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For 29 years, Olde Westport Spice & Trading Co. has been a presence on the show circuit. Traveling by van to dozens
of cities across the country. The Petersen's travel with a full load which includes boxes of all the company's products, plus
demo samples, and cooking equipment. Preparing for just one show requires a marathon cooking session which can take
several hours as the Petersen's cook up to 25 pounds of hamburger to be used in their chili which is seasoned with
Olde Westport Spice Championship Chili Spice Blend and then given out as samples at the show. They’ll also mix up
gallons of dip featuring four of the company’s top-selling spices to entice tasters into becoming buyers. Setting up the
company products at each craft show begins early in the day (usually the day before a show opens) as boxes of spices, coolers
filled with perishables, bags of chips and pretzels and boxes of cookbooks are carried into the show. Throughout the long day
which can last from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., one or more of the Petersen's are on-hand to offer samples, field questions about
ingredients, new and old recipes for the products, take orders and replenish the dwindling samples.
When asked if the end result is worth all the effort, Ann (Petersen) Myers says, “We really enjoy being close to the customer, a
nd by doing all these shows, we not only sell a lot of product, we also get great feed back. And since we do many of the same
shows year after year, we really get to know people personally. My dad, Olde Bill, even gets fan letters from folks who love our
products. He gets a little embarrassed, especially when asked to autograph his cookbooks, but he savors every minute of it".
If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and visit Olde Westport Spice and Trading Co. at one of the following craft shows
listed below. Hope to see you there!
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Olde Westport Spice Show Schedule
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Start Date
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End Date
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Show Name
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City
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State
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September 10
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September 19
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Kansas State Fair (Sunflower South Building)
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Hutchinson
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Kansas
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September 15
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September 19
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Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival
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Winfield
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Kansas
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September 11
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September 11
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Spinach Festival
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Lenexa
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Kansas
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September 18
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September 18
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Shawnee Days Arts & Crafts Fair
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Shawnee
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Kansas
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September 24
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September 26
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Calahan Craft Show (Iowa State Fairgrounds)
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Des Moines
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Iowa
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September 24
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September 26
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Cider Days
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Topeka
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Kansas
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September 24
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September 25
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Overland Park Craft Show
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Overland Park
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Kansas
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October 1
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October 3
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Barnyard Days
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Neosho
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Missouri
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October 2
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October 2
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Apple Days-Rockbrook
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Omaha
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Nebraska
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October 8
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October 10
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Autumn Festival (Arena)
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Sioux Falls
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South Dakota
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October 9
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October 10
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Calahan Craft Show (Mid America Center)
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Council Bluffs
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Iowa
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October 16
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October 17
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Calahan Craft Show (UNI Dome)
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Cedar Falls
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Iowa
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October 29
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October 31
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Central Church-Nazarene
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Lenexa
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Kansas
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November 4
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November 7
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Autumn Festival
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Omaha
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Nebraska
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November 5
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November 7
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Colorado Country Christmas (Denver Merchandise Mart)
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Denver
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Colorado
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November 11
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November 14
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Autumn Festival (Canterbury)
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Shakopee
(Minneapolis)
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Minnesota
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November 13
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November 14
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Union Craft Show (Middle School)
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Union
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Missouri
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November 13
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November 13
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Craft Show (High School)
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Goodland
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Kansas
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November 18
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November 21
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Autumn Festival (Odeum)
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Villa Park
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Illinois
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November 19
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November 21
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Calahan Craft Show (Iowa State Fairgrounds)
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Des Moines
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Iowa
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November 19
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November 21
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Holiday Food & Gift Show
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Denver
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Colorado
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November 20
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November 20
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See & Sell
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Salina
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Kansas
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November 26
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November 27
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Arvada Craft Show (Arvada Center)
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Denver
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Colorado
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December 4
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December 4
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Derby Methodist Church
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Derby
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Kansas
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