Introducing Russell Kern

The Home Baking Association is proud to announce Russell Kern as the 2025 recipient of the Bake to Give: Maddie Kruse Youth Award. Each year, this award honors an outstanding young person who demonstrates leadership, generosity, and a passion for baking as a means to educate, nourish, and give back to others. Russell, a 9-year Kansas 4-H member, has done just that through a remarkable series of hands-on workshops, community service projects, and creative educational activities that exemplify the spirit of this award.

A talented baker and teacher, Russell has taken his passion for the 4-H Foods and Nutrition project beyond personal achievement—though his own accomplishments are impressive. Last summer, he earned grand champion honors at his county fair with his expertly crafted buttery croissants. But what sets Russell apart is his deep commitment to helping others, particularly younger 4-H members in his community. Over the past year, he has organized and led a series of interactive baking workshops that not only taught practical skills but integrated science, nutrition, and cultural traditions in a fun and accessible way.

In one workshop, held the day before Thanksgiving, Russell taught a group of young 4-H members how to make butter horn rolls. Each participant took home a dozen freshly baked rolls to share with their families. But the lesson didn’t stop at baking technique. Russell also led an engaging experiment demonstrating how yeast works, using balloons to show how warm water and sugar help activate the yeast. During Christmas break, he taught participants to make New Year’s Cookies, a family tradition he was excited to share. That session also included a MyPlate nutrition activity, encouraging students to think about healthy food choices as they cooked together.

On St. Patrick’s Day, Russell hosted an Irish Soda Bread workshop, introducing the difference between yeast-leavened and soda-leavened breads. While the bread baked, students shook heavy cream into homemade butter, learned knife skills for chopping herbs, and watched a video on how flour is milled. Each class welcomed about 10 students, lasted two hours, and gave participants more than just recipes—they left with a deeper understanding of baking, food science, and nutrition.

“I think that it is very important for upcoming generations to know how to bake food and the importance of their health,” Russell says. “I strive to teach people about cooking and living a healthy life while learning while they are at it.”

His leadership goes beyond the kitchen. Russell serves on the Kansas 4-H Health and Wellness Team and traveled to Washington, D.C., to learn new strategies for promoting healthy living in his state. He regularly volunteers with the Northern Rice County Food Bank, where he donated 30 pumpkin pie kits last Thanksgiving, and is currently organizing a Swipe Out Hunger meal packaging event at his school. He’s also raised over $1,000 for the Ellinwood Energizers 4-H Club and Ellinwood High School SkillsUSA by baking and selling cinnamon rolls, macaroni and cheese, and burritos.

As the 2025 Bake to Give: Maddie Kruse Youth Award winner, Russell Kern will receive a $1,000 prize and a trip to the Home Baking Association’s Annual Meeting in Fort Collins, Colorado. His work embodies the values this award celebrates—sharing baking skills with others, fostering community connections, and making a meaningful impact through generosity, leadership, and a love of baking.

Congratulations, Russell!

Russell overseeing his project

Rolling dough

It’s all about teamwork!

Important Resources

 

Bake to Give: Maddie Kruse Youth Award
The award honors young bakers who make a positive impact in their communities through baking. 

Educator Award
HBA recognizes outstanding educators who creatively incorporate baking into their classroom curriculum. 

Lesson Plans
Many of our lesson plans are developed from the Educator Award-winning submissions we receive. 

 

A Few Words from Russell

“I have been a skilled baker ever since I was a little kid. I have put a lot of work into learning how to bake. I believe it is important for everyone to be healthy, and a big part of this is through cooking. I started offering free cooking classes for 4-H members. I taught kids something they can enter into the 4-H fair and gave them a recipe to keep making it forever. To make it more fun, I implemented cool science experiments into the classes, teaching the science behind it. I held four classes this year, and I have led and helped with other food projects in 4-H. I am planning to keep this going so everyone can have the opportunity to learn a very important life skill.

Receiving the Home Baking Association Bake to Give Maddie Kruse Youth Award means a lot to me because it means I am helping others and making a difference in my community. I can transfer my skills to other people who can, in turn, make a difference to others.”

Our Call to Action

Do you know a student like Russell—someone who’s using their baking skills to make a real difference in their community? The Home Baking Association is proud to celebrate young changemakers who use flour, sugar, and heart to serve others. Whether it’s teaching younger kids, donating baked goods, or sharing recipes that bring people together, these student bakers show us how powerful baking can be.

Learning to bake at an early age builds more than just kitchen confidence—it fosters creativity, patience, and generosity. Baking teaches valuable life skills, from reading and math to science and problem-solving, all while offering meaningful ways to connect with family and community. A batch of cookies can brighten a neighbor’s day. A homemade pie can spark a conversation. A simple recipe can be a student’s first step toward leadership.

If you or someone you know is using baking to spread kindness and strengthen community ties, we want to hear from you! Visit the Bake to Give section of the site to explore stories like Russell’s and find inspiration, recipes, and free resources to support your own baking-for-good efforts.

Because when we teach kids to bake, we’re also teaching them to give.