Friedberg, Germany

The La Crosse Area German Relations Association, Inc. (LAGRA) mission is to foster a productive international relationship with our Partner City, Friedberg, Germany, to increase awareness of our area’s German heritage, and to promote the study of German culture and language in area schools.

To be recognized as a leading organization honoring La Crosse’s German heritage, and facilitating the many relations between the Greater La Crosse Area and Germany.

Prior to the formation of the Committee, the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse (UW-L), local businesses, and many private individuals had on-going connections with Germany. Many families in the region have German ancestors and relatives. 

In 1989, Logan High School students began a student exchange with Werner-Von-Braun-Gymnasium (high school), now renamed Staatliches Gymnasium Friedberg; and, in 1990, Central High School students began an exchange with Ludwig-Uhland-Gymnasium, Kirchheim-unter-Teck. Since then, over 400 La Crosse high school students have participated in exchanges, and as many La Crosse families have hosted visiting German students.   

The German International Relations Committee was established in 1996 by the La Crosse City Council to preserve La Crosse’s German heritage and to facilitate the many relations between the City and Germany. Hiltrud Steinmel-Bell, a local businesswoman and German native, and Jay Lokken, head of  International Education at UW-L and City Council Member, were instrumental in the founding of the committee. 

Our Twin City (Partnerstadt) relationship with Friedberg near Augsberg in Bavaria, Germany began in 2000. 

An occasional letter is sent out announcing our annual scholarship fundraiser dinner and including an up-date of committee activities.

The GIRC is no longer an ad-hoc committee with the City of La Crosse.  It has recently been restructured and renamed as the La Crosse Area German Relations Association, Inc (LAGRA).

Below is a list of activities to which the Board has contributed.

• Oktoberfest: German Heritage Day at the Fest Grounds, in which upper level German students prepare presentations and conduct activities at up to ten stations for middle school and elementary German students; marching in the Maple leaf Parade at Oktoberfest.
• Yearly fundraiser dinner to support student exchanges. High school German students are granted stipends to help in their participation in both Central and Logan German exchange programs.
• Lincoln Middle School German classes hold a large Oktoberfest celebration.
• An exchange between Northwoods International Elementary & Friedberg-Süd elementary school.
• Facilitating connections with Friedberg such Greg Balfany’s Big Band, Jim Knutson’s Bellringers, a Western Tech. health class study visit, an exchange between Western & the Fachoberschule.
• Participation in German work nights during the summer at the German Garden, part of the International Friendship Garden north of Riverside Park.
• Participation in an annual June German Picnic organized by a group of local residents of German heritage & the Oktoberfest Singers.
• Arrangements for UW-L Orchestra and Choir to perform and to be hosted in families in Kirchheim/Teck.
• Yearly help for the Friedberg committee in Germany to acquire uniquely Wisconsin products to sell in their La Crosse booth at their major fundraiser, the Sister Cities Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market).
• Help with arranging individual connections for members of our German sister city (e.g., an internship in social work or a clerkship at Gundersen Lutheran).
• Support of International Committee projects to raise visibility of all our Sister Cities (e.g., flags and plaques at the airport to represent each of the sister cities, yearly marching in the Maple Leaf parade at Oktoberfest).
• Support for the La Crosse German students when they held a "Jingle Fest", a German Christmas market held at Logan High School.
• Participation in yearly Global Initiatives Week activities in November.

Western Technical College will be hosting 2 teachers in October 2019 to set up a connection with students from Friedberg’s Fachoberschule in Sept. 2020.

Northwoods International Elementary School's third graders have been corresponding with third graders in Friedberg-Süd elementary.

UW-L has many students from Germany and UW-L students are attending university programs in Germany. We welcome visiting Germans associated with the many UW-L German connections: Goethe University in Frankfurt/Main in Wisconsin’s Sister State Hessen, Oldenburg University, Innsbruck & Vienna summer programs.

La Crosse has two High School G.A.P.P. (German-American Partnership Program) exchanges:

• Logan High School - Gymnasium-Friedberg (high school) in Friedberg, Bayern (since 1989).
• Central High School - Ludwig-Uhland-Gymnasium (high school) in Kirchheim/Teck, Baden Württemberg (since 1990).

Every two years up to 25 German students & their teacher(s) spend three-four weeks in the fall in La Crosse, living in families, attending school, becoming immersed in school, family, and community activities. The following summer the local students who hosted go to Germany to spend four weeks there with their partners. They too live with families, attend school daily, make presentations in classes, participate in short excursions and become immersed in the German culture. The hosting teachers prepare a full program of activities and the visiting teachers meet with their students for one class daily, help coordinate and troubleshoot.

