Jenny Mowe traded basketballs for baked goods, and the voters approve — her shop, Sweet Wife Baking, earned four awards in the Go! Readers’ Choice contest.

Sweet Wife earned the top spot for Best Bakery, Best Breakfast, Best Dessert and Best Sweets.

About that basketball — Mowe was a star 6-foot-5 center for the University of Oregon Ducks from 1997 to 2001. After college, she played in the Women’s National Basketball Association for three years, including two with the Portland Fire.

She quit playing basketball in 2003 but continued to coach and run skills camps in the Eugene area, as well as direct programs at local rec centers.

Then, she married Loran Joseph, who graduated from Baker High School, and the couple moved to Baker City in 2007.

And this is where, suddenly at home with a baby, Mowe looked for a hobby.

“I went from a very active lifestyle to staying home,” she said. “And I got bored.”

She started a blog, took up photography, and found The Darling Bakers website, which offered a monthly baking challenge.

Mowe started experimenting and showered the goodies on family. Then she offered a cheesecake and the recipe to Earth & Vine, a former wine bar in Baker City.

The owner asked for another cheesecake the next week, and others inquired about cakes.

She’d found her niche.

Sweet Wife Baking launched in January of 2011. With the help of Loran and her father-in-law, Randy Joseph, Jenny set up shop in the Baker Tower for wholesale and custom orders. She also sold goodies at the Baker City Farmers Market.

In 2015, the shop moved to a building on Resort Street and opened, just on Sundays, for retail sales.

“I have videos of Loran rolling a refrigerator down Main Street,” Jenny said.

She hired her first employee and slowly expanded hours and offerings, especially lunch.

“There was such a demand,” she said.

In July 2021, the shop opened in its current location, the historic Lynndale Building at 2028 Main St. Now open seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sweet Wife has 25 employees — 12 full-time and 13 part-time, plus Jenny, Loran and their boys, Jack and Miles.

Although the menu has expanded and changed over the years, a few offerings will always be found in the case.

“Always, since the beginning, sticky buns,” she said.

Scones and cookies, too.

“We have our favorites that we stay with,” she said.

As for her favorite?

“That’s like asking about my favorite child,” she said with a laugh.

Challenges

Owning a small business has its challenges, and Jenny said bakeries often deal with shortages or high prices. Right now, it’s tough to get eggs, which are used in many Sweet Wife’s offerings.

“We’ve made some product adjustments, but it’s hard any time there’s a shortage,” she said.

But come morning, the case will be full of tempting treats — sticky buns, bacon-apple-maple scones, salted chocolate chip cookies and more — and the menu is updated for lunch specials.

“I appreciate that Baker City continues to support us through all the trials and tribulations,” Jenny said.

Information

Sweet Wife Baking

2028 Main St., Baker City

Open seven days a week, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

For updates, follow Sweet Wife Baking on Facebook and Instagram.