Fayette Co. Czech Heritage Society Holds Meeting, Crowns Royalty

On March 24, the Fayette County Czech Heritage Society held a special meeting in Hanslik Hall at the TCHCC in La Grange. The current reigning 2023-2024 CHS Miss Texas Czech-Slovak Queen, Katie Kostelnik, honored us with her presence. She crowned Madelyn Karstedt 2024-2025 Fayette County CHS Queen and Lillie Karstedt 2024-2025 Fayette County CHS Little Princess.

Madelyn attends Texas A&M University and is interested in her Czech Heritage, baking Czech foods, and learning about her family genealogy. She entertained the audience by reciting a poem she wrote about still being intertwined with the Czech homeland and singing a Czech song while playing the ukulele.

Lillie attends Sacred Heart School in La Grange and wants to learn about her Czech Heritage. Madelyn and Lillie are the daughters of John and Bonny Karstedt. The sisters will participate in the Summer State Royalty Pageant in Wharton County on June 29, 2024.

Author Barbara Ortwein spoke about the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak in her book, “A Summer in Spillville in 1893.” Barbara discussed Dvorak’s time in Iowa and how the American-Czechs in Spillville made him feel right at home, as if he were in Bohemia. Barbara Ortwein entertained the members and guests by singing German, Czech, and English songs while playing the guitar. Her book was available to purchase after the meeting.