Storndorf and Metzlos shine in the competition Our village has a future!

Storndorf and Metzlos shine in the competition Our village has a future!

Storndorf, Deutschland - in Hesse the time has come again: The villages show what they are made of. The Hessian state competition "Our village has a future" produced results on July 6, 2025 that provide a breath of fresh air in the rural regions. This traditional event has been carried out for over 65 years and is used to honor the voluntary commitment in the villages and make positive developments visible. A total of 82 villages have applied this year, which proves that the rural communities are alive and committed. In the first places, two municipalities from the Vogelsberg region stand out.

Storndorf, a picturesque village in Schwalmtal, took third place, while Metzlos from Grebenhain caused a sensation with fourth place. For the two villages, this is not only a great success, but also a sign of the hard work and the commitment of their communities. The SPD member of the state parliament Maximilian Ziegler praised the great commitment of the village communities and emphasized that such competitions are important to celebrate the positive aspects of village life. "It is very important to us to make life in our villages attractive," says Ziegler.

background and goal of the competition

The competition "Our village has a future" is organized by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The main goal of the competition is the appreciation of civic engagement and the visualization of positive developments that take place in rural regions. The competition has been held since 1961 under the patronage of the Federal President, whereby the villages of the old and new federal states have been assessed together since 1993. This reflects the variety of challenges in front of which the villages are facing.

The winners of the state competitions take part in the federal decision in 2026, which represents part of the “Federal Program of Rural Development and Regional Administration”. The organization and implementation takes place in close cooperation with the local ministries and associations, which meets the highest demands on the assessment. This year, the excellent villages can not only look forward to the placement, but also about businesses that are initiated by their active participation and commitment in their communities.

FAZIT

The Hessian state competition not only moved the communities of Storndorf and butchelessly into the spotlight, but also proved what is possible in rural areas when people work together. Such competitions such as "Our village has a future" are more than just competitions; They are an appreciation of diversity and possibilities in our villages. It remains exciting to see how these initiatives will lead to the further revitalization of the village communities - there is still a lot of potential in it!

Further information on the competition and the participating villages can be found on the websites of Oberhessen-Live and bmel .