For junior Kayla Wentland, FCCLA is more than just a club. It all started in eighth grade when she began cooking with her grandma. “We started with cookies and holiday treats to everything under the sun,” she said. Sharing laughs, dancing to the Eagles and learning more about cooking are some of her favorite memories.

When she started ninth grade, she signed up for all of culinary arts teacher Mrs. Mesman-Davis’s classes and they had a direct impact on Wentland’s cooking. “MD became my role model as well as her second mom,” she said. MD has been a teacher Wentland spends countless after school hours cooking and creating activities for other students. Let’s say they’re close. M-D has provided a shoulder to cry on, always giving advice when she needs it.

An event that takes place here every month is Kids Craft. Wentland and members of FCCLA take the opportunity to help elementary students learn to cook. Banana-nut cookies, apple pies and bread knots are some of the goodies they make together. “One day this experience will impact the kids I cook with,” she said.

Wentland hopes that cooking will become a creative outlet for the young chefs like it has become for her.  “It’s a great experience to be able to teach the kids and get involved in the community,” she said.

Cooking is where Wentland shines. Thanks to MD and FCCLA she’s found her place and looking to pursue a career in cooking. “One day I hope to open my own shop,” she said. She’ll start from where ever she has to, in order to achieve her goals in the culinary world.