(HERMANN, Mo.) – Mother Nature may have shut down Wurstfest on Sunday, March 24, but thankfully the winners of the sausage-making competition were announced March 23. Hermann Wurst Haus took home 9 awards at this year’s 34^th annual Wurstfest in Hermann, March 23 – 24. The Wurstfest, sponsored by the Hermann Chamber of Commerce, is a celebration of the area’s history of sausage-making and German culture. The professional and amateur sausage-making contest is held in conjunction with the annual event.

 A panel of both celebrity and expert judges evaluated more than 160 professional products entered into 18 different catagories. Products are judged on external appearance, internal appearance, taste and aroma. Hermann Wurst Haus received first place, Grand Champion honors for their braunschweiger, summer sausage, snack sticks and schwartenmagen (head cheese). They also earned champion plaques for leberwurst, traditional summer sausage, andouille and for their specialty wurst, peppered Italian salami with wine. Hermann Wurst Haus Italian sausage was awarded reserve champion.

 “Our hard work is paying off,” says Hermann Wurst Haus owner, Mike Sloan. “It’s nice to add these prestigious awards to our wall and share them with our employees and customers. Competitions are an excellent way to reaffirm our product’s high quality and value, but the real judges are and always will be the fine folks who come through our doors each week, shop for our products at stores throughout the country and purchase from our online store.”

 Hermann Wurst Haus currently produces 5 flavors of bacon, numerous varieties of summer sausage, hickory-smoked hams and more than 46 tasty bratwurst at their sausage showroom located on First Street in downtown Hermann, MO. Owners Mike and Lynette Sloan invite visitors to stop by their retail store and deli to sample their award-winning products. Open seven days a week.