2025 Saturday Parade Winners

Floats
1st Place – First State Bank Nebraska-Marching Forward Together, One
Community, One Beat, 40 Years
Runner-Up – Abloom Floral and Gifts of Crete

Bands
1st Place – Milligan Czech Brass Band, Sponsored by First State Bank Nebraska
Runner-Up – Swing, Swing, Swing Polka Band, Sponsored by Bruning Bank

Antique Cars, Classic Cars & Motorcycles
1st Place – 1928 International 6 Speed Special Truck, Frank & Pam Kunc,
Sponsored by Zalesky Realty & Auction
Runner-Up – 1929 Model A Ford Coupe, Galen Beck & Maureen Halama

Miscellaneous
1st Place – Doane University
Runner-Up – 1930 Chevy Retired Fire Truck, Driven by Derek Filipi

Tractors
1st Place – 1936 John Deere BR, Frank Slama
Runner-Up – 1941 John Deere Model A, Mark & Eileen Campbell

Equine & Saddle Clubs
1st Place – Senator Joe. T. Vosoba Riderless Horse, Led by Nathan Rosentreader
and Kelly Scott
Runner-Up – No Entry

Golf Carts & Off-Road Vehicles
1st Place – No Entry
Runner-Up – No Entry

2025 Sunday Parade Winners

Floats
1st Place – Abloom Floral and Gifts of Crete
Runner-Up – First State Bank Nebraska-Marching Forward Together, One
Community, One Beat, 40 Years

Bands
1st Place – The Marchin’ Kazoo Band
Runner-Up – The Sower’s Club

Antique Cars, Classic Cars & Motorcycles
1st Place – Cornhusker Model A Ford Club
Runner-Up – 1967 Ford Mustang, Steve Cantrell

Miscellaneous
1st Place – Czech Heritage, Crete
Runner-Up – Revel Events

Tractors
1st Place – 1972 John Deere 4620, Bill & Sheryl Kastanek
Runner-Up – 1936 John Deere BR, Frank Slama

Equine & Saddle Clubs
1st Place – Senator Joe. T. Vosoba Riderless Horse, Led by Nathan Rosentreader
and Kelly Scott
Runner-Up – No Entry

Golf Carts & Off-Road Vehicles
1st Place – No Entry
Runner-Up – No Entry

2025 Ray & Helen Houska Spirit Award Winner
First State Bank Nebraska-Marching Forward Together, One Community, One
Beat, 40 Years

Results for the Wilber Czech Festival Art Show click here

2025 Wilber Chamber of Commerce Vehicle Raffle

2025 Knights of Blanik and Ladies of Libuse Award Winners

The Knights of Blanik and Ladies of Libuse awards shall be presented to not more than twelve individuals per year, who have, by their contributions or efforts, contributed significantly to the preservation, enhancement or development of the Czech heritage promoted by the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber.  The recipients may or may not be of Czech descent, and may or may not be residents of Wilber or Nebraska.  The first Knight and Lady awards were first awarded in 1969.

Rita Patton has devoted countless hours to preserving and promoting Czech heritage in Wilber. Rita supports Czech Music as she is one of the original members of the WC Alumni Marching Band and now plays her clarinet with the Milligan Czech Brass Band promoting good Czech music.  As a member of the Wilber Sokol Hall, Rita is a frequent worker at the hall and is a tireless leader and member of the kolace baking team.  She was instrumental during COVID to make sure kolace were available to the public.  Rita’s commitment to the Czech heritage is heartfelt and endless.

Paul Hajek has driven convertibles for dignitaries at the Saturday and Sunday Festival Parades for many years.  His duties include helping with vehicle maintenance, overnight secure storage & rain emergency action for the cars.  He provides a leadership role among all the drivers and continues to scout out for more drivers. With his 100% Czech ancestry he shares his love for the Czech Culture with guests, creating a memorable experience for the riders. Paul works behind the scenes to help his wife Lou, with the Czech Reception luncheon for dignitaries, helps at the Wilber Sokol Hall and also at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church during the festival.

Crystal Kozak graduated from Wilber Clatonia High School in 1986 and has been a valued member of the Wilber-Clatonia Alumni Marching Band since then.  She plays the cymbals and is 1/5^th of the infamous “5 K” team which is a quintet of Kozak family members that participate in the band.   Crystal is a regular summer booster band player as they invite guests to the Wilber Czech Festival with their good Czech music.  She is a core member of the alumni band and provides leadership within her section, assists with decision making & administrative duties.  You can also find Crystal working at the Czech Festival in the downtown information booth to help guests of the festival.

