By: Dwana Pinchock
When Kelsey Smoker talks about her sold-out sourdough classes, she still sounds surprised.
“I was telling one of my girlfriends how I’m always on standby trying to get my kids into programs,” she said. “Meanwhile, people are doing that for my sourdough class. We’ve kind of come full circle here.”
That full circle, from library kid to mother, from bread hobbyist to teacher of more than 1,000 students, has unfolded naturally over the past two years.
A Library Life, Then and Now
For Smoker, libraries have always been part of her story.
“My mom got me my first library card,” she said. “Once I got my license, I would drive to the library just to pick up books.”
Even when some friends questioned whether libraries were still relevant, she kept reading. Today, she and her husband read to their three children every night. When they visit the library, she said, her children’s eyes light up at the shelves of books waiting to be explored.
“The library has kind of met me at each stage of my life,” she said. “Now it’s somewhere I can take my kids to explore and open their imaginations.”
She hopes to pass along a simple message: Libraries are for everyone. No matter your interests, there is something for you.
What She’s Reading
Smoker gravitates toward thrillers and mysteries, often inspired by recommendations she finds online. Her current read is “Beautiful Ugly” by Alice Feeney, borrowed through the Libby app.
With three young children and a busy teaching schedule, she alternates between reading and listening to audiobooks.
“Sometimes it’s easier to just hit play while I’m driving to preschool or heading to a bread class,” she said.
Her shelves also include baking guides. She frequently turns to “The Big Book of Bread” by King Arthur Baking Company as she continues refining her craft.
“As someone who’s self-taught in sourdough, I’m always learning,” she said. “There’s no such thing as perfecting it. I’m always looking for better ways to do things, especially since I teach. It helps me meet people where they are.”
The Moment That Started It All
Smoker’s sourdough journey began at her kitchen counter. After the birth of her first daughter, she noticed a store-bought loaf of bread sitting on the counter for an unusually long time without molding.
“That kind of freaked me out,” she said. “I thought maybe I should look at alternatives.”
With a newborn at home, frequent grocery runs were not always convenient. She searched online for instructions on making bread from scratch. She began with yeasted breads before discovering sourdough.
Her professional background included managing multiple Panera Bread locations in the region. While she understood operations, she had not worked extensively in hands-on baking.
“The internet can be wonderful,” she said. “But it can also give you 100 different opinions on how to do one thing.”
She leaned into the science of fermentation and flour, experimenting and learning through online communities. She shared photos of her bread on social media, and soon friends and family began asking her to teach them.
From Church Basement to 1,000 Students
What began as a small, informal class at her church for 25 people quickly sold out.
“As of today, I’ve taught over 1,000 people how to make sourdough,” she said.
Smoker launched her classes in December 2023. By early 2024, demand had grown steadily. As of 2026, she continues to expand both her teaching and bread business.
She believes sourdough’s popularity reflects a broader desire to slow down.
“I think the world is moving so fast,” she said. “There’s a natural part of us that wants to slow down.”
Making bread creates intentional space within a busy life.
“There’s something genuine and wonderful about that,” she said. “People resonate with it.”
From Lunchables to Love
As a child, Smoker sometimes envied the ready-made snacks she saw at friends’ houses.
“I just wanted a Lunchable,” she said with a laugh. “My mom would say, ‘We have plenty of food at home.’”
Now she appreciates that most of her meals growing up were made from scratch.
“Everything at home was handmade,” she said. “Made with love and care.”
For Smoker, baking sourdough is not just about bread. It is about intention, nourishment and connection. Sometimes the most meaningful things do not come from a package at all.
Visit Kelsey’s Facebook page, Smoker Sourdough Co.,to learn more about her business and upcoming events!