2023 Saturday Parade Winners
Floats
1st Place -First State Bank Nebraska – “First State Says Cheers to 150 Years”
Runner-Up -Abloom Floral & Gifts of Crete
Bands
1st Place -Fairbury Highschool Band
Runner-Up – Chelewski Band, Sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank
Antique Cars, Classic Cars & Motorcycles
1st Place -1966 Ford Fairlane, Owned By Rick and Connie Buckmaster
Runner-Up -1964 Ford Convertible, Owned By Rick and Connie Buckmaster
Miscellaneous
1st Place – Plattsmouth Harvest Festival Royalty
Runner-Up – Hanover Pool Bus
Tractors
1st Place -1954 Farmall Super “C”, Kasen Petsch
Runner-Up -1936 John Deere Br, Frank Slama
Equine & Saddle Clubs
1st Place – No Entry
Runner-Up – No Entry
Golf Carts & Off-Road Vehicles
1st Place – Chelsea Beran
Runner-Up – Cruise Custom Golf Carts
2023 Sunday Parade Winners
Floats
1st Place -First State Bank Nebraska -“First State Says Cheers to 150 Years”
Runner-Up -150 Years of Odvody Czech Heritage
Bands
1st Place -Milligan Czech Brass Band, Sponsored By First State Bank Nebraska
Runner-Up -The Sowers Club
Antique Cars, Classic Cars & Motorcycles
1st Place -Cornhusker Model A Ford Club
Runner-Up-1951 Ford Fl Panel Truck, Owned by Joe Mara & Sponsored byTenopir Builders
Miscellaneous
1st Place -Wilson Kansas Czech Dancers
Runner-Up -Hanover Pool Bus
Tractors
1st Place -1974 International 1066, Owned by Strouf Farms, Driven by Connor Kohout
Runner-Up -1972 John Deere 4020, Owned by Bill & Sheryl Kastanek, Driven by Zach Spohn
Equine & Saddle Clubs
1st Place -Butzke Fence Post Covered Wagon & Butzke Construction
Runner-Up -Working Draft Team & Covered Wagon
Golf Carts & Off-Road Vehicles
1st Place -Bob Mares
Runner-Up -No Entry
2022 Ray & Helen Houska Spirit Award Winner
150 Years of Odvody Czech Heritage
2023 Miss Czech-Slovak US Pageant
Miss Czech Slovak US: Texas Destiny Hollingsworth
Miss Czech Slovak US 1st Runner Up: South Dakota Drew Hejna
Miss Czech Slovak US 2nd Runner Up: Illinois Lauren Luchetti
Grand Talent: Wisconsin Amanda Kadlecek
Talent Runner-Up: Texas Destiny Hollingsworth
Kroj Accuracy: Oklahoma Jayden Mason
Kroj Knowledge: Texas Destiny Hollingsworth
Kroj Family Story: Oklahoma Jayden Mason
Kroj Poise Award: Minnesota Sarah Holicky
Oratory Award: Texas Destiny Hollingsworth
Gruntorad-Stastny Heritage Award: Wisconsin Amanda Kadlecek
John & Lois Fiala Spirit Award: Minnesota Sarah Holicky
Miss Congeniality: South Dakota Drew Hejna
Bozena Award: Wisconsin Amanda Kadlecek
Cultural Preservation Award: Oklahoma Jayden Mason
Sokol Award: Oklahoma Jayden Mason
Sokol Runner-up Award: Nebraska Greta Rosno
2023 Wilber Chamber of Commerce Vehicle Raffle
Eric Thornburg – Chevy Trax
$100 Winners
Dennis Kolarik
Trish Westphal
Ben Meyer
Adella Roger
Thomas Ruyle
Janelle Snodgrass
Judy Dittmer
Jarrod Messman
Madison Maly
2023 Knights of Blanik and Ladies of Libuse Award Winners
The Knights of Blanik and Ladies of Libuse award 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 awarded in 1969. After the
announcements this evening, the honorable group will consist of 514 members.
Alexa Orf At age 4, Alexa began promoting the Czech heritage and culture as she
was a member of the Wilber Jr. Czech Dancers. She was a dedicated dancer and
soon became a dance assistant to other young children along with dancing with
the Sr. Czech Dancers for many years. Alexa was crowned the 2022 Wilber Czech
Queen and it was a pleasure to watch Alexa bloom in the royalty position. Queen
Alexa and her royalty family traveled thousands of miles to promote the Wilber
Czech Festival. She was available to greet any` out of town guests to Wilber,
representing the community with style and grace. Alexa has marched with the WC
band and also participates in the Wilber-Clatonia Booster band throughout the
summer. Over the years, the Wilber Methodist-.Church is;;also grateful for her
dedicated help with meal preparation for the Czech Buffet seined at the church.
