NISLAND—For the second summer in a row Owl Creek Organics and Natural Products hosted a Jam and Honey Festival at their country store on August 10.
The Jam and Honey Festival started last year when the idea was suggested to Bernadette Jensen, owner, by South Dakota Specialty Producers Association. She thought that sounded fun and decided to run with it! The Festival was born.
She has worked to make this year’s festival even bigger and better than last years. That hard work has paid off as Jensen estimates the turn out this year has doubled in size. “We got really good vendors, a good variety—I don’t like to do double of any vendor,” she explained. “And then we hired a live musician, Luke Olson from Spearfish, he is doing a very good job!”
Jensen’s dad, Bernard Barnaud, kept busy crafting thin crepes while Jensen’s mom, Laura Barnaud handed out flavored honey and jam samples to top the warm crepes. “My dad is making the crepes-he’s actually from France—so he’s doing really good job at those! People really like them and they told us to put a tip jar out for him, because he’s so good,” said Jensen.
The first 50 visitors received a free mini jar of honey as well as jam-filled thumbprint cookies, honey cake, and refreshments. There was also handouts with honeybee facts—Jensen enjoys educating everyone on the importance of bees. For the kids there was bee themed stickers, games, coloring sheets and headbands. A cute bee photo back drop with an instant camera was available to the kids.
A true family affair, Jensen relies on her parents to help her with the business. “I’m from here originally, the Belle Fourche area, and I actually live in North Dakota now because my husband lives there—but my parents still live here,” explained Jensen. “My mom ships everything for me when I get online orders and she stocks the retailers in Belle Fourche, Spearfish, Sturgis and Rapid City.”
The honey and jam business actually formed out of a different hobby for Jensen. “I got into bees because I was a big gardener and I wanted to increase my production,” she shared. “So then I got more and more into the honey bee business. So, I mean, I just kind of blossomed from the initial interest in increasing my production in my garden.” Now she spends her time with the honey business and has no time to garden!
If you are interested in trying any of Owl Creek products, you can pick them up at the country store, online at owlcreeknaturalproducts.com or in the following stores: Lueders Food Center in both Belle and Spearfish, Lynn’s Dakotamart in Sturgis and Staple and Spice in Rapid City.
Read the full issue of the Belle Fourche Beacon by clicking here.
