Ilse Venter does it all and then some.

And now she’s about to throw open the doors to her inaugural Wild West Home & Homemade Expo at Norris Penrose Event Center on Sept. 19-20.

Venter, who moved with her family to the U.S. from South Africa in 2020, is the owner of Wagon Trail Mercantile, a general store in Ellicott; Ellicott Farmers Market; and Biltong Bites, the latter of which is South African beef jerky she makes herself with spices imported from her home country.

When Painted Tree Boutiques, a Colorado Springs storefront that housed dozens of local vendors selling their own wares, shut down earlier this year, Venter knew the small business owners were hurting.

“So I got the crazy idea, why don’t I do this?” she said.

The Wild West-themed weekend event will feature more than 80 artisans and small business owners selling Western wear, woodwork, home decor, baked goods, specialty foods, vintage and specialty items, arts and crafts and more. Venter will also have her Biltong Bites up for sale.

She also plans to have a mechanical bull available for attendees.

“Small businesses are always overseen,” she said. “The big guys have special prices, but what people don’t realize is they buy in bulk, and that’s why they can afford to sell for $1. These are made with love by a person who has a passion for what they do.”

Details 

The Wild West Home & Handmade Expo, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 20, Norris Penrose Event Center, 945 Lower Gold Camp Road, $5; norrispenrose.com/events/wild-west-home-handmade-expo