Discover Who We Are Through Our Biographical Profile

     Ms. Barrie has been endorsed by Marquis Who’s Who as a leader in the field of hospitality    

TURTON, SD, May 27, 2020 — Marquis Who’s Who, the world’s premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Charlene Barrie with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Ms. Barrie celebrates many years’ experience in her professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.  

Ms. Barrie is the owner of Char’s Kitchen in Turton, South Dakota. Established in 1995, the business was founded on the heels of a request from her daughter to make some of her famous jars of jelly for her. Having emerged as a hobby while coming of age, Ms. Barrie often gifted her delicious jellies to friends and family and would sell them at craft fair tables through the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).  

Creating one-of-a-kind recipes, Char’s Kitchen offers 13 different flavors of jellies, from apple butter and raspberry jalapeno, to strawberry rhubarb and pumpkin butter. She also has five sugar-free jellies, as well as four flavors of pickles, eight syrups and two flavors of salsa. Her products can all be purchased from her website and be shipped directly to customers’ homes. They can also be found on the shelves of nearly 30 local stores in 19 different towns across South Dakota, as well as in one store in Willmar, Minnesota, Fargo North Dakota and Rugby North Dakota. Additionally, Char’s Kitchen makes gift baskets for special occasions, which can be delivered locally or shipped.  

Ms. Barrie’s business is located on her farm, where all her products are freshly made. All natural, they have no additives, preservatives, or corn syrup. Certified by the National Restaurant Association, Ms. Barrie’s business is also state inspected and holds a national ServSafe certificate.  

Though her career has been suffused with highlights, Ms. Barrie is most proud to have served on behalf of the public. As the chief cook and bottle washer, she performs every function, from picking fruit to cooking it and making the final product. She also handles the books, advertising and scheduling of vendor shows. One of Ms. Barrie’s biggest sellers, she noted, is a jelly that comes from the chokecherry, a native fruit from North and South Dakota. The size of a pea or smaller with a pit inside, it takes her about five hours to get one five-gallon pail of fruit.  

Prior to founding Char’s Kitchen, Ms. Barrie worked for Viking Rubber as an office administrator. She is currently a member of the Professional Women’s Association. Likewise, Ms. Barrie is active as a board member of the VWF’s Auxiliary and a former president of the Conde American Legion.