Sept. 3-18, 2019 13 students & 2 teachers from Friedberg were hosted by Logan High School German students & their families. Nineteen German students with two teachers & a parent chaperone were hosted by their partner students in Friedberg in June 2018.

Each year La Crosse German students participate in Regional & State German Speaking Contests, a German Day at UW-Madison, walk in the Maple Leaf parade, hold a German Heritage Day with stations for La Crosse elementary students at the Oktoberfest grounds, & hold a large Oktoberfest celebration at Lincoln Middle School. They sing German Christmas carols in local nursing homes. In alternate years there is a trip to New Ulm for Fasching or to Chicago for the Christmas Market.

Below is a list of visits between Friedberg, Germany and La Crosse, Wisconsin. (up-dated Oct. 2019)

• September 18 - 25, 2019 - A delegation of 12 from La Crosse were hosted in Friedberg.
• Sept. 3-18, 2019 - 13 students & 2 teachers from Friedberg were hosted by Logan H.S. families.
• December 2018 - Western Technical College instructor Joan Benson and students were in Friedberg to study their health care system.
• December 2018 - Several LAGRA members were in Friedberg for their Christmas market. Every year LAGRA members purchase local La Crosse area products to carry or send to Friedberg for their yearly 4-week long Advent sales booth.
• Sept. 28 - Oct. 3, 2018 - A delegation of 12 Germans stayed in host families, walked in the Maple Leaf parade & toured the La Crosse area.
• July 2018 - A La Crosse area Hand Bell Choir, conducted by Jim Knutson, visited Friedberg, performed 2 concerts & stayed with host families.
• September 2016 - Six members of the La Crosse Oktoberfest royal family were hosted in Friedberg.
• July 2016 - A La Crosse delegation of 13 visited Friedberg, stayed with host families, visited the area and attended their Altstadfest (Renaissance Festival). It included a Trade Mission with Lisa Herr - Director of the 7 Rivers Alliance, Vicki Markussen - Chamber of Commerce Director, and Mayor Tim Kabat.
• Aug. 28 - Sept. 3, 2015 - A delegation of 14 Germans, including Mayor Roland Eichmann & sculptor Wolfgang Auer were here to donate a sculpture to the RIFG German Garden. They stayed in host families & toured the La Crosse area.
• July 2013 - An official delegation of 10 from La Crosse visited Friedberg at the time of their
• Renaissance Altstadtfest. Many other La Crosse residents were also there for a wedding and the school exchange.
• July 2012 - 11 Friedbergers, including Mayor Peter Bergmair were hosted in families & had a booth at Riverfest.
• July 2010 - Mayor Matt Harter and a delegation from La Crosse visited Friedberg.
• Aug 2009 - The Yellow Rose square dancers from Friedberg spent 3 weeks in La Crosse.
• Aug 2008 - A hiking group of 22 Friedbergers was hosted in La Crosse.
• June 2008 - La Crosse Franciscan Sisters visited in Friedberg.
• July 2007 - La Crosse delegation visited Friedberg and attended their Altstadtfest.
• May 2007 - UW-L Jazz band performed in Friedberg.
• July 2006 - Friedberg delegation, led by committee president Peer Dilling, in La Crosse.
• May 2006 - Mayor Peter Bergmair visited La Crosse.
• December 2004 - Mayor Medinger visited Friedberg and put the final official signature on our twinning agreement.
• Oktoberfest 2004 - Friedberg delegation, including Mayor Bergmair, stayed in families and participated in many Oktoberfest activities.
• July 2004 - Altstadtfest, Friedberg. Small La Crosse delegation.
• Sept. 2003 - La Crosse delegation was hosted in Friedberg, in families. Attended Munich Oktoberfest, went into the Alps.
• Riverfest 2002 - Visit of a Friedberg delegation, including former mayor Albert Kling and current Mayor Peter Bergmair. They were again hosted in families, attended our annual fundraising German dinner, rode the Julia Belle Swain, viewed our Riverfest and Fourth of July celebrations and toured cranberry country.
• July 2001 - A La Crosse delegation was hosted in Friedberg at the time of their Altstadtfest, a Renaissance reenactment which celebrates an important period in their 725 year history. We stayed with families and were royally entertained.
• Oktoberfest 2000 - Visit of a delegation from Friedberg, including Mayor Albert Kling who signed the official protocol designating our Twin City status. The visitors were hosted by members of the German Committee and other interested community members. They participated in many of the Oktoberfest functions, and were shown around the La Crosse area.