Young minds in full bloom

Whether it's a part-time high school job, a diversion from the grind of college courses, or a budding passion waiting to be unleashed, Petals and Stems in Carrington has become a station for young women to let their creativity fly.

Owner Brenda Bush has been a proud promoter of her employees' higher education, which began almost since the flower shop's founding in 2017.

"I always look for creativity in an employee, and I especially enjoy working with young creative minds," Bush says.

She explained that she didn't really start out seeking college kids out of general principle, but says that the lifestyle and hours "just work well for that demographic of workers."

With newer generations tending to move away from the skills of customer service and in-person communication in favor of technology, Bush sees a need to preserve that level of connectivity with customers.

"Somewhere along the line, we stopped teaching young people how to interact with others at a basic level, like looking someone in the eyes when you speak with them," she said.

Most of what Bush teaches her workers revolves around life skills as a result.

"They teach me just as much as I teach them," she said. "We have such a unique blend of generations at the shop, and I hope they can learn an actual trade they can always use in the future, but more so, I hope they learn to trust themselves and have the courage to follow their dreams."

Any help Bush receives this summer has suddenly assumed a higher importance, with her health taking a turn in recent months.

She has been diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system essentially turns on the body and begins attacking healthy tissue.

Because of that, Bush has been limited in her hours where she's running the shop, and is not as able to work at the pace she has in the past.

Currently, Sydnie Grager and Alleigha Guthmiller are part of the Petals and Stems staff, and work full-time and pick up extra side jobs while taking online classes.

"These young women have a very hard economy to try to live and pay rent, and paying for school times are way more expensive than when I was in school," said Bush. "They work hard, and I love to see them in the community."

Profiles of several of her present and past employees have been reproduced here from posts dated in February on the Petals and Stems Facebook page.

Sydnie Grager

Grager successfully balances her time in the flower shop with her job as a CNA at Golden Acres Manor, and she is also enrolled at Lake Region State College as a full-time student.

The Sykeston native graduated from CHS in 2022, and was a standout on the volleyball and basketball teams. Bush praises Grager as an "all-around hard worker, and a corsage-making queen."

Alleigha Guthmiller

Guthmiller is a full-time student at Bismarck State College, and has embraced her role as a full-time designer at Petals and Stems.

A hard worker, Bush says Ally is responsible for "many of the beautiful designs you see from us."

"She has a love of all things yellow, and anything she can grow," added Bush, who considers Guthmiller the business's plant care expert.

"Her grandma Eunice would be so proud," beamed Bush. "I know we are!"

Elizabeth Lee

Lee is currently pursuing her agronomy degree at NDSU, but also finds time to help out at Petals and Stems. She worked for Bush during her high school years.

She also worked at UpNorth Therapies in Carrington for Bush's daughter-in-law, Gabby Hewitt, and also was employed at various jobs in Jamestown, including an internship at Farmers Union Insurance, and at Edgewood Assisted Living.

At the moment, she works for CHS Inc. in Valley City.

"Beth is talented and ambitious, and we can't wait to see all she's gonna accomplish," Bush said.

Kaydence Oatis

Oatis says she "helps out when they need it" at Petals and Stems, for whatever needs the team's attention at that moment.

She is currently enrolled at UND and studying preoccupational therapy, and is scheduled to graduate with the class of 2027.

Madeson Smith

Madeson "Maddy" Smith started as a bright-eyed newbie in the Petals and Stems universe, and embraced what she learned with Bush and her teammates in her pursuit of her career.

"Maddy surely didn't realize when she started at Petals and Stems that she would always be employed with us," said Bush with a hearth laugh.

Smith now lives in Fargo following her graduation from MSU-Moorhead, and is now the gift shop manager at Baker Garden and Gift.

"She may have started her plant journey with us, but [Maddy] has taken her love of nature to the next level," Bush added.

Bush also says that Smith's artistic abilities are very formidable as well, so "be prepared to see more of her in the future."

New Rockford kids in the mix

In addition to the five students named earlier, two other students from New Rockford have also helped out at Petals and Stems in recent years.

Carli Lies has used that opportunity to stay in the floral design industry, and is now the head wedding designer at a large flower shop in Wisconsin. Along with having a photography degree, she uses those skills to help with her aunt's wedding business in her free time.

Kyleigh Hilbert is also a full-time student, a "jack of all trades", according to Bush, and works as an installation specialist.

"Big designs are her calling," she said, and noted that her love of travel has allowed her to share her experiences through photography as well.

For more stories about area college-age achievers, see our special Collegiate Congrats section which can be found in pdf online here:

https://www.fosterconews.com/home/cms_data/dfault/pdfs/misc/2024-06-24.pdf