The Best Parts of Minster Oktoberfest Haven't Changed

Sure the beer is good, but that's not what makes Minster Oktoberfest the best

There are a lot of great things about living in this part of Ohio. We have hard-working people. We have strong communities. We have traditions that have been passed down for generations. We have homemade cooking, musical talent, and perhaps most importantly, people who still make time for each other. For me, there may be no better example of all of that coming together than the Minster Oktoberfest.

Every year, thousands of people descend on Minster for a weekend of German food, music, beer, dancing, a parade, and plenty of other fun. The festival itself estimates that more than 80,000 people come to town over the weekend. But those numbers really don't explain what makes Oktoberfest special. As I reflect on the 2026 edition of Oktoberfest this past weekend, my favorite parts really haven't changed from year to year, but I appreciate them more than ever.

The Music

Just another song from Klaberheads

Four separate stages at Oktoberfest produce everything from energetic polkas to late-night party anthems. There is something about live music in a crowded little Ohio town on a beautiful fall weekend that just feels right. Believe me, Minster does a masterful job of coordinating it all.

This year my favorites acts were the same as recent years. The bands Karma's Pawn on Friday and Klaberheads on Sunday. If you've seen either group perform elsewhere like I have, they're always great. If you've seen them perform at Minster Oktoberfest, they're simply unforgettable and one of the reasons I love coming back. Karma’s Pawn kicking off the festival on Friday night is the perfect introduction to the fun that lies ahead all weekend. And Klaberheads closing on Sunday afternoon is Minster's official soundtrack to the end of Oktoberfest. You know the weekend is over and you're not quite ready to say goodbye.

Then There's the Food

It required standing in line, but was worth it

Let's be honest. You don't go to Oktoberfest to count calories. You go to eat, and Minster delivers. There are so many choices that it's almost impossible to have just one favorite. Brats. German potato salad. Tenderloins. Sauerkraut balls. Mini doughnuts. Cream puffs. Personally, my top pick is the Reuben. There's something wonderfully pure about getting my Reuben, finding a picnic table, listening to music, and enjoying the taste of corned beef with a Märzen-style lager.

On top of that, the food isn't just about satisfying my taste buds. Most Oktoberfest food stands are operated by local organizations, with proceeds helping those groups support the community. So when you buy that Reuben or whatever your Oktoberfest favorite happens to be, you are actually helping your neighbors. That's pretty hard to beat.

But the Best Part is the People

For me though, the very best part of Oktoberfest isn't the music. It isn't the food. It's catching up with friends. You can walk into Oktoberfest with absolutely no plans and somehow spend the entire day running into people you know. You see an old college roommate. You bump into someone from work. You chat with a former high school classmate. Someone introduces you to somebody you've never met. Several times this past weekend I mentioned heading back home to Russia, but kept talking for hours. That's what I love about this area. That's what I love about Oktoberfest.

We're all busy. Everybody has jobs, families, responsibilities, ball games, appointments, and a million other things going on. However, once a year at Oktoberfest, we can all agree that it's okay to put some of that on hold for a little while. We get together. We eat. We listen to some music. We laugh. We catch up.

That's Minster Oktoberfest. And that's a pretty darn good thing about living in this part of Ohio.

A perfect day for a small town parade and my favorite marching band

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Big goals are rarely accomplished by one person alone. That's why I'm grateful for Shelby County students and their positive energy. (Pictures by Ali Rittenhouse)

The country song “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen was once a top stream on my playlist back in 2025. One line of the tune goes, “They say teamwork makes the dream work”. Now, if you know the song or listen to the rest of the lyrics, you’ll understand that line is actually about a relationship where teamwork clearly did not make the dream work. But for me, I recently borrowed the phrase for a different message: In school, in your career, and in life, the people you surround yourself with can make a huge difference in what you’re able to accomplish.

