Westdorf/Mehringen/Zens/SLK. The three district winners in the Salzlandkreis district – Westdorf, Mehringen and Zens – have already achieved a great deal. They are among the top 14 and are competing for the title in the state competition "Our Village Has a Future". On Tuesday, they welcomed the jury from Magdeburg, who first visited Westdorf in the morning, Mehringen at midday and Zens in the afternoon. They assessed the infrastructure, building culture, economy, environment and social interaction in the communities, all of which have fewer than 900 inhabitants. The decisive question was: what do the local people do with what is available? How do they organise their lives in the countryside and what helps to secure the next generation?
The three villages, their mayors Ronny Küster, Annika Fügner-Meier and Hans Henning Hagemann and the many active members of the associations, from sportsmen and creative people to poultry farmers, church representatives and the fire brigades, presented themselves, their most beautiful places and further plans with great commitment. But now they want even more. They want to position themselves in a national comparison. And why not win the title?
District Administrator Markus Bauer would of course be just as pleased for all those involved in the region. His reasoning for why even just taking part is a success: "A competition like this brings people together. They pursue a goal and realise for themselves where their strengths lie. You can also learn how things are organised elsewhere where you might not yet see the right solution. I think that makes our villages stronger and creates a new sense of community."
From preparing for the competition to the presentation round, the district administration offered the district winners further important assistance and provided them with tips for ideas and content. They entered the competition together, but each village community completed the final metres to the finish line on its own. And how: an incredible number of different players were mobilised in all three locations. They all made an impressive showing to the jury, and everywhere they went the extra mile compared to the district competition.
"We were super broad, with 27 participants in the district competition. This enabled us to field three for the state competition for the first time," recalls department head Tilo Wechselberger. He adds: "The enthusiasm and commitment in all the winning villages was palpable and did not go unnoticed by the state jury. And the competition has created a new sense of unity everywhere, which will have a lasting effect and bring the village communities even closer together. Now we are hoping for the best chances of reaching the top. It would be the first time."
The winners of the state competition will be honoured for their outstanding achievements at the state harvest festival in September. They will also have the opportunity to represent Saxony-Anhalt in the national competition "Our Village Has a Future" in 2026.