Goessel residents are celebrating the 50th anniversary of a Liberty Bell replica made from wheat—an unusual community project created when the town looked to America’s 200th birthday in a uniquely Kansas way. KSN-TV highlights how volunteers wove wheat straw into a bell frame during January 1976, drawing participation from around the community and nearby areas.
Donna Duerksen led the volunteer effort, while Goessel natives like Eileen Goerzen Schmidt helped with the weaving. The work took place in winter conditions, including soaked wheat being woven by hand, and the finished wheat bell is about twice the size of the version it was based on.
Today, the wheat Liberty Bell remains on display at the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum. Organizers say it’s become a lasting point of pride, and that the community hopes it will remain a centerpiece for decades more.
The museum is open during summer hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. On July 31, Goessel will kick off its annual Country Threshing Days, and the story notes that getting a button for the festival brings free admission to the museum.