Central Kansas Youth Entrepreneurship Competition coming to St. John in early March

ST. JOHN – Get ready for several area high school students to take over St. John on Wednesday, March 2 with business product and/or service ideas!  Stafford County Economic Development, in cooperation with NetWork Kansas, is hosting a Youth Entrepreneurship Competition for adjoining counties that are also classified as a NetWork Kansas E-Community.

Stafford County Economic Development strives to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset with students in our county schools.  Entrepreneurship classes are offered in USD 349 STARS and USD 350 LIFE after-school programs.  Eco Devo has also supported development of the USD 349 SEED program that developed a bread mix sold in commercial distribution channels and is available to school foodservice kitchens statewide. By hosting a youth entrepreneurship competition, Stafford County Eco Devo can directly encourage these students to pursue their business idea, no matter how big or small their
obstacles may seem.

“If a student possesses that entrepreneurial mindset, they will be able to excel above and beyond in the “real world” after graduation.  Entrepreneurs find ways to develop a product or service that is needed.  They are leaders.  Why wouldn’t we want to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset at a young age,” said Stafford County Economic Development Program Director, Ashlee Bevan.

The competition in March consists of three different parts.  Prior to the competition day, each student or team of students, must submit an executive summary and a business plan that can be reviewed by the judges.  This will allow the judges to thoroughly listen to each three minute elevator pitch the day of the competition.  Following the elevator pitch, judges will have 10 minutes to ask questions.

The best part for the students; up to a $1,000 cash prize for the first place winner and a chance at receiving feedback on their business idea! Other cash amounts will be given as second, third, and special category prizes. Top performers will have the chance to compete at the Kansas State Youth Entrepreneurship Competition in April at Kansas State University in Manhattan.

Students from Kiowa, Pawnee, Reno, Rice and Stafford Counties are eligible to participate in the day-long event. Other activities to keep the students moving throughout the day are in the works. “We hope to make this an annual event following this year. We decided to pull the trigger and volunteer as a host to get something going in our area,” said Bevan.

This event will be open to anyone in the community that would like to come and support the students’ work.

​For more information on the event, visit www.staffordecodevo.com/yec.html or email ashlee@staffordecodevo.com.