Mike and Karla Keller have served as the late Czech Days Charlie and Mary Keller’s
“Go To Kids” whenever last minute problems arise for the Czech Festival. You
could find them being the Handy Man and making repairs at Hotel Wilber, Wilber
Czech Museum, Outdoor Theater, speaker systems, pinch hitting as bandstand
announcers and running many errands to keep the festival successful at the last
minute. They have poured concrete at Hotel Wilber and the Outdoor Theater.
The last 10 years Karla and Mike have made them available to deliver and set up
the quilt stands for the quilt show and take them down and put them back in
storage for the next year. Karla also helps hang the quilts for display for the quilt
show. Even though Charlie is gone for 10 years, the Kellers still provide support to
the festival and the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber as “Czech Days Charlie” would
want.
Paula Slepicka has been a long time promoter of the Wilber Czech Festival as a
youth, she helped at the Wilber Catholic Church, played clarinet and was a baton
twirler with the Wilber-Clatonia Marching band during the festival. In 2023 the
Wilber-Clatonia Alumni Band will celebrate its 38 anniversary. Paula lives in
Denver, CO but rarely misses a performance event of the band. During the
festival, Paula leads the marching band in style as one of the baton twirlers. When
the band isn’t marching, Paula is a dedicated clarinet player of the crowd pleasing
Alumni band and also the Booster Band, inviting guests to the festival wherever
they travel. Paula is a long time dedicated supporter of the Wilber Czech Festival
with her musical talents.
Chad and Rebecca Orf are year round promoters of the Wilber Czech Festival. The
Orfs are both members of the brass section of the Wilber-Clatonia Alumni Band.
The group can count on the Or fs to provide leadership and musical ability. The
Booster Band welcomes them to help provide good music and Czech cheer where
ever they go. Rebecca is very involved assisting the Wilber united Methodist
Church to provide a delicious Czech Buffet to the guests of the festival. Chad is a
member of the Wilber TJ Sokol group, where he is a board member and volunteers
his time at the hall to serve food and beverage. The Orf family traveled to the
Czech Republic this past June, to learn more about their Czech heritage & culture
as they promote and preserve it.
Dwayne, Sandy, Preston and Lynette Pospisil have been a strong part of the
Bohemian Tractor Pull and hosting trfe Saturday event for the past 14 years. The
Pospisil family provides the tractors and the fuel for the contest. It takes them a
week prior to the festival to plan and organize the event. There are four
categories for the pull. Old Men, Younger Men, Women and Coed teams which
consist of 4 individual members. These categories can include all ages and
children. This is a physical, active and fun event of the Wilber Czech Festival
providing for much excitement. The dedication and hard work of Dad Dwayne,
Mom Sandy, Son Preston and daughter in law Lynette have made it a popular
Czech Festival event not to be missed.
Randy Kozeal has been a long time promoter of the Wilber Czech Festival. In the
early 2000’s, while administrator of the Wilber Care Center, Randy helped with the
Children’s parade. Randy and his wife Pain, have worked in the Information Booth
over the festival weekend the last few years. Randy is currently on the executive
team of the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber, serving as Vice President for the past four
years. He has been an active, vital, integral part of the team. His expertise is
appreciated in writing policies, exploring grant applications and his business sense
is extremely helpful to the organization. He is a member of the St Wenceslaus
Catholic Church where he has helped with various kolace baking duties. Randy
helps prepare and set up for the day and night project of ko[ace baking at the
church. In the past Randy has also helped with the Knights of Columbus Sunday
breakfast.
Lori Albrecht has promoted the Wilber Czech Festival her entire life. In the early
years, Lori was part of the Red Kerchief Girls, performing Czech Folks songs.
Throughout high school, Lori was a member of the Wilber-Clatonia Marching band
for all the parades. She has been in many of the Saturday and Sunday parades
over the years, either driving convertibles through the parades for royalty and
dignitaries, creating floats for the Altman family and marching with the Wilber
Clatonia Alumni Marching Band. During the 25th Wilber Czech Festival, Lori was a
model for the authentic costumes for the Czech Festival fashion Show. She
supported her daughters when they served as Little Sister is for the Miss Czech
Slovak US Queen pageant. Over the years, First Lutheran Church, the Nebraska
Czechs of Wilber Museum basement diner and Hotel Wilber were always happy to
have Lori help serve Czech dinners.
Results for the Wilber Czech Festival Art Show click here