Grow Ellsworth County hosts youth entrepreneurship challenge

BY NATE KING
Salina Post

ELLSWORTH – Grow Ellsworth County, in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, and in coordination with USD 327, hosted the 2nd Annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) on Monday at Ellsworth Junior Senior High School.

Nine individuals and seven teams presented their business concepts with a written business plan, two minute elevator pitch, four to six minute presentation, and an exhibit for judges to review.

The winning concepts were:

<b>First prize winner , Layton Leiker demonstrates how to use one of his handcrafted cedar wood lures in a water trough display pond.</b> Photos by Nate King/Salina Post — **First prize winner , Layton Leiker demonstrates how to use one of his handcrafted cedar wood lures in a water trough display pond.** Photos by Nate King/Salina Post

First Prize- Layton Leiker with Leiker Lures

<b>The Donley brothers are professional yard maintainers and mowing experts. At last year's YEC  they took first place.  They currently operate in the immediate Ellsworth vicinity, with hopes of expanding to include the Salina area in the future. </b> — The Donley brothers are professional yard maintainers and mowing experts. At last year's YEC they took first place. They currently operate in the immediate Ellsworth vicinity, with hopes of expanding to include the Salina area in the future.

Second Prize: Donley Business Ventures, LLC with Thaddeus, Cruz, and Owen Donley

Third Prize: Josie Kueser with Elkhorn Silver

<b>Josie Kueser speaks with Kanopolis Mayor and event judge, Anthony Hopkins about her jewelry business model. Kueser hand picks which stones she would like to feature in an earring, necklace, ring or armband. </b> — Josie Kueser speaks with Kanopolis Mayor and event judge, Anthony Hopkins about her jewelry business model. Kueser hand picks which stones she would like to feature in an earring, necklace, ring or armband.

Best Trade Show: Jodi Donley with Jodi’s Sweet Treats

<b>Jody Donley, right, served up the sweet treats at the YEC event. YEC mentor and Millwood Realty agent Anita Hoffhines loved the pink frosted cake pops.</b> Photo by Nate King — **Jody Donley, right, served up the sweet treats at the YEC event. YEC mentor and Millwood Realty agent Anita Hoffhines loved the pink frosted cake pops.** Photo by Nate King

Best Marketing: Paxton Huseman with Paxton's Flags

<b>Huseman's  wooden flag products are created using  pallets. Huseman said he then burns the wood to give it a rustic look. He finishes the product by using a Dremel tool to carve the 50 stars and finishes the flag with a coat of  polyurethane.</b> — Huseman's wooden flag products are created using pallets. Huseman said he then burns the wood to give it a rustic look. He finishes the product by using a Dremel tool to carve the 50 stars and finishes the flag with a coat of polyurethane.

People’s Choice: Tucker Holt with Holt’s Small Engine Repair

<b>Holt is 13 years old and is a student at Ellsworth Middle School. Holt said that he has been working on engines since his father let him hold a wrench. </b> — **Holt is 13 years old and is a student at Ellsworth Middle School. Holt said that he has been working on engines since his father let him hold a wrench.**

Best Ag Business (sponsored by Ellsworth County Kansas Farm Bureau): Layton Leiker

Students received prize money totaling $3,350 courtesy of Network Kansas, Ellsworth County Kansas Farm Bureau, and Grow Ellsworth County.

“This year’s competition was filled with students full of passion, energy, and confidence. It is an amazing experience to watch them blossom and learn lifelong useful skills. We had a wide age range of participants this year, which is encouraging for the future of this competition. I am proud of each one of them,” said Stacie Schmidt, event coordinator and executive director of Grow Ellsworth County.

<b>Grow Ellsworth County Executive Director Stacie Schmidt, pictured wearing a red plaid shirt, took time during the event to speak with event attendees. </b> — **Grow Ellsworth County Executive Director Stacie Schmidt, pictured wearing a red plaid shirt, took time during the event to speak with event attendees.**

Sarah Larosh, product manager for the western region of Rural Entrepreneurship at NetWork Kansas said the competition helps "spur the entrepreneurial environment" in local communities.

"We want these kids to realize that they have skill and talent and something that they can invest back into their community," Larosh said. "You don't have to be an employee the rest of your life, you have something to give. Over 80 percent of all the jobs all across all 50 states are based off of entrepreneurship."

Instead of only focusing on attracting people to Kansas communities, Larosh said NetWork Kansas focuses on growing Kansas owned businesses and local economies.

"We want to focus on growing our own business according to our own economies in every community. Ellsworth looks different than Salina, and there's beautiful things about their differences. They can coexist, really close, but they can still complement each other. Ellsworth doesn't want to be Salina and Salina doesn't want to be Ellsworth," Larosh said. "If we can each have that strong economic base of having main street businesses that are local entrepreneurs, they're not attracted in or or incentivized to come so they're less likely to leave."

In addition to prizes and recognition, the first-place finisher has the opportunity to compete in the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge at Kansas State University in Manhattan. This event will include the top young entrepreneurs from across the state. All students are also eligible to earn a spot at the state contest by entering the Kansas YEC wild card competition.

The students’ performances were judged by local entrepreneurs and public sector partners. Students were provided mentors for support throughout the process.