Last Updated on April 5, 2026 by Lisa Keys
Affirmations of gratitude from field to fork.
Today's grief lessons are brought to you courtesy of a visit to Manhattan, KS (aka-Man-Happiness). The 2015 National Festival of Breads sponsored by Kansas Wheat, King Arthur Flour and Red Star Yeast took place there. It was a whirlwind of activity for 8 bread baking finalists. It all started with an educational farm to flour tour.
It's fascinating to spend the day in the life of the Kejr family. I have a whole new appreciation for how hard wheat farmers work. They are dedicated to grow quality grain to not only feed people like you and me, but people all over the world. Did you know that 50% of the wheat we grow is exported? Wheat farmers feed the world and as well-educated scientists have invested in themselves to develop better crops with less impact on the environment.
From the farm we follow the wheat trail to a grain elevator operation. This is where the wheat is stored. Then, on to the flour mill where 30-inch granite wheels grind the wheat and fill the bags that we so conveniently pluck off our grocery store shelves.
King Arthur Flour
Did you know King Arthur Flour codes their bags so you can trace the flour back to the specific farm that grew the wheat? I certainly didn't, but that level of care and quality in every bag is amazing. We finished our tour at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, where we witnessed wheat science in action and visited the gorgeous kitchen which definitely gave me a case of kitchen envy. This is where they tested our recipes.
Affirmations of Gratitude
Competitors, start your ovens! Every bake-off teaches me something new, and this one proves no exception. I feel incredibly grateful to have Ann Domsch as my hostess and baking assistant. Ann serves as "my rock" while I fumble through my first attempt at baking the bread. She supports me and encourages me to keep going.
As nearly 1,000 people visit my table, I hear her tell every guest, "This is a great recipe. I have sampled it many times." I realize this is no longer my recipe, but our recipe. We work as a team and remain in this together. I feel deeply honored and humbled to stand in her presence. Thank you, co-champion!
If my son's death taught me one thing, it is to embrace gratitude. Affirmations of gratitude remind me of my inner strength and I have so much to be thankful for. Especially the opportunity to share my inspired and spirited recipes across the country. Through my Smokehouse Cranberry Cheese Bread, I celebrate both William and my dear mother-in-law, Renetta Keys.
This emotionally charged project brought so much goodness. I feel incredibly lucky to have had such a loving woman in my life and to honor her as the 2015 National Festival of Breads Grand Champion.
You can find the winning recipe here:Â Smokehouse Cranberry Cheese Bread.
This loaf was auctioned off for $600.00. Thank you Red Star Yeast.
To top it off my recipe is going in to mass production. It's going to be sold at the Hy-Vee grocery store in Man-Happiness. Folks out there will be breaking "my" bread over dinner and hopefully slicing it up for a killer post Thanksgiving turkey sandwich. On tough days I use affirmations of gratitude to remind myself of all the goodness in my life. How about you?
patrice says
Beautiful post ... grateful to have experienced this wonderful cookoff with wonderful you! <3
Lisa says
Your gift of the most beautiful "whoosh" heart filled me with so much love and gratitude for your friendship. The fact that you thought to make that for me sent me to a place so dear and special. Thank you again. I love your recipe.
daryl callahan says
this post made me cry tears of joy for you
Lisa says
Me, too, Daryl. As always I am so grateful to have your loving support.
jerseygirlcooks says
Awww, your posts are so inspiring! So happy you had a great trip. Congrats as that was a very well deserved win!
Lisa says
I hope I have inspired you to bake bread and enter next year.
Louis says
That bread looks like its worth every bit of $600.00!
Lisa says
I love you little brother <3
Amanda says
Congratulations! I'm excited to try your Smokehouse Cranberry Cheese Bread during harvest this week! (If it ever stops raining)
We farm just south west of Manhattan, KS and i would love it if you come visit us if you ever come down this way again! I hope to become a semi finalist someday 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks, Amanda. I would love to come back to Kansas and visit with you. I just loved everything about my experience in your neck of the woods and would love to learn some more. I hope you and your family enjoy my bread recipe and good luck with your own Kansas Wheat experiments. Make it simple but interesting and I know you will win. I sure do appreciate you stopping by my blog.
