Youth Investigate Entrepreneurship
Valley County
Seventeen Valley County youngsters learned about building their own business during a three-day Entrepreneurship Discovery Camp in June 2011. The free event included lunch, snacks and educational materials, plus seed money to purchase supplies for new business ventures. The camp was made possible through a grant from NCF’s Valley County Community Foundation Fund – Youth Endowment.
NCF surveys show that about 40 percent of rural youth show an interest in starting their own business someday. The ESI (Entrepreneurship Investigation) Camp is a way for the kids to explore their own personalities and learn how to turn their interests into a business idea.
Campers spent the first day finding out what it takes to move an idea into the development of a product or service. On the second day, they shopped locally for supplies. Later they toured several local businesses to visit with real-life entrepreneurs. These included the owners of A.J. Cetak’s Meat Market, Stitches screening and embroidery shop, the Country Neighbor restaurant and Zangger’s Popcorn Farm.
Then it was back to business. The kids learned about expenses, income, receipting and maintaining cash boxes. Each camper went home with the assignment of producing their own product for market.
On the final morning, the youngsters prepared business cards, brochures and price sheets. They visited the Ord Chamber/Valley County Economic Development office to learn about marketing.
In the afternoon, it was show time!
“The highlight of the week for campers was selling their new products at the marketplace on the court house lawn. Participants enjoyed visiting with community members and promoting their unique creations. Each camper made a profit and some even took orders to be filled over the summer!” said Dahn Hagge, Valley County Community Foundation Fund coordinator, who helped organize the ESI Discovery Camp.
“The camp was a valuable experience for the county-wide community, and it strengthened partnerships among area entrepreneurs, support organizations and youth,” Hagge said.
ESI is an award-winning entrepreneurship curriculum developed in 2005 through a partnership with NCF’s HomeTown Competitiveness, the Nebraska Department of Education, UNL Extension and others, including Ord High School business teacher Derry Trampe. Presenters at the ESI camp included Derry Trampe, UNL Extension Educators Kayla Hinrichs and Connie Hancock, and UNL Extension Program Coordinator Specialist Nancy Eberle.
In the photo: Campers Jonathan Koch and Madi Hagge pay close attention as Allen Joe Cetak explains details about running his meat market business in Ord, which also sells products online and has expanded into a gourmet market in Lincoln.
