A Legend at the Fairgrounds

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Story Published: Oct 3, 2008 at 12:54 PM PST

By Eileen Park

30 years in the business and showing no signs of slowing down...and it all started, with an idea.

Hazel Nelson who calls herself "the burger lady" says, "Well I had a dream. i'd say i bartended and it looked like they might have to take my legs - so I thought i'm coming up with a business of my own - and I helped out other people here you know - in fact I started a little corn dog joint as a volunteer in 1963!"

Hazel is a legend around here, known to almost everyone that works in the tri-state fairgrounds. And what's she's loved for, are her burgers.
Since then her love for good food and people have remained the same... but her success did not come easy.

"In 1985 we were coming from the Ellensburg rodeo and was hit head on... and my hubby was killed and I was almost killed... not just from the loss of him, but the loss of everything - the business and stuff like that - we just had to jump in and start all over again. but in out of every tragedy can come something beautiful."

Danny Horton, Hazel's boyfriends of 17 years says, "Hazel means "strength" in a woman like i've never known before through adversity that would crush other people. she maintains a smile that is like sunshine."

And that smile, is why everyone comes back to see Hazel over and over again...
She owns a total of 3 food stands and a novelties vendor. this year, marks her 30th year at the fairgrounds.

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