The Hunter 2018 Volume, Issue January / February | Page 10

NANA Shareholder Talent Congrats, Jordyn Suuyuk Baker, a Baking Champion M aybe one day we’ll see Jordyn “June” Baker on one of those TV baking shows she loves. She’s already taken first place in the 2017 SkillsUSA national commercial baking competition, which led to a spot in the WorldSkills bakery completion in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. She’s getting a top- notch culinary education at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Napa Valley, California, a foodie’s paradise. In April, she’ll graduate with her associate’s degree in baking and pastry arts. Jordyn Baker, a shareholder from Kotzebue, earned a full-ride scholarship from one of the top culinary schools in the world. In April, she’ll receive her associate’s degree in baking and pastry arts. Photo credit SkillsUSA. “The school is not like your average college,” Jordyn admits. The students range in age from 17 to 60. “It felt weird at first, but then the instructors pointed out that that's how the majority of (commercial) kitchens are these days. Now, I can't imagine going to a school with just people my age.” “All of us here are into the same thing—food!” Jordyn says she’s in three or four chat rooms dedicated to cooking and baking shows. “We text each other and make little bets on who's going to win or how someone’s going to mess up. Hands down, ‘The Great British Baking Show’ is my favorite! ‘Zumbo's Just Desserts’ is a close runner-up.” Of course, Jordyn is usually in the kitchen or working in the bakery café. At CIA, every three weeks you start a new class that focuses on a major skill. “I've taken classes like Basic and Classical Cakes, and Chocolate and Confectionary Techniques. My Advanced Specialty Breads class just so happened to fall in line with my training for the bread baking competition. The experience of having those two at the same time made me absolutely geek out and fall in love with bread!” After she graduates, she’ll work as an extern. She hasn’t decided where, possibly somewhere abroad. Then, in the fall, she’ll move to Hyde Park, New York to continue her education—a bachelor’s degree in food business management. One day, Jordyn plans to open her own business. Where and what, she can’t say for sure. “I'm definitely leaning towards a bakery, rather than a restaurant, and I want to end up back in Alaska—eventually.” But that’s years down the road, she says. baking competition. “I’m just so grateful that I had so many family members there to support me.” Among those cheering her on were Jordyn’s mom and dad, Rusa and Mike Baker, her sister and brother-in-law, Megan and Ryan Sherman, her brother, Tanner Baker, and her little sister, Lena Baker. The family had more time to explore Abu Dhabi, and Jordyn did get to ride a camel. “It was such a surreal experience … How many people can say they did that? I also tasted some camel. Crazy!” Stay tuned. Jordyn’s adventures are just beginning.  In school, Jordyn barely has time to think about her trip last year to Abu Dhabi for the Life in the Region Be Energy Wise in the Arctic Stove oil and gas prices are high in the NANA region. But there are a few changes you can make to help save energy, and money, in your home. TIPS TO CONSIDER • Make sure all the lights are turned off when not in use. • Energy efficient tools or devices can lead to lower energy consumption when installed correctly. Examples include incandescent light bulbs with an LED or an occupancy sensor. • Especially in the wintertime, it is important to minimize air leaks in your home but only doing so in a safe way. When tightening your home for air leaks it is important not to cover vents, fans or air exchangers, though these appear to be the cause of leaking cool air into your home, they are in fact regulating the air flow allowing heat to be evenly distributed and 10 preventing moisture build up. • Monitor moisture levels; use a hygrometer to measure the moisture levels in your home. For Alaskan homes, it is best to stay between 30% and 50% relative humidity depending on the season and location, in levels exceeding 50% there is a higher potential for mold growth and rotting materials. • Heating accounts for 65-77% of your home’s energy usage. A number of homes in the NANA region use an oil furnace, stove or boiler as their primary heating system; all controlled by a central thermostat. To help maximize your savings, invest in programmable thermostats. These devices can adjust your home’s temperature automatically. When used properly, programmable thermostats can save you hundreds of dollars a year. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Tune your heating system, all heating systems and filters should be checked every year. Gas stoves should be checked every two years. HUNTER  2 018 JANUARY / FEBRUARY • Seal your fireplace with inserts when not in use, inserts block air leaks and can be removed easily. stoves can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and electric ovens are not designed to heat large areas. • Check your air vents, radiators and registers, if an object blocks them, heat cannot circulate through the rest of your home. • Use electric space heaters sparingly, depending on the model and cost per kilowatt-hour, a small space heater constantly running through the day can cost more than $125 per month.  • If your heating system is older than 15 years, have it evaluated for replacement. • Caulk crack and gaps less than ¼ an inch wide. Doors are a frequent source of heat loss, if you detect air leaks, replace the door or attach a door sweep. • Repair your windows with weather-strips; cracks can let cold air into your home. • Insulate your water heater tank and your pipes with an insulation blanket; both can lose heat through the walls of the material. REMEMBER HEALTH AND SAFETY • Never use your propane, gas, or electric stove for heating, it can be very dangerous. Propane and gas For more information and tips on weatherization and energy saving, visit: https://ruralcap.com/ weatherization/energy-saving-tips/. Or contact RuralCap: Northwestern and Anchorage Alaska 731 E. 8th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 Toll free: [phone] (in Alaska only) Phone: [phone] Email: [email protected] To see if you qualify for the Weatherization Program through the weatherization service provider in your area, visit: https://ahfc. us/efficiency/energy-programs/ weatherization/.