Two young entrepreneurs have businesses selling tasty treats

Two young women who attend Chase County Schools (CCS) have joined other talented and business-minded young people from the community, putting to use their entrepreneurial spirit by starting their own baking businesses.
Ava McNair, an eighth grade student at CCS, has a baking business called “Calligraphy and Cupcakes.”
The business name is just the tip of the iceberg though.
McNair first started her business in 2016 under the name “Delightful Dishes to Your Door.”
“I first began my business with frozen or to-go meals delivered to people’s homes,” said McNair.
By the end of 2018-2019, she said she started experimenting with different recipes with baking and found she really enjoyed it.
“I started using my late grandma’s cookbooks, went online for recipes, particularly recipes in ‘Sprinkles Cupcakes Baking Books’,” she said.
McNair takes recipes and puts her own spin on them to make them her own, she added.
“When I was first learning to bake, I took a frosting lesson from Devin Dreiling, and Tanna Hanna helped me set up my Facebook page—encouraging me to pursue my own small business,” she said.
“I mostly sell decorated cakes and cupcakes. My business is more about baking, but  on the calligraphy side, I like to do fancy writing,” McNair said.
She takes orders for items requiring fancy writing like place cards for wedding receptions, birthday and greeting cards, but mostly she just does it for fun, she said.
“It has been my dream to open my own bakery. I’m not sure about any plans after high school yet, but for now, I just take orders on an individual basis while I’m attending school,” said McNair.
To view McNair’s creations and to place orders, direct message her on Facebook at calligraphyandcupcakes14 or Instagram at calligraphy and cupcakes, or contact her mom, Abby McNair, for orders at 308-883-1604.
Not one but two bakers
Morgan Peterson is a junior at CCS, and a very busy young woman.
She said she grew up baking with her grandma and really liked it.
Peterson said she enjoys baking and watching baking shows.
“I not only like baking, but I like decorating things, and it just clicked,” she said.
In 2019, her baking business,  called “Imperfect Confections,” was born.
She mainly takes orders for cupcakes and cakes, although sometimes she makes cake pops and decorated sugar cookies, she said.
“I want to open my own bakery someday. But for now, I will continue selling individually to my customers,” said Peterson.
She said she is thinking about going to college to get a business degree, particularly for accounting, but still keep up her baking business.
“I think it might be wise to work as an accountant for a couple of years while still baking on the side. Then I will be in a better position to open a bakery,” she said.
To place orders, Peterson can be messaged on Facebook  at imperfect.confections or call 308-882-0064.
Two bakers better than one
McNair and Peterson have joined forces with their individual baking businesses and take turns switching off every other week selling their decorated cupcakes to Broadway Steakhouse.
The restaurant then sells them to their customers.