Whoop-Up opportunity for vendors to shine

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on August 26, 2022.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Local vendor Jessica Rudakoff with Bath Bakery, takes advantage of her prime location to showcase her home-made bath bombs and other bath products Thursday during Whoop-Up Days at the main pavilion of Lethbridge Exhibition grounds.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

It’s been a long wait.
Vendors at Whoop-Up Days this week are excited to be back in the saddle for the annual celebration, which gives them an opportunity to provide their wares to large crowds visiting the venue. 
With the pandemic entering the rearview mirror for most southern Albertans, the chance to return to serve the people of Lethbridge has been satisfying for most vendors, including local Jessica Rudakoff from Bath Bakery and Terry Baumle with Sunset Gourmet from Camrose, Alta.

Both vendors took part in Whoop-Up Days for the first time this year.

Rudakoff said when the Lethbridge and District Exhibition was asking for vendors, they jumped at the opportunity.

“We’re from Lethbridge and as soon as we saw that they were taking vendors we jumped on it because we love being here, we love doing everything in Lethbridge,” said Rudakoff.

Rudakoff said she co-owns Bath Bakery with her twin sister, and they try to take part in as many local events as possible to be able to reach the local community.

“We do a fair bit of markets around Lethbridge. We are always at the Big Christmas Show when it’s on, a couple of farmers markets this year and some handmade markets as well,” said Rudakoff.

Rudakoff and her sister create homemade bath bombs, with natural products. Bath Bakery is a home-based business operated out of Rudakoff’s house. She said that is one of the reasons they take advantage of events like Whoop-Up Days to showcase their products.

Similar to Rudakoff’s business, in the sense that is a home-based business, Baumle is an independent consultant for Sunset Gourmet out of Camrose, with the main company being based out of Winnipeg.

Baumle said she decided to bring her business to Whoop-Up Days to promote the cuisine in southern Alberta as their products are not being distributed in the area yet.

“I was excited to do a five day event, I have not done much in southern Alberta and to be honest Sunset Gourmet is not really in southern Alberta yet so I wanted to promote it more in that area,” said Baumle.

She said they have 65 food products, everything from beverage to dessert and everything in between, with 48 gluten-free products. They carry dips, soups, drinks, spreads, desserts, seasonings and sauces.

“All of our seasonings are low sodium and healthy and pure, no fillers in any of the seasonings,” said Baumle.

During day three of Whoop-Up Days on Thursday, both vendors agreed on the fact that it has been progressively busier every day.

“Day one was slow, day two was better and today is looking great,” said Baumle on Thursday afternoon.

Similar to Baumle, Rudakoff said it has been a little slower than they anticipated but thanks to their location they have had steady traffic. Bath Bakery is located across the entrance to the South Pavilion where the Pow Wow has been taking place.

“I think it’s actually done pretty decent, we were expecting a bit more people here since it’s the first one since it’s been open because of the pandemic, but it’s actually not too bad for it being a rainy day, and in the last week before school is actually not too bad,” said Rudakoff.

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