Prairie Sage Canning Co. Jingle Baskets bring small-batch flavor and local love to the holidays

McCOOK Neb. — When McKenzie Schmitz plants a garden, she doesn’t go halfway. A few years ago, her backyard was producing so much that she simply couldn’t keep up with the fresh veggies. So she did what creative people do—she turned a “too much” problem into something special.

“Prairie Sage started pretty organically for me. I’ve always had a full garden, and one year it was producing so much that I needed to find a way to preserve everything,” McKenzie said. She started making jams, pickles, hot sauces—“really anything I could think of to not let the produce go to waste.”

She shared those jars with friends and family, and the response was immediate. People loved the unique flavors and kept nudging her to do more. That encouragement is what nudged Prairie Sage Canning Co. from a personal passion into a small business.

A holiday tradition: Jingle Baskets

Out of that creativity came something people now look forward to every Christmas—her Jingle Baskets.

“I started the Jingle Baskets a few years ago because I wanted to create something customizable and fun for the holidays,” she said. “They took off immediately!”

Jingle Baskets are build-your-own gift baskets packed with small-batch goodies: jams, salts, popcorn, scones, dips, and treats that customers hand-pick for the people they love. Over time, those baskets have become a holiday tradition for many families, and McKenzie says they’re “honestly one of my favorite parts of the season.”

Each basket is hand-assembled and can include a mix of:

• Jams and pickles

• Seasoning salts

• Bottled sauces

• Dip mixes

• Popcorn

• Scones, cookies, candies, jerky and more

She also pays close attention to how everything looks. Baskets are wrapped with filler, decor, and a bow so that when you hand one over, it feels like a thoughtful, personal gift, not just something grabbed off a shelf.

Featuring other local makers

One of the things that makes Prairie Sage’s Jingle Baskets stand out is that McKenzie doesn’t keep the spotlight all to herself.

“Supporting local makers is one of my favorite parts of this whole process,” she said.

This year, the baskets will feature:

• Small-batch popcorn from Zach and Alissa in Kearney

• Sourdough scones from Anna Haller, baked to help support her daughter Charlotte’s dance fund

“It feels really meaningful to bring our community together in these baskets, and people love discovering new local favorites,” McKenzie said.

The dip everyone’s obsessed with

Ask McKenzie if she has a favorite product and she doesn’t hesitate: Smoked Street Corn Dip.

“My Smoked Street Corn Dip might be my all-time favorite. People go crazy for it,” she said. “It sells out constantly and it just makes me happy seeing how much everyone enjoys it.”

The dip has even found its way onto the menu at The Station Taphouse & Eatery on the Elote Burger—topped with bacon, pepper jack, and a scoop of her dip right on top. “It’s a huge hit,” she said.

She’s also especially proud of her seasoning salts. She currently has six blends and uses them in her own everyday cooking. They’re simple enough for weeknight dinners but also shine as BBQ rubs.

“They’ve been such a fun creative project,” she said.

What makes this year special

“This year feels special because Prairie Sage has grown so much, and the community support has grown with it,” McKenzie said.

People message her months in advance to ask when Jingle Baskets will be available and start planning their holiday gifting around them. With the addition of even more local makers, she says the baskets now feel “even more personal and collaborative,” like something the whole town has a hand in.

“It just feels like something our whole town contributes to in a way,” she said.

How to order a Jingle Basket

• Order deadline: December 18

• Pickup: December 23, 5:30–6:30 p.m.

• Location: 404 West A Street, McCook

To order:

1. Screenshot the Jingle Basket order form.

2. Fill it out right on your phone.

3. Email it to Mckenzieschmitz@hotmail.com.

4. Pay via Venmo or cash when you place your order.

If you’re looking for a gift that’s thoughtful, local, and delicious, a Prairie Sage Jingle Basket might be the easiest holiday “win” you wrap this year.

Find her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/17YCtU5Ced/?mibextid=wwXIfr