By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
More than $2,000 was up for grabs Wednesday at the third annual Barton County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, hosted by Great Bend Economic Development and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. The campaign for teams began in November, but Great Bend Economic Development Communications Director Lee Ann June said there were just competitors at the Events Center Wednesday.
"We would always like it to be bigger," she said. "I think we just need to get into the classes sooner, talk to teachers probably this year so we can get them excited about it for next year to add to their curriculum. But the kids were great."
Approximately a dozen teams originally signed up. The field was narrowed to six before two teams pulled out Wednesday due to illness. The competition did feature individual competitors from three Barton County communities, and a first-ever middle school team that learned under bidding the competition may not be the best way to run a childcare business.
"They thought, to be competitive, we'll try to have a rate that's lower than other people," said June. "They have to do financials, and they found out they were in the red, so they couldn't do that. It was interesting to hear their perspective on business. They're 13-year-olds, and they were having really grown-up discussions."
Ellinwood's Kiley Stevenson won first place for a third-straight year. She wins $1,000 toward her Kiley's Creations, soon-to-be Cookie Caddy trailer she can use to peddle her sweet treats all around Kansas. Hoisington's Danielle Davis received $750 as the second-place finisher for her Sugar N Spice Co. business that features custom t-shirts, waxmelts, and more. Little Friends Daycare, from GBMS students Sydney Bailey and Callie Umphres, received $500 for third place, and Hoisington's Tucker Loesch won his second straight People's Choice Award for his mobile welding business. He takes home $250.
Stevenson will again have the opportunity to compete at the state level. Last year, more than 1,000 students from 61 schools competed in local competitions, earning more than $75,000 in prizes. June said the experience gained by this year's teams could pay off in future competitions.
"I feel like those that had competed last year really stepped up their game," she said. "Their booths were more interactive, more fun to look at. I think we're on the right track, but we'd definitely like to see more kids in. I think the public always enjoys seeing what they come up with."
For the challenge, competitors prepared a summary, a four-minute presentation, and a tradeshow presentation for their business idea. They were judged by local entrepreneurs, teachers, and other community members.
More about the Challenge
The judging panel was made up of a wide array of business professionals including Jessica Milsap, MPIRE Realty Group, David McMillan, representing the Masonic Lodge, Shawn Powelson, Landmark Bank, Regan Reif, University of Kansas Health Systems, and Krystal Schartz, Peoples Bank & Trust. Before the students took to the tradeshow floor, GBED hosted a lunch/mixer for judges and students as an icebreaker to help the students to connect with the judges before presenting before them. Students were given some questions to ask the judges, such as ‘How do you handle the work-life balance?’. Regan Reif answered this by saying that she prefers to say it is a “work-life integration,” and she turned it around to ask those students with functioning businesses how they handle it as well. All in all, it was an impactful dialogue between the two groups.
This competition, brought to Great Bend by Great Bend Economic Development and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, was created to challenge our youth, encourage our business community to partner with and mentor our younger generations, and foster an entrepreneurial spirit, and is a partnership with NetWork Kansas. Event Sponsors included Barton Community College, Nex-Tech, and Gottschalk Equipment Sales. Encouraging youth entrepreneurship is essential for the development of a dynamic and innovative society. Youth entrepreneurship provides young people with an opportunity to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative skills, which can benefit them throughout their lives. It also promotes economic growth by creating new businesses and employment opportunities. Youth entrepreneurs bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the table, often leveraging technology to develop innovative solutions to long-standing problems. Overall, supporting youth entrepreneurship is crucial to building a strong economy and creating a brighter future for the next generation. To learn more about YEC or watch videos of the contestants, go online to www.gbedinc.com/yec.