Chasing my own dream

Last Thursday I spoke at the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Sidney to two large groups of area students about Career Exploration. Before my official introduction to the kids, I was hidden behind a wall outside of the arena (granted, it was a livestock arena). Executive Director Carrie O’Leary from Workforce Partnership of Shelby County was the emcee and hyped my intro in rock star fashion. Mitch Rowlett from Dayton Mobile DJ next blasted “I Had Some Help” over the loudspeakers. On cue, I entered the arena and bounced around high-fiving any of the students that wanted to play along. It was a walkout that likely would have made Post Malone and Morgan Wallen jealous. And had my wife been in attendance, she would have been thoroughly embarrassed. Nevertheless, it got the students excited and that was my big goal!

After my lap was complete and I eventually caught my breath, it was time to speak. I stated my name was Craig, my nickname was Fish, and my occupation was a human resources manager. However, I further explained that my dream was to be a country music star called Fish that could pump up the crowd before a big show. Because of Carrie, Mitch, and all the students that indulged me, together their teamwork just made my dream work. I sincerely thanked them.

The show was just getting started and next I engaged the students further. One bold volunteer agreed to join me in front of the crowd with a friend. We played a simple game with three red solo cups. Underneath one cup was $20, another cup just $10, and another cup only $2. My volunteer didn’t know which cups held which cash amounts. I asked her to pick a cup and encouraged the rowdy crowd to shout their advice. That resulted in chaos and confusion. She fretted over her decision and hesitantly picked the middle cup. Before revealing the cash underneath, I gave her some information and stated that I knew the middle cup contained just $10. She was also given one final opportunity to change her decision with some advice from only her friend this time. In the end, together they decided to switch to a different cup and luckily picked the one with $20! Both girls were extra happy when I revealed the $20 was two ten dollar bills that they were able to split evenly.

The best decisions are sometimes made with a little help from the people who know you best.

What was the point of the cup game? I explained those cups represented our choices in school, our careers, and our lives. We’re out there every day trying to decide which cup to pick. Often times we get confusing advice from people we don't know, like on social media and in the news. The lesson of the game wasn’t that someone else will always know which cup to pick for us. It was that the people we surround ourselves with can help us make better decisions when we’re not sure which direction to go. Choose your friends and other influences carefully, because their advice can have a real impact on the choices you make and the opportunities you see. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own, and you certainly won’t make every decision perfectly. But if you surround yourself with people who genuinely want to see you succeed, you’ll have a much better team beside you as you chase whatever your own “dream” happens to be!

-Craig

Finding Purpose at Work

Let me begin with the disclaimer that the following point of view doesn’t necessarily reflect the view of my employer, but what better place for me to share some personal thoughts than a personal blog post!

Our group purpose was defining our purpose! 

I'll reference another "Coffee with Champions" discussion group that I attended back in April. The subject was “Finding Purpose at Work”. What stood out most to me was how differently the attendees defined their purpose. The most memorable comments came from a woman named Mallory who said her purpose at work and in life was the same: to get to Heaven. That meant helping herself, her husband, and her children get there. For Mallory, the connection between her work purpose and life purpose is found in the values of the construction company that she and her husband built. Because they established those values themselves, she knew they aligned with what she believes. She also made an interesting point: she may or may not be able to fulfill that same purpose working for another company, because she doesn’t know whether another company’s values would align with hers.

Mallory’s comments that day reminded me of the company I work for and one of our five values: “We Believe Our Work Serves a Higher Purpose.” At first, I thought that value was exactly what Mallory had described as her purpose. However, as I drove home from the meeting, I thought about how our company value guides me in my work as a Human Resources Manager and how I personally define purpose. I concluded that purpose, for me, means the work I do matters beyond the individual task. My work creates value for a higher purpose - to be an advocate for our employees. In that sense, it’s my purpose to help my coworkers live their best lives.

The two different views of Mallory and mine aren’t necessarily contradictory. In fact, I think they demonstrate why purpose is so personal. Purpose at work is shaped by our individual beliefs and by the values we choose to align ourselves with. What gives one person meaning may be different from what gives another person meaning. For both Mallory and me, purpose starts with our personal beliefs and extends into the choices we make at work. We believe the people and companies we surround ourselves with should support the things that matter most to us. That’s also why company values are important. Values are more than words on a website. They tell us what a company believes is important. When we interpret and live out our values with our purpose in mind, we create an environment of growth and success for all.

-Craig