Republic County Economic Development hosts an countywide Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC). The competition is for 6-12th grade students from both Pike Valley and Republic County schools. The winner of the competition will automatically qualify for the State YEC event hosted by Kansas State University.
Yearly Results
2024 YEC Results
1st Place –Eggs Xpress – $750
*Automatic qualifier for the State YEC competition at KSU*
Brady Childs– Republic County Home School Student
The top winner for the night was from Republic County, Eggs Xpress, an egg delivery service. Brady Childs was the $750 winner. This project received the automatic bid to the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge in Manhattan.
2nd Place –Poppy & Prickle – $500
Elly Williams– Republic County HS
The second-place winner, from Republic County High School, was Elly Williams with her plant boutique, Poppy & Prickle. Her business received the second-highest combined scores from the written summary, verbal presentation, and tradeshow judges scores. This business was award a $500 prize. Republic County Business Teacher, Nicol Parde, guided the business.
3rd Place –Bait Boss Republic – $250
Reed Newman – Pike Valley JH
Third place in this year’s competition went to YEC business, Bait Boss Republic. Reed Newman won $250 for his business concept. He is a 6th grader at Pike Valley Jr./Sr. High School.
4th Place –Caleb's Customs – $100
Caleb Woodard – Pike Valley JH
Forth place in this year’s competition went to YEC business, Caleb’s Customs. Caleb Woodard won $100 for his business concept. He is a 6th grader at Pike Valley Jr./Sr. High School.
5th Place –Cowboy Cookies – $100
Elise Lieb, Lanee Bray, and Lucy Calkins – Pike Valley JH
Fifth place in this year’s competition went to YEC business, Cowboy Cookies. The team won $100 for their business concept. They are 7th graders at Pike Valley Jr./Sr. High School.
2023 YEC Results
1st Place – Coal Creek Outfitters – $750
*Automatic qualifier for the State YEC competition at KSU*
Lily Havel, Macy Homeier, and Trey Melton– Republic County HS
The top winner for the night was from Republic County High School, Coal Creek Outfitters, a guided hunting service. Lily Havel, Macy Homeier, and Trey Melton were the $750 winning team members with advisor Jed Strnad. This team receives the automatic bid to the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge in Manhattan and can apply before March 20th. Coal Creek Outfitters additionally was chosen as the top marketing award by the tradeshow judges and will receive a $100 award from NexGen Round-Up for Youth.
2nd – RC Drone Photography – $500
Olivia Strnad and Sarah Miller – Republic County HS
The second-place winners, also from Republic County High School, consisted of Olivia Strnad and Sarah Miller. Their business, RC Drone Photography, received the second-highest combined scores from the written summary, verbal presentation, and tradeshow judges scores. This team was award a $500 prize. Republic County Ag Teacher, Jed Strnad, sponsored this team.
3rd – The Chopping Block – $250
Owen Russell – Pike Valley JH
Third place in this year’s competition went to second-year YEC business, The Chopping Block. Owen Russell won $250 for his wood working business concept. He is an 8th grader at Pike Valley Jr./Sr. High School.
Young Promise Award – Further– $50
Owen Russell – Pike Valley JH
Further a baseball training business from Pike Valley 7th grader, Peter Newman. Newman won a $50 Young Promise award from Network Kansas.
Young Promise Award – Bentley Melby – $50
Bentley Melby– Pike Valley 6th Grade
Bentley Melby, presented a seasoning business called Bentley’s Best and won a $50 Young Promise award given by A Little Hometown Shirt in Courtland.
Young Promise Award – Cowgirl Cookies– $50
Elise Lieb, Lucy Calkins, and Lanee Bray – Pike Valley 6th Grade
The Cowgirl Cookies team consisting of Elise Lieb, Lucy Calkins, and Lanee Bray also won a $50 Young Promise award, this one from JenRus Freelance from Courtland.
2022 YEC Results
1st Place – C. Creative Marketing– $750
*Automatic qualifier for the State YEC competition at KSU*
Carolina Barraza – Pike Valley HS
2nd Place – Durt– $500
Erica Sublett – Pike Valley HS
3rd Place – The Chopping Block– $250
Owen Russell– Pike Valley Junior High
2021 YEC Results
1st Place – Wonderfully Made – $750
*Automatic qualifier for the State YEC competition at KSU*
Carolina Barraza – Pike Valley High School
Carolina Barraza won First Place ($750) and Best Marketing ($150) from Nex-Gen Roundup for Youth with her clay ear ring business Wonderfully Made.
2nd Place – Blondies Planning and Events – $500
Halle Hartner and Julia Blazek– Republic County High School
Second Place ($500) and Peoples Choice ($125).
3rd Place – Erica's Cookie Creations – $250
Erica Sublett– Pike Valley High School
Third Place ($250).
2020 YEC Results
1st Place –Living Identity– $750
*Automatic qualifier for the State YEC competition at KSU*
Cassie Strickler– Pike Valley HS
Body scrubs, washes, and more.
2nd Place –T&H Sports Counseling– $500
Halle Hartner – Republic County High School
Tate Lapo
3rd Place –Kansas Crawdads– $250
Tobi Wilber- Republic County High School
Katrina Ball
Emma Morris
Marketing Award–Stick with You Stickers– $150
Annalese Goertzen – Republic County High School
4th Place- The Wardrobe– $50
Alexis Hansen, Heather Hansen, Claire Jensik- Republic County High School
2019 YEC Results
1st Place – Hartner Catering – $750
*Automatic qualifier for the State YEC competition at KSU*
Halle Hartner and Hunter Harnter – Republic County HS
Catering business serving Republic County.
2nd Place – The Bomb Lip Balm – $500
Cassie Strickler – Pike Valley High School
Maker of lip balm’s and body scrubs.
3rd Place – Otter Creek Farms – $250
Jenna Kunc – Republic County High School
Dylan White
4th Place – Slumberland and Storytime Care – $50
Destiny Hammer– Pike Valley High School
Kiahlyn Kussman
2018 YEC Results
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
2017 YEC Results
1st Place ‘No Place Like Home Pet Sitting’ – Jentry McGregor – $750
*Automatic qualifier for the State YEC competition at FHSU*
In-home pet sitting service that provides unique care at various levels to meet customer demand.
2nd Place ‘WiseHart’ – Natalie Wise / Halle Hartner – $500
*Our only junior high team, not bad for 7th graders.*
WiseHart produces healthy meals that people may take home and require little preparation.
3rd Place ‘Caddie Shack’ – Justin Tietjen / Nicholas Piroutek – $250
Golf retailer fulfilling golfing needs through sales of various golf products, club fitting, and golf lessons. Located at the former Farm & Home building on the square in Belleville.
4th Place ‘Republic County Rentals’ – Tory Isaacson – $100 from Cunningham Telephone
Residential rental listing website for the county, providing listings for landowners and ad services for vendors.
5th Place ‘Rustic Rose’ – Elly Dahl / Riley Woodward / Karlie Strutt – $100 from Nextech
Rustic Rose provides men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing; along with tack and ranching supplies (ropes, hats, saddles). Located at the former Barnyard Gifts on HWY 81 Belleville.
6th Place ‘Sheets Closet’ – Audrey Sheets / Madison Scott – $50 Belleville Chamber Bucks
Sheets Closet provides clothing to females by the means of social media. They upload pictures of each item of clothing with the description, price, and any other information needed to Instagram.
CONTACT US
301 Main Street, Courtland, KS 66939
1819 L Street, PO Box 178, Belleville, KS 66935
785-374-3047