Bags of handmade marshmallows from Jazzed Up Marshmallows, including flavors like Watermelon, Cookies & Cream, Bomb Pop, and Raspberry Lemonade, on display at the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market on Saturday, June 28.
Jason Quednow stands at his booth on Saturday, June 28, at the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market, offering a colorful spread of handmade marshmallows.
HANNAH BROCK/
HANNAH.BROCK@APG-SW.COM
Bags of handmade marshmallows from Jazzed Up Marshmallows, including flavors like Watermelon, Cookies & Cream, Bomb Pop, and Raspberry Lemonade, on display at the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market on Saturday, June 28.
HANNAH BROCK/
HANNAH.BROCK@APG-SW.COM
Jason Quednow and his wife Michelle with Bucky Badger, in their booth at a Madison Night Market
FORT ATKINSON – Every Saturday morning at the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market, you can spot the “marshmallow guy†before you even see his booth—his laughter and upbeat energy are part of the atmosphere now. For Jason Quednow, owner ofJazzed Up Marshmallows, what started as a birthday party experiment for his wife Michelle in 2010 has grown into a beloved small business with a loyal local following.
“We sell fun. Marshmallows are fun in a lot of different ways†Quednow said. “We always say we’re gourmet marshmallows without the gourmet price.â€
QuednowÃÛèÖÊÓƵ stand features colorful, homemade marshmallows in over 100 rotating flavors—cookies and cream, cotton candy, root beer float and bomb pop among them. Some are seasonal, some are wild experiments, and some become returning customer favorites. The business also sells donuts and apple cider muffins on Saturdays, drawing from his familyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ apple orchard—Quednow's Heirloom Apple Orchard.Â
The idea first came to life while planning a birthday party for his wife, Michelle. Drawing from the same creative energy he brought to his work in radio, Quednow experimented in the kitchen—and the results were an instant hit.Â
“Well,†he mused, “Our party goers were enthralled with them, wanted to know if we had more.â€
Guests at his wifeÃÛèÖÊÓƵ birthday party were so enchanted by the marshmallows, they started bargaining with each other to exchange flavors and get more. That early enthusiasm ballooned like a marshmallow over a campfire—soft, unexpected, and impossible to ignore.
With a background in radio—including time at Fort AtkinsonÃÛèÖÊÓƵ WFAW and MilwaukeeÃÛèÖÊÓƵ 620 WTMJ—Quednow was looking for a creative outlet. Marshmallows became it. Now,Jazzed Up Marshmallowsis a full family affair. His daughter makes flavored almonds and pecans to help save for college, and Michelle still helps with production.Â
The Fort Farmers Market has been a home base for Quednow for years. He also sets up at the Whitewater market about twice a month and appears occasionally at MadisonÃÛèÖÊÓƵ night market, but Fort holds a special place in his heart. One weekend, he couldn’t make it—and later heard from a family that their son was sad the “marshmallow guy†wasn’t there. That story stuck like a s’more and inspired him to continue showing up week after week.Â
Over time, customers have told him they can’t go back to store-bought marshmallows, and even though he does not talk about marshmallows in class, his own students at Fort Atkinson Middle School know him for his creations. Despite rising costs,the family works hard to keep prices affordable. For Quednow, itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ never just about the sale. The people who line up for marshmallows each week aren’t just customers, they’re “like family.â€
“We actually care about the people,†said Quednow fondly. “We bring them smiles because they're getting marshmallows, but they bring us smiles.â€
You can findJazzed Up Marshmallowsevery Saturday at the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market and online at .
