HOLIDAY TREATS
Tracy Ackman-Shaw, of Owatonna, shops on the first day of the Steele County Historical Society’s holiday cookie sale. Her family has three Christmases to attend, so she planned to use her purchases to supplement her own holiday baking. Staff photo by Kay Fate
The annual Steele County Historical Society holiday cookie sale was a wild success last year, completely selling out within about 90 minutes.
Organizers were grateful for the support but decided to make some adjustments for this year’s sale; namely, a larger supply of cookies.
It worked – almost too well.
Hundreds of dozens of cookies, along with a vicious north wind that often kicked up to 50 mph, meant there were plenty of sweets for both days of the sale, and then some.
In addition to the planned two-day event, there were enough cookies left to sell for another two days, including during last weekend’s Christmas in the Village.
The unpredictability of it all is part of the charm of the fundraiser that has been a community favorite “long before I was with the organization, which is 26 years,” said Jerry Ganfield, treasurer of the SCHS Board of Directors.
He had no idea how many cookies were donated this year, “but I baked 20 dozen myself,” he said.
Ganfield provided an army of gingerbread men to accompany the decorated sugar cookies, specialty cookies, rosettes and more.
Jean Krause, who staffed the payment table with Jennifer Thiele on Wednesday, brought 15 dozen.
Hers included a variety of pecan tarts, Norwegian pastries, and peanut butter blossoms.
All money raised goes toward programming and operations for the history center.
There is no financial goal set, Krause said.
“How much do we hope to raise? As much as we can,” she laughed.