Canfield children create candy companies

Meet Adrianna Preciado, the genius mind behind Candy Stuck - a candy company with a vision to bring fandoms together over the sweetest treat on Earth,  the Troll Chocolate Bite.

Preciado joined her seventh-grade classmates at Canfield Middle School this month in the Confections for a Cause project. First started by teacher Kellie Wheelan more than 15 years ago, the class project guides Canfield seventh-graders through the processes and strategies of developing a company with a purpose and philosophy. The students create a company, a featured product, a logo, advertising strategies and packaging solutions.

“The excitement is beyond words,” said teacher Michelle Fassler. “The kids come to seventh-grade language arts and have this one on their minds. Last year, the seventh-graders presented their projects to the sixth-graders, so now this year they remember that.”

The students presented their projects to their class, and most of them presented their projects Wednesday at a Candy Expo held in the school’s cafeteria. The event showcased all the projects and raised money for children’s diabetes research.

People could buy $5 entry tickets to try the candy students made. Proceeds are being donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. There were also ballots handed out so people could vote on the best projects.

Guests at the expo could vote on the projects in the following categories: Best-tasting candy, best marketing, best attire, best display and best overall project. The winners will have their candies featured May 7 from 1-3 p.m. in front of Mrs. Honeypeeps Sweet Shop in The Plaza Shops, 210 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene.

The seventh-grade class got to show their creative sides. Some made aprons with their company’s logo on it, others created poster boards and some people even made videos to advertise their products.

Preciado said she wants to make an animated video for her project. Even though she already presented her project to her class, she wants to see it through.

Her company is focused on fandoms. Fandoms are subcultures and fans of movies, TV shows and video games. They are passionate about these different shows, reading up on them, making predictions and sharing with other fans.

“Sometimes fandoms will argue with each other on who’s better or who has better actors. It can be about the most random thing ever,” Preciado said. “So what my company wants to do is to bring each fandom together and not have them quarrel over who’s better and to have a regular conversation or to suggest shows to other people — with candy.”

Preciado wants to ask producers from “The Walking Dead” and “Steven Universe” if their actors wouldn’t mind doing some voice overs for her animated advertisement. She hopes to connect with them over Twitter or email.

Preciado’s candy company, The Candy Stuck, features Troll Chocolate Bites. Made of white chocolate and raspberries, the confection is topped with a whole raspberry and milk or dark chocolate.

“The project integrates real-world application with language arts standards,” Wheelan said. “Students are taught the importance of media literacy through research and exposure to different business practices, strategies, and techniques for advertising. The project also creates real-world connections and community partnerships.”

Preciado said the biggest lesson she learned through this project is to not let the competition get the best of you.

“If something’s challenging, I don’t really get caught up in the challenge of being the best,” she said. “I usually focus on staying on track, staying in my game and not worrying about everyone else. If they’re bragging about what they are doing, I just focus on doing my best.”