By Gary Dickson, Editor, Siouxland Observer

In case you weren’t aware of it, it’s time to purchase boxes of Thin Mints, Do-si-dos, Samoas, Trefoils, Tagalongs, and all your other favorite yummy Girl Scout Cookies.

Whether you’ve there are Girl Scouts from your neighborhood knocking on your door with an order list while a watchful parent waits nearby in a car or on the sidewalk, or a co-worker lets you know their daughter or niece is selling the cookies and they have an order form in their desk or you see a group of Girl Scouts stationed at a table in front of the grocery store, it’s hard to not be aware of the annual fundraising event.

I pulled into the A-1 Quik Stop on the northwest side of Elk Point the other day to get a bottle of water and a candy bar while I was out taking photos of bridges in rural Union County. It was there I encountered 8-year-old Harper Rosenbaum, a second grader from Elk Point who had just finished setting up a card table full of a variety of Girl Scout Cookies with the assistance of her dad, Eric. It didn’t take long before I purchased a box of Thin Mints, a long-time favorite of mine. She smiled broadly as I gave her the exact amount – six dollars, so she didn’t have to make change for me.

Harper and her dad agreed to let me take photos of them for the Siouxland Observer. While I was doing so, another customer walked up. His name was Casey Duhaime. He said he used to live in Iowa City but now lives in Elk Point. Casey loaded up on several different varieties of cookies while I was shooting photos and talking to him, Harper and Eric. I didn’t see which ones he chose, though.

The young entrepreneur told me she sells cookies here at the Quik Stop when she can and sometimes sells door-to-door. “I sell lots of cookies,” she said. “But sometimes the competition is kinda tough. I sell quite a few of the Peanut Butter Patties. They’re also called Tagalongs.”

Harper said the cookie sales end in about a week.

According to the Girl Scout cookie history website, in 2021, all Girl Scout Cookies became designated both kosher and Halal certified. There are vegan and gluten-free varieties too. All proceeds stay with local councils and troops.

As I returned to my car, I noticed a middle-aged couple picking out boxes of cookies from Harper’s display and an elderly woman was walking back from her car with her purse toward the table.

I guess a lot of folks were hungry for Girl Scout Cookies Wednesday afternoon. Either that or they wanted to see Harper’s cheerful smile.

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