By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Orders came fast and swift for bakeries in Marion County last week, and their operators put in long hours to fill them in time for Thanksgiving Day.

This was the second Thanksgiving for OK Bread Co., a country bakery at 2451 Upland Rd.

Co-owner Sam Oborny said she and her partner, Anna Kristek, were not as busy last year. They did all their holiday baking on Wednesday and hired Laura Hett to help.

Oborny estimated they sold 450 crescent rolls, 300 kolaches, 150 cinnamon rolls, and 70 bierocks.

“We started at 5:30 a.m. and didn’t get done until 6:30 or 7 p.m.,” she said.

Customers picked up their orders that day.

“Considering our location, it was wonderful,” she said. “It was gratifying to see people willing to come out here and pick up their orders. We have amazing customers.”

CB Baked Goods at 420 E. Main St. in Marion had a “huge week,” according to owner Rachel Collett.

This was her third Thanksgiving in business. She said Monday and Tuesday were two “very” busy days. She worked from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, finishing up a little earlier Wednesday.

She sold 100 dinner rolls, 20 dozen cinnamon rolls and sticky buns, and 25 bierocks and bolsos.

“I was much busier this year,” Collett said. “Some people wondered why I was not open Friday. I told them I had nothing to sell and I was tired.”

She said people have been coming from farther away, such as Hesston and Wichita.

“The bierocks draw them in,” she said.

Norel Farms Bakery at 207 N. Main St. in Hillsboro has been busier than usual all month.

“This has been our best November on record,” said co-owner Norman Schmidt.

Aside from arts and crafts day, the day before Thanksgiving is one of her top-selling days, Rachel said.

She was up at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday and was open until 4 p.m.

Zwieback, pies, and cinnamon rolls were big sellers, along with cookies and other baked goods.

Schmidt was right back at it Monday. After the holiday weekend, a line of customers was waiting to be served.

“People need to eat every day,” she said.

Flint Hills Bakery in Florence sold 150 pies and 35 dozen dinner rolls.

Sisters Katie and Kami Klassen started holiday baking at 2:30 a.m. Nov. 20 and worked until 7 p.m.

They slept a few hours and were back at work by midnight. They closed at 2 p.m. last Wednesday and took 45 pies to Newton. Others were picked up at the bakery.

Pie sales were a 50-percent increase over the 100 they sold last year.

The sisters were thankful for the help of their mom, sister, and sister-in-law.

“Business has been good lately,” Katie Klassen said. “It has picked up for fall and winter.”