Hannah Archuleta

At the age of 17, Hannah Archuleta has hopes of joining the ranks of other young entrepreneurs with plans to one day open her own business in Sallisaw.

Archuleta, who has always been interested in earning her own money since fifth grade, bakes and makes desserts and other sweet edibles she sells most Saturdays at the Farmers Market in Sallisaw.

“I enjoy it. The best part about it is selling something that people appreciate, especially when they tell me ‘It’s good,’ and they enjoy eating it,’” she said, smiling.

She sells her famous lemon and peanut butter bars along with cinnamon rolls, cookies and strawberry shortcakes and other baked items she creates in her mom’s kitchen.

“I’ve been baking for the past three years. I have a brother and sister who enjoy tasting them, but my dad is the one I can’t keep out of the kitchen. He loves the peanut butter bars, and he gets upset when I don’t make enough,” she said with a laugh.

Archuleta has been home-schooled for the past several years, and is currently a junior. She said having a flexible schedule allows her the time to tend to her baking on Fridays, which takes a whole day, she said, preparing for Saturday’s Farmers Market.

“Currently, that’s the only place I sell my baked goods, but I’m hoping to someday open a store front business in Sallisaw,” she said. The name of her business is “Sunset Sisters,” because she hopes to one day include her sister’s help, once she opens her own business.

Archuleta said she uses the money she earns to buy more ingredients for her baking, and what’s left over she sets aside for spending, paying her phone bill and saving.

“If I further my education after high school, I would like to enroll in some cooking courses. I enjoy watching the Food Network and other similar shows, and I learn from some of their ideas, too,” she said.

When she’s not busy with her baking business, Archuleta enjoys hanging out with her friends and babysitting, and is active in her church youth group.

“We have all kinds of activities at the Sallisaw First Assembly of God where I attend,” she said, noting she is currently making plans to attend a church youth camp soon.

Originally from Florida, Archuleta said she is also planning a trip this summer to visit her grandmother and other family who live in Florida around the Tampa Bay area.

“After I complete my home-schooling, I would like to take a trip and visit the Redwoods in Oregon and do some other traveling,” she said.

“I enjoy living here in Sallisaw. Although I have family in Florida, I enjoy the small-town atmosphere. Florida is big. I do like water, so I would like to visit Hawaii, Bali, the Bahamas and some other beaches when I can. I like clean water,” she said.

“I give God all the glory for the blessings in my life, and I’m thankful for my family who are very supportive of everything I do.”

Just Folks. Just Folks is Your TIMES way of honoring the regular people of Sequoyah County, recognizing their unique talents, personalities, jobs, abilities, etc. Your TIMES appreciates the cooperation of each Just Folks and the public’s nominations for this feature. If you know of someone you think might be a good story, contact Amie or Lynn at 918-775-4433.