2024 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge

Republic County, KS – Republic County Economic Development, in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, hosted the 8th annual Republic County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge on Tuesday, March 18th at Republic County Jr/Sr High School.  Nineteen teams made up of thirty students competed from Republic County and Pike Valley High Schools for over $1,500 in prize money for their business ideas.

The public could view the YEC tradeshow from 4:00 -6:00 pm. Guests heard from Belleville grad, Bethany Wallin, about her entrepreneurship journey into multiple businesses in Republic County. Awards were announced after 6:00 p.m.

Nine judges from the county and region volunteered to score the business’s executive summaries, tradeshow, and presentations. The winner of the local competition earned an automatic bid for the statewide Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge at Kansas State University in April 2024. Other students could apply for a bid to state through a wildcard selection process.

Also displayed during the presentation were art projects by RCHS and PVHS art students who created art featuring a Republic County entrepreneur. This was possible thanks to a Network Kansas grant for $250 for supplies to help with the cost of these displays.

The top placements in the 2024 event were:

·       1^st place – Eggs Xpress – Brady Childs – Republic County, Home School Student

·       2^nd place – Poppy & Prickle – Elly Williams -RCHS

·       3^rd place – Bait Boss Republic– Reed Newman – PVJH

·       4^th place – Caleb’s Customs – Caleb Woodard- PVJH

·       5^th place – Cowgirl Cookies- Elise Lieb, Lucy Calkins, & Lanee Bray- PVJH

Questions contact Jenny Russell, RCED Director, 785-527-2310 or rced@nckcn.com.