MONROE - Christopher James has, on his own, founded a fresh/frozen organic poultry business by the name of Bigg Valley Broilers. His research shows the organic poultry market is a growing opportunity, therefore in mid-2007 Chris wrote a plan for his business which allowed him to develop a baseline for measuring results against budgeted revenues and expenses, and helped him to outline goals to expand his customer base. Chris is a freshman at Argyle High School.
Are you looking for high-quality, pure, local honey? Pecatonica Middle School seventh grader Cora Demler is your source. Her business, Cora's Busy Bees sells honey and other bee products. Cora has taken her beekeeping hobby and turned it into a business. Like Chris, she wrote a business plan in mid-2007 outlining how she plans to expand her market and invest in more efficient tools for getting her product from the beehive to the customer's kitchen table.
Entrepreneurs grow our local economy with new business starts and business expansions. These are just two of a number of local youth who are taking calculated risks to turn their passions and talents into profitable businesses. What do these two youth have in common? Besides writing a business plan and starting a company - steps many adults are anxious about taking - these youth were among several who participated in the 2007 Green County 4-H Entrepreneurship Project. According to Alissa Grenawalt, UW-Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent, "The 4-H program goal is to foster skills that can provide opportunities for our young people as they enter adulthood." If we want to grow our local economy, what better way than to help youth see they have the skills, talents and creativity to run their own business?
National Entrepreneurship Week, a celebration of Wisconsin's entrepreneurs, is February 23 - March 1. As part of the activities, the State holds a Young Wisconsin Entrepreneur competition for youth in grades 9 to 12. This year Christopher James was nominated, and was one of five youth interviewed for the final award.
To learn more about the Green County 4-H program or the Entrepreneurship Project contact the UW-Extension office at (608) 328-9441. To learn more about entrepreneurship in Green County, contact the Green County Development Corporation at (608) 328-9452 or gcdc@tds.net.
Are you looking for high-quality, pure, local honey? Pecatonica Middle School seventh grader Cora Demler is your source. Her business, Cora's Busy Bees sells honey and other bee products. Cora has taken her beekeeping hobby and turned it into a business. Like Chris, she wrote a business plan in mid-2007 outlining how she plans to expand her market and invest in more efficient tools for getting her product from the beehive to the customer's kitchen table.
Entrepreneurs grow our local economy with new business starts and business expansions. These are just two of a number of local youth who are taking calculated risks to turn their passions and talents into profitable businesses. What do these two youth have in common? Besides writing a business plan and starting a company - steps many adults are anxious about taking - these youth were among several who participated in the 2007 Green County 4-H Entrepreneurship Project. According to Alissa Grenawalt, UW-Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent, "The 4-H program goal is to foster skills that can provide opportunities for our young people as they enter adulthood." If we want to grow our local economy, what better way than to help youth see they have the skills, talents and creativity to run their own business?
National Entrepreneurship Week, a celebration of Wisconsin's entrepreneurs, is February 23 - March 1. As part of the activities, the State holds a Young Wisconsin Entrepreneur competition for youth in grades 9 to 12. This year Christopher James was nominated, and was one of five youth interviewed for the final award.
To learn more about the Green County 4-H program or the Entrepreneurship Project contact the UW-Extension office at (608) 328-9441. To learn more about entrepreneurship in Green County, contact the Green County Development Corporation at (608) 328-9452 or gcdc@tds.net.
