Kaylie L., Cloverdale High School

“I’ve always wanted to be a baker,” said Kaylie, so it’s no surprise that she has twice enrolled in the Farm-to-Table Culinary class, one of many funded by CTE Foundation.

“I loved this class and recommend it for everyone,” said Kaylie, a sophomore at Cloverdale High School. “I like the fact that we cook every week and I learn new and better ways to cook things than I already knew.”

She especially enjoyed the hands-on experience in the garden and getting important skills she can take anywhere in the future – not only in the kitchen but also project management and marketing.

“It surprised me to learn how easy it is to make homemade products like lip balm, lotion and candles. I’ve learned that instead of using chemicals, you can use bees wax. It’s just three ingredients and you’re done.”

Kaylie’s enthusiasm and experience were enough to impress Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville. Earlier this year, she and her classmates attended the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Career Summit hosted by CTE Foundation, and to her surprise, Kaylie was offered a baking job on the spot at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville.

“I’m so excited,” Kaylie says. “I’m going to be in the baking department getting trained for two months and then I can actually be alone and do everything by myself.”