How Sweet It Is

Andrea Engelman, owner of Sugar Stix, makes custom candy creations

By Kaylor Jones / Photo by Claudia Johnstone

If there’s one thing required of those in the candy business, it’s a sense of whimsy. As the owner of Sugar Stix, Andrea Engelman has it in spades.

It all started during her family’s Hanukkah movie night in 2023, when Engelman handed out themed candy skewers to her guests.

“I loved that the 20-plus kids I had over could enjoy their treat in the backyard, without putting out bins of candy they could destroy in just a few minutes,” she says. “The adults and kids were very excited about them, and a few weeks later, after chatting with my girlfriends, I thought I might as well get started with a few events, kicking off with Valentine’s Day.”

Engelman specializes in custom candy kabobs – the titular “Sugar Stix” – as well as charcuterie boards, DIY kits and candy tackle boxes, often incorporating seasonal themes and bold colors.

Color has always been one of Engelman’s biggest inspirations when sitting down to put together a new treat. She traces this affinity for color back to her over 15-year career in retail and merchandising, which honed her eye for design – as evidenced by the eye-catching creations she shares on her business’ Instagram (@sugarstixaz).

“What stands out most for me is the joy my treats bring to customers as they see the visual presentation of their order, and hearing how excited they or their children were enjoying all the different candies,” she says. “Anyone can go buy and enjoy a bag of candy, but coordinating your special treat to a theme for an event makes it so much better!”

As a stay-at-home mom to two boys, Engelman strives to find balance in everything she does. Whether catering a large party or bringing Sugar Stix to a local market, Engelman’s top priority remains balancing work and life so she’s always present to spend special moments with her kids.

“One of the best pieces of advice I’ve been given is ‘work smart, not hard.’ This is something that I heard often in my past work life, and I am still challenged with each day as I shape my future business with Sugar Stix.”

Eight Seconds of Glory

Arizona Ridge Riders’ Casey Lane on the heritage of bull riding

By Kaylor Jones / Photo by Claudia Johnstone

As the general manager of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) team the Arizona Ridge Riders, Casey Lane is among the most vocal advocates for Western sports.

Lane has been immersed in the Western world from an early age, growing up on a cattle ranch in California and competing in rodeo from childhood through college. And it was during his college years that bull riding began to branch out as a standalone sport, piquing Lane’s interest as he transitioned his career from production agriculture to sports marketing and sponsorship.

“Bull riding is easily digested by regular sports fans – it’s easy to understand and involves components of athleticism and danger that draw in fans,” Lane says. “Western sports are really rooted in the values and virtues of cowboy culture, so for the past 20 years, I’ve worked to translate that into the passion people outside of the Western world have for other sports.”

Now entering their fourth year, the Ridge Riders (www.arizonaridgeriders.com) will kick off the PBR season in July, following a schedule of local events during their training camp in June. Their home event, taking place October 10 to 12 at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, will honor the many cultures that have contributed to the heritage of bull riding over the centuries, from Native American to Mexican to Brazilian, while celebrating the individuals that bring the sport to life.

“We really want to elevate our athletes in mainstream culture so they’re amongst their peers in other team sports, whether that’s football or baseball or gymnastics,” Lane says. “The bull is the other half of the equation. It’s the dance partner and the opponent at the same time. They’re athletes just as much as the riders are.”

For Lane, it’s all about preserving the legacy of one of America’s original extreme sports, and sharing the heart-pounding, adrenaline-inducing experience with as many new audience members as possible.

“There’s so much talent, skill, practice and training behind it. It’s poignant to think that you train all week long for one shot at eight seconds. The range of emotional and physical energy that goes into those eight seconds is really difficult to quantify.”