The 2025 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge held. Republic County Economic Development, in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, hosted the 9th annual Republic County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge on Monday, March 10th at Pike Valley High School. Nine teams made up of thirteen students competed from Republic County, Pike Valley, and home schools for over $1,500 in prize money for their business ideas.
2025 YEC Speaker
The public could view the YEC tradeshow from 4:40 -5:45 pm. Guests heard from Pike Valley grad, Andrew Garman with Garman Industrial in Courtland. He shared his journey through Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, 4-H, and Future Farmers of America into developing three successful businesses while he was in high school and in the year since graduating. 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 (KEC) at Kansas State University in April 2024. Businesses that didn’t receive a first-place nod can compete for a wildcard position at the KEC event where they could win over $70,000 in prizes.
Also displayed during the presentation were art projects by PVHS art students who created art featuring a Republic County entrepreneur. This was possible thanks to a Network Kansas grant for $100 for supplies to help with the cost of these displays.
Student Businesses and Placements
The top placements in the 2025 event were:
- 1st place – Eagle Eye Ag Drone Services – Brady Childs
- 2nd place – Snapp Auto Detailing – Farmer Snapp
- 3rd place – Prom Posy – Elly Williams
- Junior High Award – Russell Airbnb Cleaning Services – Alyssa Russell
- Marketing – The STAY organization – Emberlyn Simon
All students who produced a business for the event, but didn’t win a top prize, were awarded money for participating. These outstanding students included Carter Woodard, Caleb Woodard, Natalie Boyer, Devin Allen, Owen Russell, Ezra Benne, Ethan Ines, and Conner Martin. Thank you to the many sets of judges needed to produce this event, to the students for taking time to do YEC, school administration/staff, and to the parents who supported the students. Teachers are also key to keeping this event going. Thank you to the Republic County and Pike Valley teachers, including Mrs. Tranda Strnad, Mr. Jed Strnad, Mrs. Nicol Parde, Mrs. Amanda Woodard, and Mrs. Savannah Awalt.
Republic County’s partnership with Network Kansas, Kansas State Research and Extension, and Republic County Economic Development sponsored this year’s event. For questions, contact Jenny Russell, RCED Director, at 785-527-2310 or director@republiccountykansas.com
