Scandia, KS – Republic County Economic Development, in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, hosted the 2nd Annual Republic County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Monday, March 5th at the Pike Valley High School. Thirty teams made up of 68 students competed from Pike Valley and Republic County Junior/Senior High schools. Nearly two hundred people were in attendance for the tradeshow and awards portion. Students were judged on three items: three-page executive summary, four-minute presentations, and tradeshow booths. The winner of the local competition earns an automatic bid for the State YEC at KSU April 24th, 2018. Other students can apply for a bid to state through the wildcard process.
Megan Melby of Melby’s Home Center in Scandia was our featured speaker. Megan spoke about her experience growing up in Ottawa, Kansas meeting her husband Brent Melby and their careers and experiences prior their decision to buy Raney’s Home Center. Melby noted the local community support and help from Swedish-American State Bank led them to invest in the Scandia community. Melby found value in programs such as the Jon Schallert BootCamp and New-Media Marketing BootCamp offered by Republic County Economic Development and NetWork Kansas recently.
YEC WINNERS
1st Place – Republican Valley Agritourism – $750
*Automatic qualifier for the State YEC competition at KSU*
Samuel Johnson, Shea Mikesell, Mekenzie Ehlers – Pike Valley HS
Republican Valley Agritourism specializes in tourism packages that allow people to experience firsthand and become well versed in aspects of rural life.
2nd Place – Carlgren Farms – $500
3rd Place – Carlgren’s Coop – $250
4th Place -Nutsch Asbestos Inspecting – $100 from Cunningham Communications
5th Place – Viento del Sur Cafe – $50 Chamber Bucks from Belleville Chamber & Main Street
NexGen Round-Up for Youth Prizes
| A to Z Custom PCs and Products – Zyden Robison, Andrew Garman – PVJH
A toZ Custom PC and Products is a company that builds and sells custom PC and technology parts to our customers.
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| Animal Waggin’ Pet Care – Fayeth Dahl, Emma Erickson – PVJH
Animal Waggin’ Pet Care is a service to all customers who have small and large animals.
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| Blend It – Paige Waite, Halle Hartner, Natalie Wise – RCJH
Our mission is to help individuals live a healthy lifestyle by providing nutritious smoothies that require minimal preparation time.
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| BnD Cell Center – Dalton Morgan, Bailey White – RCHS
BnD Cell Center revolves around phones or any electronic devices including cases and all different types of gear or cases for all your needs
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| Claws, Paws, & Hooves – Seth Vacek, Isabel Navarro, Natalee Bray – PVJH
Claws, Paws, & Hooves will provide an easy way to get your animals checked out if you do not have access to getting your animals to town, also if you have a lost animal you can check out our animal shelter
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| Countryside Wi-Fi – Zachary Parde, Grant White – RCHS
Through our business Countryside Wi-Fi, we hope to bring a quality cost effective Wi-Fi service to people who live in Republic County.
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| Create N’ Make – Raelyn Bolte, Aubrey Blazek – PVJH
Create N’ Make is the store for every female lover of clothes and scents. Our store is located in Belleville, KS to reach all our customers in the North Central Kansas area.4
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| DWR Sporting Goods – Logan Waite, Nathan Rice, Dalton Daniels – RCHS
Create N’ Make is the store for every female lover of clothes and scents. Our store is located in Belleville, KS to reach all our customers in the North Central Kansas area.
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| Flower Gallery- Macy Rickard – PVHS
The flower Gallery will offer a new and unique opportunity for the people of Republic County to be able to purchase custom flower arrangements and other custom flower items.
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| Game Center – Tyler Burris, Teagon Reeves, Alexander Robison – PVJH
Game Center is a store where customers buy a variety of different video games and gaming systems.
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| Glimmer n Gloss – Ashleigh Russell, Lauren Flavin – PVJH
Our project will provide makeup for people. Also people can contact us to go over to there houses, work, and a bunch of other places that they need us at.
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| Jensen Meats – Ben Jensen PVHS
My business is built on the idea that people want to know where their food comes from. Our beef comes from our several family-owned ranches that have always specialized in breeding the highest quality Hereford Cattle.
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| KKA Rec Center – Konner Mikesell, Kael Marquis, Asher Thornbrugh – PVJH
At KKA we have an indoor pool, zipline, airsoft wars, obstacle course, and laser tag.
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| KS Tutors – Kalee Svoboda – RCHS
KS Tutors is a tutoring service that is locally owned and operated in Belleville, Kansas.
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| P&J Donuts – Paden Johnston, Jaren Aurand – PVJH
We will be located in Courtland Kansas. P&J Donut shop is a pastry and donut shop.
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| R & S Slime – Reese Douglas, Savanna Junek – PVJH
We are making a slime that is non-toxic and without borax. We are making a non-toxic slime because if a young child consumes it; they will not have a big reaction, opposed to consuming regular slime.
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| Rickard’s Restoration – Max Rickard – PVHS
My products and services include the cleaning, restoration and repurposing of antique home furnishings. Rickard Restoration will also have pieces that are original, hand-made designs of Max Rickard.
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| Seasons 13 – Alexis Lintz, Hannah Seymour – PVJH
The Seasons 13 is a restaurant and catering service located in Courtland, Kansas that sources local food.
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| Star Mobile Detailing – Layton Robison, Riley Stenson, Titus Thornbrugh – PVHS
STAR mobile detailing service will provide the same options as a traditional detailing service but with the convenience of bringing the service to the customer.
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| Sweet & Frutti Froyo – Carolina Barraza – PVJH
Sweet & Frutti Froyo will offer frozen yogurt, a healthier alternative to ice cream.
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| T&M Shops – Mason Simmons, Trevor Pachta – RCHS
Shop/garage to rent out to people for their Do-It Yourself (DIY) projects and DIY repairs or just a place to work on vehicles if they do not have enough space |
| TJ&W Trucking – Joseph Peters, Wyatt Evert, Tre Thompson – PVJH
T J and W Trucking company is a business that hauls items for customers anywhere in the United States. The company provides the trucks, trailers, transportation costs, customer service, working crew, and a winning attitude.
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| The Three Helping Hands – Ed Peters, Elijah Field, Noah Vacek
The Three Helping Hands is the service you need to get all your farming and ranching chores completed.
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| Triple Dip – Amber Cherney, Jaycee Blazek, Amanda Baxa – RCHS
Triple Dip will offer unique hand-scooped ice cream in the community of Belleville.
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| ZNC Guides – Zach Poppe, Connor Fairbanks, Nick Hadcock – RCHS
ZNC Guides is a professional guide service dedicated to taking care of our customers, while practicing good conservation and stewardship of the land.
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KEC State Championship
April 24, 2018
Manhattan, KS
$18,000 in prize money
Winner of each YEC series event + best 15 wildcard Executive Summaries
Executive summary & 4-minute formal presentations + separate tradeshow competition