Stefanie Keffaber, Fountaintown, IN

Ever since I was little, food has played a huge role in my life. When I was really young, I spent most of my summers with my Great-grandma. Everyday we were in the kitchen baking something from scratch. From her famous chocolate chip cookies to my personal favorite, her applesauce cookies, each day she instilled in me an even greater appreciation for the kitchen.

Once I got a little older, I started working for my Grandpa during the summer. He was definitely never in the kitchen baking or cooking anything, but it was our afternoon lunches that I loved the most. Almost everyday we would go to the Bluebird, a local favorite in Morristown, IN. It was nothing fancy, just a place where everyone gathered at lunchtime. Whether you were a farmer, teacher or local businessman, it was the place to go. The food was good. The pies were great, and everyone got the chance to catch up on town gossip.

Now that I have grown up, I still love to bake. When the holidays roll around, my family can’t get me out of the kitchen, and one of my biggest dreams is to open a bakery and coffee shop of my own one day. I also still love to go to the Bluebird for lunch whenever I go home for a few days. The place has not changed much over the years, but that is why I love it so much. It brings back wonderful memories, and everyone always stops to ask me how my Grandpa is doing.

My appreciation for food and love of the kitchen are what initially drew me to this project, but I am also thoroughly excited about helping to promote Indiana’s food culture. I never realized how many great local restaurants and artisan foods were available in this state. The Indiana Foodways Alliance is a great organization, and I am excited and ready to help the organization expand and promote its mission throughout the state.