SPREADING JOY THROUGH SERVICE
Holiday pie-baking action was once again in full swing at Wessington Springs High School (WSHS) and this year, the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students made history.
With the guidance and expertise of longtime teacher and mentor Charlotte Mohling, students baked 325 pies; breaking the all-time FCCLA pie record and surpassing last year’s total by more than a hundred. The pies, eagerly sought out by area families each holiday season, sold quickly as community members lined up to get their hands on the beloved homemade treat.
Mohling said that in order to make the Thanksgiving deadline with so many extra pie orders, she and the students started baking a day early, on Monday.
What many may not realize, is why the pies are so special.
The crust, famously flaky, tender, and flavorful, is made entirely from scratch using Mohling’s grandmother’s recipe, passed down through generations and now proudly carried forward by her students.
The annual pie sale remains FCCLA’s largest fundraiser, helping support student leadership activities and community projects throughout the school year. But for Mohling, the event is about far more than fundraising.
“I always require my classes to do a service project,” said the Family & Consumer Sciences/Technology Skills/ Curriculum Director, who has led FCCLA students for decades. “While we take on service projects throughout the year, we concentrate our efforts throughout the holiday season.”
Pie-baking marks the kickoff to serviceoriented initiatives the students will take on, each project rooted in giving back, supporting local families, and spreading joy during the holidays.
As the final pies cooled and were prepared for pick up, one thing was clear: FCCLA didn’t just break a record this year, they carried forward a legacy of service and tradition, one homemade pie at a time.