Jennifer Dewey Rohrich says
Lisa,
It was truly a blessing that our worlds collided and we were able to meet during NFOB. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing all about your blog but more importantly, your life and your story behind everything you make.
I can't even tell you how much of an inspiration you (and all the finalists at NFOB) were to me, not only in the kitchen but also in life. You've turned grief and loss into something to inspire others to really love one another as well as live life to the fullest. And yet you remain so humble in every way.
You're a beautiful woman inside and out. I am so glad we met!
I look forward to keeping in touch!
<3 Jenny
Lisa says
The feeling are mutual. At NFOB I have never felt such a fellowship of women. It brought back memories of days gone by baking biscuits in the old church kitchen preparing for the local strawberry festival. It took a small army of women to bake 600 of them. There is something about baking that brings out our hearts in the very best possible way. You, my dear, are inspiring. Always follow your heart. As you already know that road will take you to the very best places in life. So very grateful to have met you, too. From NY to Kansas--isn't that a coincidence?
Ronna F says
I can't express how moved I feel at this moment. What a joy this entire experience has been for the 8 of us. And you, Lisa, are purely one-of-a-kind! This was such a well deserved win for you in more ways than one. I am humbled to have been there to see it unfold! <3
Lisa says
Such beautiful words from a wonderful and talented friend. Thanks for making me laugh all weekend. We were truly blessed to experience this adventure together.
James Matino says
Congratulations on your victory and having your recipe out there for people to enjoy. Good for you, and I'm glad you made so many new friends.
Brother JJ
Lisa says
Thanks big brother-so fun to make you proud. It is gratifying to play a small part in feeding the world.
Cathy says
Your Awesomeness is exceeded only by your loving heart and gentle words...Peace and Hope...
Lisa says
awwwwwwe--thanks my sweet <3
patcook1 says
How wonderful! You are such an inspiration, Lisa.
Lisa says
thank you for those kind words and for stopping by
Majfusco@aol.com says
Lisa, congratulations to you and the other finalists! I learned so much from your article about the production of wheat and agree that we take it for granted to toss a bag of flour in our cart... What a labor of love! Thank you for sharing your winning recipe and I am so excited that your bread will be mass-produced and sold! How exciting. Congratulations!
Lisa says
Thanks, Martine. The whole event was so educational. I will never buy a bag of flour again without thinking about how hard the farmer works to get it to me.
Danielle says
Knew you could win but wow! How humbling to know how many others will be touched by your great recipe and wonderful self <3 so so happy for you xoxo
Lisa says
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I was totally stunned, but so excited. It really is an honor to have my recipe on someone's dinner table.
Diane says
CONGRATULATIONS on your first place bread entry - can't wait to taste it.
Lisa says
Thank you, Diane. It was such a pleasure learning all about the Kansas wheat industry. It gave me a whole new appreciation of our love for the land and quality of the products made right here in the heart-land
Rich Beebe says
Lisa, with each passing blog post, you remind me that you are truly assembling a recipe for healing through your example (what am I saying ... "a recipe"? – You are assembling a veritable cookbook of lessons of love and healing with each new post, each new recipe, each new life adventure). Not all of us are extraordinary chefs, but you are showing us that pursuing an avocation or a job or a cause – if done with love, a sense of remembrance, imagination, and commitment – is not just an act of healing but a celebration of love and life. I may not be following you into the kitchen, but I am still following your lead every day. Thank you, my dear!
Lisa says
now there is a thought....your eloquent writing and my recipes to create a "cookbook of lessons of love and healing"...we need an agent!!! On a serious note...I have never considered myself a leader. I prefer we walk side by side <3
Tracy says
So cool that you will be on retailer's shelves! Truly awesome!
Lisa says
yes-very thankful to share my recipe with family and friends far and wide