COLUMN: Village News – Thank you to our summer staff

Is it really time to say goodbye already? This week is the last week of summer employment for some of our seasonal staff. They are off to university or college, and we will miss them!

Our summer staff have played an important role in enabling Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) to offer engaging school programming, fun-filled summer day camps, well-cared-for grounds and farmyard, a welcoming greeting at reception, and delicious traditional meals at the Livery Barn Restaurant.

MHV, as a museum, is open year-round and we maintain a core staff throughout the year, but in spring and summer, our visitation increases and our corresponding programming increases. For this season, we rely on extra staffing to carry out the activities that highlight the museum and the stories that each artifact tells.

I remember how important it was to have a summer job when I was a university student. Not only did I earn income that would assist with paying for tuition and books for the next year of studies, but a summer job was my first experience with having an employer who was not my dad. Learning new skills, finding new ways of doing things, and interacting with colleagues and managers, prepared me for future roles, occupations, and careers.

Summer jobs at MHV provide the museum with much needed human resources in order to accomplish our mission of telling the stories of the early Mennonite settlers to Manitoba. They are part of the grounds crew who maintain our large outdoor facilities and buildings. They serve the wonderful food that our experienced cooks and bakers prepare in the Livery Barn Restaurant. They organize school group and adult group tours, working with volunteer interpreters to create positive, interactive learning experiences for all ages. And they greet visitors from our community, from other parts of Manitoba and from around the world, inviting everyone to explore what MHV has to offer.

As much as we appreciate the contributions of our summer staff to our mission, we hope that they have also benefited from their experiences at the museum. Working with experienced staff and seasoned volunteers creates a dynamic work environment. Teamwork is necessary for the running of our successful programs. We listen to the perspectives of our colleagues. We creatively learn problem-solving skills as abrupt changes in weather affect our planned activities. And we work diligently, shoulder to shoulder, to create an environment that connects younger and older generations with the experiences and stories of our community.

Time management, good work habits, creative problem-solving, being adaptable, developing good communication skills and learning to work as a team, are what we refer to as ‘soft skills’. Learning these skills at a summer job are valuable because they transfer to any future job or vocation.

Mennonite Heritage Village is very grateful for our summer staff. They have been key contributors to much of what we do each year. And they have become our friends as well. Thank you for joining our team in 2026 and sharing your enthusiasm, your ideas, and your energy with us. We wish you much success in your upcoming studies and your future careers.

Upcoming events

Until Sept. 30 – The museum, the Livery Barn Restaurant, the General Store, and Village Books and Gifts are open seven days per week.

Open daily until 5 p.m. – Gerhard Ens Gallery new exhibit is open: Mennonite Medicine: Cures and Curiosities – 1800 to 1950.

Sept. 3 – 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Books, Borscht and Blues – Enjoy a soup buffet from the Livery Barn Restaurant and enjoy the sound of Manitoba-grown artists; the award-winning Ollee Owens, and the dynamic duo of Big Dave McLean and Dan Thiessen.

Sept. 7 – Fall on the Farm: Cultural Showcase – Join the Mennonite Heritage Village for Fall on the Farm 2026! Spend your Labour Day with MHV, celebrating the harvest season. Enjoy pioneer demonstrations, hog butchering, cultural food and performances, and celebrate the last weekend of summer. Children’s entertainment, wagon rides, barrel train, candy booth and much more.

Sept. 19 – Touch a Tractor Fundraiser – Touch-a-Tractor is an interactive, family-friendly event for all ages to get up close and personal with the equipment that drives and builds our communities, now and throughout history. Visitors get to sit in the driver’s seat of unique vehicles and equipment, learn about their role in our community, and interact with the people who operate them. You’ll be able to watch unique demonstrations and explore the museum, all on one great Saturday! And best of all? All proceeds go to support the mission of MHV and of Steinbach Community Outreach.