A friend's transition; Connie and Tom tie the knot

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gustafson, just after the knot was tied near their home in Wyoming.

Both Connie and Tom are back to work now, but they made time to spend a few days in Hawaii on their honeymoon.

by Herald Columnist & DENNIS. L. CLAY
| February 1, 2014 5:00 AM

Both Connie and Tom are back to work now, but they made time to spend a few days in Hawaii on their honeymoon.

Connie Craft is a friend to many in the Columbia Basin, although few have actually visited with her face to face. Connie is a once-a-month guest on my radio show, Columbia Basin Lifestyles, on KBSN-AM 1470, which airs Saturday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m.

This lady is a sales representative from Hi-Country Snack Foods, Inc., which has headquarters in Lincoln, Montana. The company provides the public with several jerky seasoning mixes, such as original, Cajun, three pepper, garlic pepper and other blends.

The company has fresh sausage blends of spices, the sausage without casings, such as German, Mexican, Italian, spicy and four-pepper blends. They also have snack-style sausage kits, the sausage in casings, such as old-style salami, summer sausage and German bologna.

And this is not all, as they have rubs, brine mixes, marinades, slow cooker seasonings, bratwurst and kielbasa makings. And this is not all of the items Connie represents. Hi Country products can be purchased at Tri-State Outfitters, Big R and other Columbia Basin retailers.

A quote many radio show listeners remember from Connie is, "Any vehicle will do when using the Hi-Country seasonings."

The vehicle is the meat, meaning a person can use ground duck, goose, chicken, beef, elk, deer, armadillo, goat and any other meat when using the seasonings.

At a trade show a few years ago, an Ephrata man was talking to Connie and remarked how familiar she seemed, but he couldn't remember how he knew of her. Then he turned his back as Connie answered a question from another man.

"That's it," the Ephrata man said, as he whirled around to face her again. "I remember you from Dennis' radio show."

This man recognized Connie's voice, but not her face, because he had not met her before.

Well friends, on Jan. 4 Connie completed a transition as she married Tom Gustafson. Congratulations Connie and Tom.

P.S. Connie will be my guest tomorrow on Columbia Basin Lifestyles. Listen in, then call and send her your congratulations.