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For 28 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 buyer
 rs. 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, and 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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Start Date
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End Date
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Show Title
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City
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State
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August 8
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August 8
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Hometown Days
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Strassburg
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Colorado
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August 13
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August 23
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Iowa State Fair-Ag Building
above Butter Cow
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Des Moines
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Iowa
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August 15
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August 16
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Gilpin County Fair
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Blackhawk
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Colorado
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September 11
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September 20
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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 11
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September 12
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Spinach Festival
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Lenexa
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Kansas
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September 16
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September 20
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Walnut Valley
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Winfield
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Kansas
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September 19
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September 20
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Shawnee Craft Fair
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Shawnee
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Kansas
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September 26
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September 27
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Cider Days
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Topeka
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Kansas
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September 26
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September 26
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Overland Park Days
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Overland Park
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Kansas
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October 3
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October 3
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Apple Day Craft Show
Rockbrook Center 108 & Center
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Omaha
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Nebraska
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October 9
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October 11
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Autumn Festival
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Sioux Falls
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South Dakota
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October 10
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October 11
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Mid America Center
Callahan Productions
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Council Bluffs
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Iowa
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October 17
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October 17
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Central Christian Church
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Wichita
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Kansas
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October 17
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October 17
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Gateway High School
Craft Fair
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Aurora
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Colorado
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October 24
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October 25
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UNI Dome
Callahan Productions
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Cedar Falls
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Iowa
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October 30
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October 31
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A Central Christmas
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Lenexa
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Kansas
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October 31
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October 31
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Fountain Fort Carson High School
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Fountain
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Colorado
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November 5
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November 8
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Autumn Festival
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Omaha
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Nebraska
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November 6
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November 8
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Country Christmas
Denver Merchandise Mart
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Denver
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Colorado
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November 7
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November 7
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Yuletide Bazaar
Parker Field House
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Parker
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Colorado
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November 12
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November 15
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Holiday Food & Gift Show Convention Center
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Denver
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Colorado
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November 12
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November 15
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Autumn Festival
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Shakopee
(Minneapolis)
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Minnesota
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November 14
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September 15
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Union Middle School
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Union
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Missouri
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November 19
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November 22
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Autumn Festival
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Villa Park
(Chicago)
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Illinois
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November 21
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November 21
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Thomas Jefferson High School Craft Show
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Denver
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Colorado
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November 27
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November 28
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Holiday Craft Fair
Arvada Center
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Arvada
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Colorado
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December 4
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December 6
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Callahan Productions
Iowa State Fairgrounds
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Des Moines
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Iowa
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December 5
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December 5
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Bear Creek High School
Craft Show
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Lakewood
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Colorado
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December 11
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December 13
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Country Treasures
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Belleville
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Illinois
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