A Common Interest

SSHS Student Baking Group Celebrates Community & Culture

A group of students at Steamboat Springs High School (SSHS) is coming together to celebrate culture and community in a unique way – through baking.

Group founder and President Emma Hack is a senior at SSHS and shared her story, as well as the story of the baking group’s evolution, with Steamboat Locals. 

Hack’s background in cooking and baking formed around her upbringing and cultural heritage. Her great-grandfather was a baker in Germany. When Hack’s grandmother immigrated to the United States, she continued the family tradition of baking. Hack attributes her baking and cooking skills to her grandmother and father. 

“The kitchen is the space where our family gathers for meals,” said Hack. “Having food on the table is what makes a good discussion.” 

Before she could reach the kitchen countertop, Hack wanted to cook whenever she could. Standing on a stool, adorned in a child’ apron, and often covered in flour, she built upon her family’s baking legacy. 

“I love to bake and I love to cook,” said Hack. “I love to cook with other people because I think that food is a way that people tell their stories and it’s a good way to learn about others.” 

That love of food, and the want to get to know her peers, inspired Hack to form a baking club at SSHS.

“If you want to talk to your friends, if you want to spend time with them, then you get a meal with them or cook a meal with them,” she explained. “My friends and I have a lot of dishes that we like to make together.”

The group’s formation occurred during Hack’s freshmen year when she noticed that there was an opportunity for the creation of a fun, non-athletic club that brought people together around food and baking. She worked alongside her best friend and current club Vice President Lillian Hammer to “jump through all the bureaucratic loopholes” to get the idea going. 

That process involved finding potential participants, outlining budgets, creating club goals, and sending “a lot of emails.”

At the beginning of their sophomore year, Hack and Hammer officially launched the baking club at the SSHS Club Fair, where 125 students signed up. Hack initially theorized that the high level of participation at the club’s first meeting might have been due to her offering free cookies. 

“I didn’t plan on it becoming a huge thing like it has become,” she said. “Last year, we had 328 sign ups, which is a huge increase from sophomore year. That is a lot, considering the school’s population.” 

The high-level of participation led to a highly diverse membership, which in turn has led to individuals being able to bond around other interests outside of baking and cooking.

“It’s all these people from different sports teams, groups, and activities who come together because they have a common interest in really wanting to make food for others,” said Hack. “I think that a lot of friendships that would not be there have been built through the baking club.” 

Many club members share cultural upbringings and childhoods where food, and cooking, was important. The club meetings have become a highlight for group members as many niche-friendships have been forged in the fires of the baking club.

Club happenings include an annual bake off, which has become a premier event due to the creativity and energy that surrounds it. The group also bakes for community groups, including Meals on Wheels, as well as meal trains and teached-based events.

“We bake for anyone who asks,” said Hack. 

Club meetings feature baking themes, such as brownies and bread, and serve as an opportunity for the group to bond over feedback and sharing of recipes, some of which are family heirlooms that go back generations. The winter holiday “cookie meeting”, Hack noted, is a highly-anticipated annual celebration of the cultural background of the membership.  

“It’s just such an expression of love and care and stewardship for your culture when you bake something from it,” said Hack. “It’s really cool to see how [the members] take their family history and take who they consider themselves to be and turn it into something edible.” 

The baking club’s current leadership is made up of Hack as President, Lillian Hammer as Vice President, Laura Copeland as teacher sponsor and a baking council that consists of Alex Dismuke, Olivia Fountain, Julia Boness, Yurem Jaimes, and Tierney McDowell. 

“Baking club isn’t about me,” closed Hack. “The members of the club have really been the ones who make the difference. They’re the ones who have managed to create this community and they are the people who really deserve the credit.” 

In October, Steamboat Locals’ writer John Camponeschi will be presenting you a four-part series of stories about the culinary arts in Routt County and the people who continually push the boundaries of our local offerings.

Read: Steamboat Food & Wine Mentorship Program Supports Hospitality Industry

Read: Meat Bar – Centered on Community

Read: Rex’s – A Spirit of Community

This series of stories is proudly presented to you by Jon Wade and The Steamboat Group as a continuation of their commitment to “Keep Steamboat Special” by supporting non-profits and events that promote a healthy Steamboat lifestyle! You can also support their efforts simply by making a request on the Steamboat Locals Choice for Music. For every song request made in the month of October, The Steamboat Group will donate $2 to LiftUp, up to $500 total!