Fall Fest is Really About the Food
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Fall Fest Really Is About Food
Our diets do really go to pieces during Fall Fest. There are so many good things to eat and drink. One of my favorites is Grandma Rose’s Caramels booth. There is no way anyone can pass up free samples of about ten different flavors of caramels.
Rose Golbhahn and Geoff Blanchard of Ft. Benton, Montana have been making and selling caramels for about twenty-five years, along with their other vocations. They also run a Black Angus cow-calf operation out of Ft. Benton. “We keep pretty busy all year long, what with raising cattle and then making and selling caramels every weekend,” Rose said.
It started with Rose’s Grandmother’s recipe. “She made two flavors: plain and pecan. She made them on an old Monarch wood stove. When she passed, we started making them for friends and family. In 2019 we took the show on the road to the Great Falls Farmers Market. We were making about 6,000 pieces. Now we make somewhere near 50,000 pieces,” she explained.
Rose and Geoff work as a team. He cuts, and she wraps. The caramels are small-batch cooked with real cream, real butter and lots of time. Flavors include licorice, salted caramel, huckleberry, and cinnamon among others.
This was Rose and Geoff’s first time at Townsend Fall Fest. They heard about the event at the Great Falls Farmers’ Market. Their booth has been more than successful with buyers stopping regularly, even during the Saturday rainy afternoon. “The organizers have been so friendly. Everyone has been so supportive. Even yesterday (Saturday) we did fantastic sales. We will definitely come back next year,” Rose said.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Rose Galbhahn and her husband Geoff
Image 2 Caption: Funnel Cakes are a Fall Fest Favorite
Image 3 Caption: Rotarian Adam Six serving beer
Image 4 Caption: High School Organizations Volunteer as well
