With the start of the 2025 school year, there are many returning students to Stout’s campus, as well as tons of new faces. Whether this is your first fall in Menomonie or you’ve been here your whole life, the colder season approaching can stir up some nostalgic or homesick feelings. Luckily, Stout has a staff of friends in the kitchen to help you feel more at home!
Stacy Lauterbach is the head baker in the Memorial Student Center and has been an employee at Stout for 6 years. Before starting her time here, she had spent her entire adult life working in the food industry, as well as being involved in her two children’s extracurricular activities and fostering their love of baking in the process.
While most of Stout’s students are peacefully sleeping, Stacy starts her morning at 2:45 a.m. to ensure her arrival at Stout by 4:00 a.m. Once she’s in the building, she unlocks all the coolers and fires up the ovens to start her busy day in the kitchen. With the help of student employees, she’s able to bake cookies, muffins, and other sweets to stock throughout Brew Devils, the Mini Mart, and any other place where people can purchase food in the MSC. Aside from baking the treats found in the dining areas, Stacy is also responsible for catering events. With her hands full, she’s able to keep her head above water with her passion for baking, along with the help she receives from her student employees.
One senior here reflected on her time of employment through Stout’s food services and shared her experiences. During her freshman year, she was an employee of the Memorial Student Center, where she, along with the other students employed there, would cycle through working the different dining locations, such as the Fireside Café and Brew Devils. She gave great appreciation to Stacy and how she is able to create a productive environment while also keeping it light and fun. “Working in the bakery was definitely the most fun area to be scheduled in,” she told me. This senior also informed me of the Search Program, which is a program through Stout in which they will employ those who may need extra hands-on training in the work field. Members of this program are often employed through the food services, and Stacy herself has worked with six students in this program. The senior I spoke with was quick to express how wonderful Stacy is with the Search Program members, and with Stacy’s excitement for baking and her gentle cadence, this is not surprising at all. When I asked Stacy about her time with these members, she said, “They’ve been a joy! Some of them are really quiet and in their shell, and then you just see them flourish, and it’s just awesome.”
While the recipes Stacy uses belong to Stout, she has taken it upon herself to alter some of the recipes slightly for a more aesthetic appearance. “Our sugar cookie recipe, when I first came here, used to be sprinkles and white sugar. And I thought, ‘why aren’t we doing Stout colors?’” Stacy shared with me when I asked what tweaks she’s made. “I love dressing things up because the more appealing it is, the more appealing it’s going to be to make and for our customers to eat.” Stacy has plenty of festive sprinkles that you’ll notice throughout the year, as they will coordinate with the season. It’s thoughtful details such as this that create a fun energy within the bakery.
With all the happiness I felt radiating off Stacy, I could tell she truly loves what she does for Stout. “I love to bake. Even after I’m done here, I will go home and bake or cook again, I say I’m a baking fanatic!” Stacy began to tell me when I asked what her favorite part of her job was. “I love seeing students who have never baked or cooked or even had a job before learning a new skill, and then I also learn things from them, which is awesome. I never in a million years thought I’d have a baking job at a campus!”
After speaking with Stacy, I wanted to find out how I, along with other students, can show gratitude for all the hard work she does for us. I learned that she will be starting a cottage bakery out of her home during the summer seasons, since she is only at Stout through the school year. While I hope to support her business, I also got confirmation that Stacy is here to stay! “I hope to be at Stout for many, many years, I love what I do,” Stacy reassured me.
Before you reach for a generic cookie when you’re looking for a midday pick-me-up, consider supporting Stacy, along with all the other hard workers who make Stout homier. And if you see Stacy, be sure to thank her for all the love she’s given us.
