House Bill 263 was picked up in the Senate by the Agriculture Committee on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Today we were informed by Representative Health, that a hearing is expected to happen on March 13th. This is great news! We will update on this once more information is given. In the meantime, we need everyone to call the legislative message line at 1-800-372-7181 and leave a message for every member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Tell them to support House Bill 263! The call only takes around 2 minutes start to finish. The operator will ask for your name, address, phone number and message. You can ...
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The Kentucky House of Representatives and HB 263
This week I and other Kentucky Home Bakers went to Frankfort, KY to be there when the house voted on House Bill 263. First, we had a great group show up on Tuesday. I drove for 4 hours from Paducah to attend. Our home bakers gave cookies, cupcakes, and cake pops to be passed out by the house pages, and then we all patiently waited for the house chamber to begin. A few minutes after the proceedings began the house went to a recess. Our group was then informed that all bills on consent order would be postponed until Friday of this week. Sadly, I drove 4 hours home with no vote. Today, February 23, ...
A Tribute, And An Update
When I was growing up in Paducah, Kentucky, at every birthday we always had amazing cakes that my mom bought from a local baker. It was the 80's, and long before Food Network and shows like Ace of Cakes. Our little town had a local cake decorator named Fern Hamblin. Her little cake business was called Fern's Frosting and she was located in Reidland, KY. I remember so many of her cakes, and remember being so amazed by them at a young age. The one that stands out the most was a hamburger cake that she made for my aunt's birthday. Of course back then I never knew I'd grow up to be a cake decorator, but Fern and ...
Another Taste of Our Youth
"As single, male senior citizen, my home cooking abilities are severely limited. Something like this would help me get the homemade things that I remember so much from many years ago. It's time we took the over-cautious mindset out of things and remembered that my generation drank water from a hose, shared drinks, rode in the back of pick-ups, never heard of seat belts and ate from trucks driving down the street. And by golly, we survived! Let us old-timers have another taste of our youth." - Jim Lasch, 70 year-old retired veteran from Kentucky ...
High Barrier To Entry, Even As A Farmer – Emily’s Baking Story
Today we feature the story of a farmer. This is Emily's story in her own words. "Dear Kentucky State Lawmakers, I am Two Sisters Fudge, a small entity that followed all the rules for a few dollars per pound in profit. I am Kentucky Proud and yet that doesn't describe my story. I wanted a way for my girls to earn money for college so we started making fudge. We searched the area for a commercial kitchen. Our only options were $250 per month in Louisville - a 30 minute commute or a small ill equipped ancient community kitchen in LaGrange, we were still paying for. We couldn't use the enormous gas ...
Stifled Dreams, Laura’s Baking Story
States with supportive cottage food laws provide simple and inexpensive ways for skilled people to begin safe and profitable businesses from home — businesses that can become sustainable jobs. Arguably, Kentucky’s lack of a cottage food law mostly affects women — ones who can and bake, but who might otherwise lack employment, garden space, access to commercial kitchens or capital.- RACHEL HURD ANGER, LEO Weekly Today we feature a story that yet again, shows how Kentucky puts the dreams of women on hold. Not every person can start out in a commercial kitchen, or a storefront. Some people don't need or want that. ...
Rural American Dreams, Beth’s Baking Story
Today we feature the story of a baker from a rural Kentucky community. This is Beth's story in her own words. "My name is Beth and I'm only twenty-three years old. I was born and raised in Henry County, Kentucky. I'm new to home baking because I've been baking for less than 2 years. However, I have never found something that fills my heart and let's my mind wonder quite like being in the kitchen behind a pastry bag. It all started about 4 years ago, at my previous job. I was lucky enough to start decorating ice cream cakes at the local Dairy Queen. Eventually with the limited restrictions of what I ...
From Pride and Joy, To Broken Dreams – Mary’s Baking Story
Today we feature the story of a home baker who built up a home baking business in Michigan. Unfortunately, when she moved, she found out about Kentucky's restrictive cottage food law. This is Mary's story in her own words. "Several years ago, on a whim I decided to take a Wilton course, which led to another, and another. Then, I became a Wilton Instructor. It was great! I loved helping people learn to decorate because I, myself LOVED decorating. It wasn't long afterward that I heard our governor at the time, Jennifer Granholm, signed the Michigan Cottage Food Law. After that, there was no stopping me. I ...
Custom Cookies, Family Tradition – Joanna’s Baking Story
Today we feature a baker who's story sounds all too familiar for home baker's who have attempted starting small home based businesses in the state of Kentucky. This is Joanna's story in her own words. "Families have traditions. Every Christmas my mom baked and iced cookies that she used to decorate our tree and that she gave friends and family as gifts. She used a butter knife to spread icing on them. They weren’t fancy but they tasted amazing and everyone looked forward to Kathy’s Christmas cookies. She got the recipe from the mother of her best friend in college, now more than 50 years ago. When I ...
Making Her Mark, Brooke’s Baking Story
Today we feature a story of a baker who had a successful bourbon cupcake business, but the challenges with Kentucky's law ultimately became too much. This is her story in her own words. "In 2012, I was working as a tour guide for a local Bourbon distillery when I decided to make some bourbon cupcakes for my co-workers. The cupcakes were a hit! I started thinking about how I could make these cupcakes into a business, tapping into the booming bourbon industry and created a business plan. I toyed around with different packaging ideas and eventually settled on small, 4 ounce mason jars, with a bite-sized spoon ...