Local News
Mennonite Heritage Village celebrates record season with thousands of visitors and hundreds of volunteers
It’s been a summer to remember at the Mennonite Heritage Village Museum in Steinbach. With 45,000 visitors walking through its gates, 2,000 students attending school programs, and close to 1,000 pounds of flour milled at its historic windmill, Program Coordinator Jaysa Thiessen says 2025 has been one of their busiest and most rewarding seasons yet. “MHV usually sees around 45,000 visitors throughout the year, and probably 80 to 90 percent of those come between May and September,” Thiessen said. “That’s when we host most of our festivals and events like Canada Day, Pioneer Days, Fall on the Farm, our car show, and tractor trek. It’s such a pleasure to welcome people from the community, from across Canada, and even from around the world.” Thiessen says the mix of visitors always surprises her. “We get those travelling across the country who make a stop in Steinbach, and then we get the locals who’ve lived here for 20 or 30 years and have never stopped in,” she said. “They’ll say, ‘I drive past this place every day and had no idea what it really was.’ I love seeing their reaction when they realize how much there is to explore.” Behind the scenes, around 300 volunteers help make everything run smoothly, from mowing the lawns to maintaining the 30 heritage buildings and helping at the museum’s 15 events and festivals. “Our volunteers are incredible,” said Thiessen. “They’re here daily taking care of the grounds, fixing things, keeping buildings in good repair, and planting flowers. During big weekends like Pioneer Days, we sometimes have to fill 250 to 300 volunteer spots. It’s amazing how many people step up.” She says the education program is another big part of the summer, with 2,000 students visiting on school trips and 60 kids attending Pioneer Day Camps. “It’s so fun to see their eyes light up when they realize people actually lived in a sod house or used windmills to make flour,” Thiessen said. “It’s history that they can touch, not just read about.” One of the most iconic parts of the museum is its fully operational Dutch-style windmill — one of the only ones of its kind still running in North America. Operated entirely by volunteers, the mill produced 940 pounds of flour this summer. “They made 125 three-pound bags of flour to sell at Village Books & Gifts,” said Thiessen. “And the Livery Barn Restaurant also uses flour from the windmill to bake all their bread.” Thiessen says the windmill is a favourite among visitors. “It’s fascinating to see it in action and think, wow, this is what people were doing every day to make their bread and their schnetkj,” she said. “It’s not just for show — it’s a working windmill, and it’s part of what makes the museum so special.” Although the outdoor heritage buildings are now closed for the winter to prevent weather damage, Thiessen reminds the public that there’s still plenty happening at MHV. “Our grounds, indoor galleries, and Village Books & Gifts shop are open all winter long,” she said. “We’re here all winter — so don’t forget about us.” As the team looks ahead to the next season, Thiessen says they’re thankful for the community’s ongoing support. “It’s such an honour to share the Mennonite story with people from here and from all over the world,” she said. “This year really showed how much people value what we do, and we can’t wait to keep building on that next year.” Quick Facts from MHV’s 2025 Season: 45,000 visitors 2,000 students 60 daycampers 300 volunteers 15 events and festivals 940 pounds of flour milled 30 heritage buildings