Selena Serving Up Success

Selena Fuentes “smashes” the birthday boy with a plate of whipped cream. This is a tradition at the three restaurants where she works; if it is your birthday, you get to wear a sombrero and get “whip creamed.”

Ring, ring. The alarm clock sounds at 7 a.m. on a sunny summer morning. She wakes up early to drive 30 minutes to Newton, Ill., where she manages restaurant number 1 of the day. At 4 p.m., she drives back to her hometown of Olney, Ill., to work at restaurant number 2 until 11 p.m.

You might be wondering, who has time to do all this?

Meet Selena Fuentes, a senior at Richland County High School. Fuentes has been actively involved in FFA since her freshman year. She also serves as the Olney FFA Chapter’s student council representative. But her accomplishments don’t stop there—she’s also achieving great success with her Supervised Agricultural Experience, and it deserves some attention!

What’s on the Menu?

Fuentes’ special of the day is a food service placement SAE, to which she has dedicated over 1,700 hours. What sets her SAE apart is her remarkable achievement of running three restaurants since the age of 14: La Poblanita Mexican Restaurant in Newton, Ill; Mis Tres Potrillos Mexican Restaurant in Olney, Ill; and Mis Tres Potrillos Restaurant in Terre Haute, Ind. Additionally, Fuentes owns 76% of La Poblanita in Newton, the maximum amount she can own as a minor in Illinois. Although Illinois law restricts her from owning more than one restaurant, she actively manages the other two locations owned by her father. In short, Fuentes has a lot on her plate with these three restaurants.

Can I Have the Bill, Please?

 Since Fuentes operates three Mexican restaurants, she faces various customer demands at each location.

In Olney, she caters to a social hub where she serves the sheriff, police officers and other prominent figures. She values the feedback from these customers. An example of her service would be when she had to adjust the salsa recipe to reduce the spiciness based on their preferences.

In Newton, the food tends to be more authentic due to a diverse population. Fuentes uses customer feedback to determine the bestselling options, and she finds the people in Newton to be very polite and appreciative.

Finally, in Terre Haute, the menu is diverse and tailored based on heaps of feedback. Fuentes has even adjusted spice blends to create “better food,” as she puts it.

The differences in each town’s population influence the menu variations at her restaurants. Fuentes isn’t afraid to adapt to satisfy her audience. After all, keeping the customer happy is key to a flourishing business.

Have a Good Day, and Please Come Again!

In conclusion, Selena Fuentes has an exceptional food service placement SAE. Owning, operating and managing three businesses at the age of 17 is truly impressive. Her work ethic and determination are remarkable, allowing her to achieve so much at a young age. So, if you find yourself in Southern Illinois or Indiana, be sure to visit Mis Tres Potrillos Mexican Restaurant in Olney and Terre Haute or La Poblanita Mexican Restaurant in Newton to see Fuentes serve up success!