in 1966, a u.s. man named wilmar vorwerk of new ulm, minnesota, developed an interest in the breed, but it had not been exported to north america. thus, he created a bantam version from scratch using lakenvelders, buff and blue wyandottes, black-tailed buff and buff columbian rosecombs. european fanciers have also independently miniaturized a bantam vorwerk. though the large fowl vorwerk has never been accepted in the american poultry association's standard of perfection, the american bantam association has recognized the u.s. version of the vorwerk bantam.