When Jodi Jefferson retired from the Air Force in 2020, she had hopes to open a food truck. However, between the height of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns and rapid online popularity, she launched her from-home business, the Busy Bee Bakery.
“At the time, people weren’t gathering,” Jodi said. “So, when Covid hit, I started using social media to post items—it really took off!”
At first, Jodi was unsure why her posts of decorated cupcakes gained so much traction, some earning more than 30,000 views, and then she learned moderators and members of the Omaha Food Lovers Facebook group had spread the word.
The word-of-mouth marketing reminded her of her father’s business growing up, which similarly operated on delivering a solid service that customers were happy to share.
The bakery offers customers options such as cupcakes, cookies, full-sized cakes, and more. Her weekly-themed cupcakes, like candy bars or tropical options, initially drew many in as it let people mix and match their choices.
“Then I got inundated with cake orders.”
One fan favorite, she said, is the strawberry crunch cheesecake cake. However, her carrot cake is the go-to option for Jodi and her family. This carrot cake, she said, was also a favorite of one of her past customers during her time serving on Air Force One. That customer was Former First Lady Laura Bush.
Jodi began serving on Air Force One in 2005, serving leaders like Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. This is when the Former First Lady first tasted Jodi's carrot cake, a birthday favorite.
"I would make a carrot cake for her (birthday,) and a little one she would take home to the president," Jodi said.
Her time as a flight attendant for presidents and leaders differed greatly from that of a commercial flight attendant. She would design menus, source ingredients, and prepare pre-flight. Meanwhile, the name "Busy Bee" took root.
Jodi met her husband, who also served on Air Force One, and the two were part of a group of friends.
“Before we had children, we hung out with this really fun group,” she said. This group held a Halloween Party where the couple dressed as bees—including their dog, Killer. Jodi’s Queen Bee costume was often re-used on special occasions. This, along with her self-described inability to sit still for long, had her then coworkers encourage her to start a bakery with the name “Busy Bee.”
“I also don’t sit still for very long, so it’s a perfect name!” she said.
As her family grew and her husband was deployed to Korea, Jodi was relocated to Offutt Air Force Base, closer to her parents in Kearney, particularly her mother battling cancer.
"When I got stationed back here, my mom basically moved here," Jodi said, with her dad visiting often. The family's closeness continues to influence the bakery, with her mom assisting in Busy Bee's annual charity bake sale each November.
"She's had this cancer for almost ten years now. She's such a woman of faith, and being able to do something we look forward to every year, to give back," Jodi said. "God has blessed us with a talent, and He's blessed us with the means to do that."
They've raised funds for various causes such as Calvary Christian Church, the Rainbow House, Mustaches for Kids, and 50 Mile March. This year's fundraiser will go toward Project Intentional, which is dedicated to restoring dignity to women and families.
The bake sale, featuring five fall-themed menu items, has become a tradition of many.
"My oven runs 23 hours a day for five days straight. That's how insane this bake sale gets," Jodi shared.
For the latest updates and to place orders, visit the Busy Bee Baking Company, LLC Facebook page.