-air event was organized to bring together people who are enthusiastic about the cultural effect the German society has had in the local region. Bill Daley, program co-chair, said the event is "a celebration of the older way to do things."

         "We want to bring people together and focus on old-fashioned family activities, he said. "No electronic toys or stuff like that, but just to have a good time."

        Food was another important aspect of Pennsylvania Dutch tradition highlighted at the event.  A giant peanut roaster and a unique ice cream maker—a mobile mixer that's operated on gasoline—set up on the plantation's grounds as attendees were treated for free samplings.

        At the start of the day's festivities, three teams, made up of two women, joined for the best "boova schenkel," cook-off challenge. A traditional dish, translated "boys legs," boova schenkel is much like a giant Pennsylvania German pierogi.  It's cooked in thick pot pie dough with a filling of mashed potatoes and mixed with cubed bread, celery, onion, salt and white pepper.

        Joan Landis, a participant in the challenge, explained that beef is added to the boova schenkel filling and then boiled in beef broth and butter. She said the dish is finally topped with choice of brown butter sauce or beef gravy.

        After receiving their signal to start, each team rushed to put their skills to the test on three preheated cast-iron wood stoves. Later, Upper Frederick Township Supervisors Michael Frederick and Scott Rakowski sat down to sample each dish and pronounce the winner. After analyzing the appearance, the texture and taste of each boova schenkel, the judges finally declared Nancy Roan and Diane Berg as the winning team. Each participant received a hand-made wooden potato masher.

        Among the many festival activities were tractor wagon rides, a pie eating contest, pedal tractor-pull contest for the youngsters and a newspaper toss-for-points challenge. The Goschenhoppen Fiddlers provided the music by stringing selections of traditional folk tunes.

        Rebecca Mandato of Pennsburg said that she decided to bring her 3-year-old daughter, Michelle, to the event because it didn't seem like any other typical outing. "You usually go to different events where they have a bounce house and stuff but this is nice because it has that classic old-fashioned feel to it," she said.

        For some, the festival is an escape and for others it is an opportunity to mingle with the community.

        'The farm community would get together… and it would be a meeting place for the exchange of ideas, news and world events," Frederick said. He pointed out that events like these give opportunity for people to meet and talk about various things, much like how the politicking was done in the early days. "Today, it brings people back into our community," Frederick added.

        "I think the frolic is the epitome of what our township is trying to do and that is keep, maintain and restoring the historical connection between this area and modernity."