Debra Spicka Polacek has devoted much of her life to celebrating, preserving and promoting the Czech Heritage and Culture.  In the 1970’s Deb helped organize the Accordionettes band and promoted good Czech music throughout the decade and years to follow. The South-Central Czechs, UNL Czech Komensky Club and Czech Culture and Education Foundation of Nebraska have welcomed Deb’s leadership roles and tireless work ethics to advance the preserving of the Czech culture and heritage.  Locally Deb helps with the Wilber Sokol Camp and supports the Wilber Jr. Czech Dancers.  Her son, Karel and granddaughters, Savannah and Mabel have benefited from learning about Czech music, dance and authentic Czech cooking from Deb for cultural events and festivals.

Marvin Polacek stands proudly with his wife Deb to support and promote the Czech Heritage.  On a broader level, Deb and Marvin work closely with the Czech Embassy in Washington, DC building strong relationships with Czech Dignitaries and Government officials.   They are instrumental in forging connections between the Nebraska Agricultural industry and the Czech Republic opening doors for meaningful international exchange.  It was Marvin’s ambition and perseverance that led to Czech wine becoming legal for sale in Nebraska. A victory for the State of Nebraska and the Czech communities.   Marvin and Deb founded the St Wenceslas Brewfest around 2021 and it continues today.

Jane Znamenacek has been a member of the WC Czech Alumni Marching Band for four decades & now plays along with her 4 children in the band and 3 of her grandchildren in the high school band.    Her creativity can be found in designing Czech matching costumes for her children, grandchildren and even a family dog. She is on her 5^th design of Czech outfits.  Jane is the brain stormer and developer of the Odvody family parade floats over the years. The Znamenacek home is filled with traditional Czech Cuisine and she shares those cooking skills with her children.  Jane also finds time to help with preparing & serving the food at the Wilber Methodist Church Buffet.  Her family has supported many Wilber Czech royalty positions and Little Sister positions.

Doris Koll has developed into a historian for Wilber Nebraska.  Through painstaking research, Doris has chronicled the evolution of Wilber’s Businesses, captured the resilience and entrepreneurial spirits of the communities’ Czech pioneers and recently published a book “Early Days of Wilber Businesses”.   Doris shares her love of the Wilber community with high school students, leading them through the streets and landmarks while sharing history and culture.  You can find Doris volunteering at the TJ Sokol Czech camp where she teaches Czech traditions, customs and values of history & Czech foods to our youth.  Doris also serves as President of the Saline County Historical Museum.

Lisa Ourecky Emeigh was the 1976 Wilber Czech Princess when she was 9 years old.  As a young girl, Lisa danced the Beseda.  She and her late husband Todd Emeigh owned the Wilber Bakery from 1990-2001 where they baked and prepared Czech baking cuisine for the locals and many guests of Wilber.  They also provided many tours of the bakery to guests of Wilber.  Their sons, Ben and Neil were both past Wilber Czech Princes in 2001 and 2005 and the Emeighs promoted the Wilber Community by attending many events and parades to support Wilber.  Lisa also volunteered serving dinners at the Wilber Lutheran Church.  For the past 13 years, Lisa and her cousin Lori Ourecky Severson have been carrying the “Wilber Czech Festival” parade sign just as their twin fathers, Lawerence and Lloyd did for years.

Lori Ourecky Severson served as the 1964 Wilber Czech Princess at the age of four for the third annual Wilber Czech Festival.  In 1976, Lori was crowned the Wilber Czech Queen and was the first runner up for the Nebraska Czech Queen.  Lori was the first Wilber Czech princess to be crowned a Wilber Czech Queen and has never missed an annual Wilber Czech Festival.  She has also marched with the Wilber-Clatonia Alumni Marching Band, was a past Czech Beseda Dancer and volunteers to serve meals at the Wilber Lutheran Church.  For the past 13 years, Lori and her cousin Lisa Ourecky Emeigh have led the grand parades carrying the Wilber Czech Festival parade sign, just as their fathers did, Lloyd and Lawerence Ourecky wearing the vests of their dads.

Larry and Elaine Burda are both very dedicated members of the Wilber Sokol Hall which helps to promote the Czech heritage and culture throughout the year.  The Nebraska Czechs of Wilber can always count on Larry to help set up tables and chairs for the annual spring Kick Off Dance, getting the stage decorated and tables ready for the royalty crowning.  Elaine is also a great help to the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber as she is a vital team member during the festival helping with the National Queen Reception every Sunday night.  The royalty table is properly prepared and inviting when the newly crowned Miss Czech-Slovak U.S. arrives to celebrate and meet the public after just being crowned.  During the reception, Elaine keeps all the serving dishes and punch bowl filled for the quests.  Elaine has been a tireless volunteer to the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber to get this done properly.