Friday, July 25, 2008

Our South American Cousins

The Germans from Russia scattered across South America are a rich part of our ancestral history, and their story will be shared during the 2008 International Convention of Germans from Russia next week in Casper, Wyoming.

Our German Russian Relatives in South America is another of the many exciting sessions planned for the week-long gathering at the Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Casper. Jerry Siebert of Moraga, California will lead the session, which is slated for 3:30 p.m., Saturday, August 2nd in the American Room.

Dr. Jerome “Jerry” Siebert is the President of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia International (AHSGR) and has served in that position since 2005. He’s been on the AHSGR Board of Directors for the past nine years, serving as chair of several committees.

To help tell the story of Germans from Russia in South America, Jerry will be joined by Isabel Kessler, President of the Argentina Association of Germans from Russia.

Both of Jerry Siebert’s parents were born in Russia and immigrated to the United States, settling in “Roosha” Town in Fresno, California. Jerry later lived on the family farm in Madera, California, where his brother still farms grapes.

Jerry Siebert received his B.S. in Agricultural Economics and Marketing from UC Berkeley. His major area of research was the evaluation of regulations and policies on agricultural markets and sectors. He serves as the Executive Vice President of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IAMA) and is an emeritus faculty member in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Policy at UC-Berkeley.

Among his many activities and involvements, Dr. Siebert serves as chairman of the California Walnut Board. He has also served as Special Assistant to four U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture.

Jerry Siebert will be joining Vi Schielke for one of the off-site Cultural Cooking Class presentations during the convention. Their's is set for Thursday, July 31st from 2:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., when they'll whet your appetite for Fleischkuchle and Bierocks!

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