Elizabeth Liddell was scrolling through TikTok last summer when she stumbled upon a video that sparked a business venture.
“I scrolled past this lady in Southern California who made a thriving business out of luxury pop-up picnics,” said Liddell, a 25-year-old English teacher at Greenwood High School. “That was the catalyst that got everything going.”
It didn’t take long for Liddell to get Magnolia Picnic Company off the ground. The passion project gave the recent University of Mississippi graduate a rewarding use for her free time during the pandemic. It also helped that she was always the resident chef with her college friends in Oxford, experience that proved valuable as she began crafting flower-laden spreads for brunches and date nights.
“I was just missing something,” Liddell said. “I needed something to do, but I needed it to be fulfilling. When I was in college, all my friends would come over, and I’d cook these big dinners. I believe that everyday celebrations are the best way to create lasting memories, so that’s what we do.”
Liddell considers her culinary specialty to be sweets, but she prides herself on her ability to personalize picnics to each customer’s specifications. Her Greenwood High students are often fortunate enough to receive free samples in class on Fridays.
“The students at Greenwood High School are really great,” said Liddell, who teaches English IV, AP Literature and AP Language and Composition.
“We do have behavioral issues, and the kids are a little bit behind because of missed instruction time during COVID, but they really love knowing that there’s someone out there who cares about them. I try to make Cookie Fridays for them. I try to think, ‘What can I do this week to make them feel a little more appreciated, a little more loved?’”
Maybe the treats make it just a bit easier for Liddell to broach difficult topics with her students, such as future plans for her soon-to-be graduating seniors. She certainly knows how to cater to a crowd.
“My goal is always to get them to realize what’s next,” she said. “I need them to understand that this is it; you’re jumping off the ledge, and now you got to fly. I always ask them, ‘What’s next? What do you want to do?’ I know that college isn’t for everyone.
“I’m always having tough, in-depth conversations with them,” Liddell added. “I always hold them accountable to what they say they want to do, who they want to be. I think that’s the best way to mold young adults.”
- Contact Riley Overend at 662-581-7237 or roverend@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow @OverendOut on Twitter.
