Ron and Terri Sue Mazza of rural Beatrice have a mission with Food 4 Hope that they believe came directly from God.
The Mazzas were married twelve years ago. Terri Sue said she had been working as a missionary in Jerusalem and after they were married she and Ron were living in Omaha. They began to pray and asking for direction for their purpose.
“I was a first time bride at 46 years of age,” she said. “What do I do now God” I kept praying. Both Ron and I heard “Take control of your food supply and feed my people.” Immediately we both said yes in our heart, but didn’t know what that meant.”
Ron grew up in New York and while Teri was born and raised in Nebraska, but it was never in an agriculture environment.
The couple began taking day trips looking for properties because they knew their backyard was not enough land for a garden. The acreage west of Beatrice was the fourteenth property they had looked at and knew it was right for them.
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They started by putting up fencing for a garden and had chickens.
“We started selling at the farmer’s market but didn’t have a lot of things to sell,” she said. “So we started thinking about what else they could take to the market. We wanted to be able to do more and decided we needed a commercial kitchen.”
They raised funds for a community kitchen and reached their goal to with Big Give Gage in 2022. It was finished in December 2022.
Terri Sue said they decided to host classes.
“We decided we need to teach skills because people wanted to learn the old way of doing things,” Terri Sue said.
“Creating something with your own hands and learning. People will be able to do these things when they get home,” Ron said. “It’s also fun to learn with other people.”
Terri Sue said they’ve held a variety of different workshops at Food 4 Hope.
“We’ve had an Italian fiesta and made pasta,” she said. “We’ve done breads, cast iron cooking, medicinal herbs, and pies. We try to be really interactive and want everyone to have their hands on. Learning is experiential in my world.”
On Saturday, Nov. 11 they offered a second pie workshop with Diana Hollman teaching six women how to make and roll out a homemade pie crust with sour cherry filling.
Hollman of Clatonia has been making pies throughout her life. She sold her homemade pies at the farmer’s market in Beatrice for many years and retired about four years ago.
Terri Sue said people still come to the market and ask about the “pie lady.”
“She’s world renowned,” she said.
“A lot of people don’t know how to make pies anymore,” Terri Sue said. “It’s an art form that I don’t want to disappear.”
Hollman said she learned to make pies from her mother many years ago.
“It’s a pinch here and a handful here,” Hollman said. “That’s how I bake.”
Members of the workshop came for different reasons.
Sara Rundquist was spending the weekend with her grandma, Hollman, and came to the workshop to help and learn more.
“She’s been rolling dough since she was two,” Hollman said.
Sherri Bergen of Beatrice said her mother, who is 88 years of age, is an excellent pie maker.
“I really want to learn how to make pies like she makes,” Bergen said.
Isabelle Mason works at Food 4 Hope a couple of days a week and is making pies for Thanksgiving for her family.
“This is the second time I’ve done the workshop,” she said. “I’m in charge of pies for Thanksgiving.”
She brought her friend Nicholette Brewer.
Hollman taught different tricks to kneading and rolling the dough, mixing the ingredients and included some secrets she uses to make the best tasting pies that are also visually appealing.
Each person was able to take their completed sour cherry pies home after they baked in the Food 4 Hope community kitchen.
On Tuesday and Friday of most weeks, they deliver breads, salads, nuts and several other items to homes and businesses in town.
They are currently about $20,000 from completing the learning center, office and loading dock in the renovated building where the community kitchen is located.
“I really want to empower food entrepreneurs,” Terri Sue said. “We have plans for continued growth.”
More information on upcoming workshops and contact information can be found at food4hope.org .
