For more than 20 years, root beer and candied nuts have been a staple at Old Trusty.
Based out of Salina, KS, Tom and Jean Isaacson started bringing Old Home Root Beer and candied nuts to the annual event; however, they used to be set up separately from each other on the fairgrounds.
Eventually, Tom and Jean gifted the businesses to their daughter, Michelle, and despite her distaste for root beer and nuts, she’s continued on her parents’ legacy.
During the 43rd Old Trusty Sept. 6-7, Michelle’s businesses sat next to each other— something she changed a few years back to keep things running more smoothly.
On one side, pecans, almonds,
ASHLEY D SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS
and walnuts are roasted, coated in a sweet mixture, and put in bags to sell.
The machine mixing the nuts comes from Germany, as does the almond recipe, which includes cinnamon, sugar water, and vanilla water.
Once combined, the nuts go through a wet process and then are stirred over a burner until they get dry and powder-coated. Then, vanilla water is poured on them to shine them up.
Cashews are roasted with the same ingredients, but at half the measurements. Michelle said the entire process takes about 20 minutes.
She offers three sizes and nuts are measured out so that everyone receives the same amount for whichever bag size they choose.
Just steps away in front of a trailer her mom built is the root beer stand, which she renamed MMm Root Beer.
Making the drink comes from a family recipe that was started by her grandma. It has since been changed a bit by Michelle’s mom to decrease the anise flavoring.
Tubes connected to the back of the trailer help transfer the drink to two containers at the front, which eliminates helpers from having to haul them back and forth when a refill is needed.
For the root beer, she offers four sizes, ranging from bottles to large jugs.
Having attended Old Trusty over the years, Michelle said everyone is so helpful, even mentioning a gentleman sitting near some engines who has helped fix her mixer.
“Old Trusty people are so nice,” she added.
Along with root beer, MMm Rootbeer also makes diet root beer and has cream soda available; however, the cream soda is made elsewhere.
When it comes to the nuts, along with the trio of options she brought to Old Trusty, she will also sometimes roast peanuts over Christmas.
Michelle Isaacson pours a fresh batch of roast almonds into a bag for a customer. ASHLEY D SWANSON | CLAY COUNTY NEWS
Almonds are mixed and roasted in a machine that comes from Germany. The machine can be either electric or gas.
The new name of Michelle’s business is painted on the back of the sign her parents used, as seen here.
