European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 17, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                \ Goose guides american girls join dutch tradition by Rosemary Sawyer Brussels bureaus Baker s dozen of american girls in the dutch town of co Vorden Learned recently that guiding a Gaggle of geese is nothing to Giggle about. In fact the Job of a Goose girl is quite serious. Just ask 9-year-old Bertina Hatcher. They try to go in the stores the third grader said of the group s feathered charges. We have to like Block them with the stick and  although each girl carried a Han Basket filled with Corn Bertina guessed the geese were heading to the shops to get food or  Candy bars Nooroo the co Vorden american school Pupil said with a Grin that stretched from one Side of her old fashioned Bonnet to the other. Bertina joined the other daughters of . Soldiers assigned to the combat equipment in Northwest in co Vorden in donning  skirts blouses and wooden shoes to Herd geese to Market As part of the City s annual Goose Market Celebration. The traditional event held on the second monday in november dates Back to the late 1700s when local Farmers sent their daughters to co Vorden s Market Square to sell the family geese for shipment to England for Christmas dinner. J nowadays the Lucky Duck geese Are simply rented for the Day As girls Ages 6 to 10, re enact the tradition of herding them through town. The girls also compete for the coveted title of mini miss Goose girl. American girls i n rented costumes have taken part the past five years. I think it s great that we get a Chance to participate in some of the things with the dutch folks chief warrant officer 3 Larry Kastriba said during a break from videotaping his daughter Kathleen 9. This year the americans and 39 dutch girls paraded three times before judges at a local hotel. The three judges awarded Points for costumes presentation and poise. Connie Dornberg Host nation teacher at the Small department of defense dependents school in co Vorden said she downplays the contest and emphasizes the tradition of Goose Market when preparing the girls for the event. Girls get their costumes in Early october and practice clamping about in their "  shoes for three erf of or v4/i Der Hoek weeks so that they can walk s4s photos rom Ruvy Sawyer clockwise from above american girls help drive geese through the streets of co Vorden each gets a moment in the spotlight As she is introduced by a local radio announcer Natalie Ramos pauses on the runway As her name is called. Well Dornberg said. Faviell Garibaldi 6, reported that her wooden shoe practice had paid off. I got better and  Brittni Rodriguez said she rehearsed with her parents before the contest. My dad was the judge and my mom was another Goose girl Brittni said adding that her dad taught her to curtsy. But Natalie Ramos said she did t have time to practice at All. Busy Busy Bee she explained with a shrug. Co Vorden mayor Bert Spahr Van Der Hoek said the Goose Market serves As a tourist attraction and a Homecoming for former residents of the town in Northeast Howiand. The event is to co Vorden natives what Independence Day is to americans he said a Day of old traditions and reunions. After the mini miss Goose girl judging contest organizers led the girls outside to three pens of waiting geese. At that Point the Romance of reliving an old tradition paled a bit for at least one Goose girl. It stinks said a frowning Kirsten Rivera 7, when she got a whiff of the Birds they would usher Down the Street. When the Gaggle of geese finally was released the girls giggles turned to shrieks of fear and excitement nevertheless by the end of the five minute walk from the hotel to the Square they had become quite adept at balancing their baskets of Corn while steering the geese with their Sticks. X in the Square a local radio personality introduced each girl and the mayor announced the contest winners. Among them was american Tia Goodman 7, daughter of april and Tommy Torres who won third place for the second year in a Row. I thought it was really Nice that an american child got to win her father said. It did t have to be my child but i m glad it  a in soy. Nov mar 17. 1993 Thi stars and stripes 23