Traveling vendors work near home

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Monday, July 21, 2008

Doug and Nancy Hansen of Fergus Falls, who had six Hansen’s Amusement Foods booths at this summer’s West Otter Tail County Fair, have been traveling vendors for 33 years. They’ve sold food as far away as Montana.

Three years ago they sold the Montana business and have continued to modify their routes to keep travel closer to home.

Muggs Townsend, Nancy’s father, started selling food at the Montana State Fair and the Yellowstone Exhibition in Billings back in the 1940s.

“We’ve eliminated events outside of Minnesota in order to improve profitability and reduce the stress and paperwork,” Doug said. “This year we completed our strategy of just being a Minnesota business.”

Now, the farthest they travel with equipment is to the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul.

While Nancy grew up with the food concession business, Doug grew up on a farm near Barnesville. He met Nancy at MSCTC, Fergus Falls, in the early 1970s.

“My folks still wonder what happened that their son left the farm and got into the traveling food concession business,” he said. “But I couldn't find a better fit for me. I love this business.”

They also love the camaraderie with the food business.

“We enjoy working with the people on our staff,” Nancy said. “They work so hard for us. We love the variety the travel provides.”

The Hansens appreciated raising a family on the road.

“Now,” Doug said, “the fourth generation is scurrying around the fairgrounds. I love working with my family, but now all but one has moved on.”

They’re don’t fit the stereotype many people have in their minds about traveling vendors.

“We’re ordinary business people in an out of the ordinary business,” Doug said. “Both of us appreciate county fairs providing fun for people of all ages.”

They have nine food stands that they break into two routes and cover as many events in Minnesota as possible. The menu includes most of the fast food items one would associate with the outdoor amusement business. Corn dogs and foot longs are the best sellers, closely followed by cheese curds.

The traveling portion of their business begins in mid-April and continues through September.

“We’re very busy and from June through Labor Day,” Doug said, “and we have only a couple of days off. We employ an average of 30 people on our staff each week.”

The Hansens have a core crew of about a dozen workers and the rest come and go as their schedules permit.

“We’re always looking to find good and hard working people to give us helping hands,” Nancy said. “Over the 33 years in business, we’ve employed over 2,000 people. Some work just for a weekend while others work for many seasons.”

They’re able to work six events within 10 miles of Fergus Falls. The Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul is the largest event at which they work.

“Nancy becomes my competitor at the state fair,” Doug said. “She and her siblings run three foot long hot dog stands. They top the sales from my foot long hot dog stand.”

Hansen’s Foods also is on hand at large hot rod shows, drag racing events and moto cross events held at the Red Horse Ranch Arena. They also work horse shows, cattle shows, rodeos, festivals and various community events.

“We strive to provide good food wherever people gather to have a good time,” Doug said. “That’s why we chose to name our business Hansen's Amusement Foods.”

Tom Hintgen’s column runs on Mondays.