YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE
Present Your Business
Win Prize Money
Welcome to Barton County's Annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge! This competition is created to challenge our youth, encourage our business community to partner with and mentor our younger generations, and foster a community spirit for entrepreneurship!
2026 Competition
Registration Deadline: TBD
Competition Date: March 4th, 2026
Location: 3111 10th Street, Great Bend, KS
Participation in the YEC is free!
Prize Money
First place will receive $1000 and the opportunity to continue onto the state-wide competition, second place will receive $750, third place will receive $500, and our people's choice winner will receive $250!
Presentation
All participants will put together a tradeshow presentation of their business idea/plan and share it with the public. They will also make a formal 4-minute presentation to the judges.
Eligibility
The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge competition includes 7th graders through 12th graders going to school in Barton County who have a new or existing business idea.
Public Support
The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event to cheer on our student competitors and show their support for the next generation of business ideas.
What is the YEC?
The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) is a competition for students in grades 7-12 to develop and present business ideas. It teaches skills like public speaking and business planning, with winners advancing to a state championship. Local entrepreneurs judge and support students, helping them prepare for entrepreneurial careers and positively impact their communities.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Get answers to some of the most common questions we receive about the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge!
No. There is no application process, all you have to do is fill out the registration form and you're in!
No, it is free to compete.
You have full creative control as to what your tradeshow display will look like and what work and money you will put into it. You do not have to spend a lot of money to create your vision! If you find that you need some help or resources to create your display, you can reach out to myself (Sara Hayden director@gbedinc.com) or Megan Barfield (mbarfield@greatbend.org) and we will point you in the direction of local resources.
A tradeshow display is, simply put, a display you create to show off your business! It could be a poster board display, a video, a photo board, a product that you created to demonstrate your business, etc. The sky is the limit - you can create whatever you feel shows off your business best!
No, it's a cash prize that you get to use however you choose!
This question has two answers. The first one, if you have specific questions or get stuck, reach out to myself (Sara Hayden director@gbedinc.com) or Megan Barfield (mbarfield@greatbend.org) and we will do our best to answer our questions! Next, if you have specific questions related to creating your business Megan and I will put you in touch with a local business mentor who specializes in your topic of concern and they will work with you.
Of course! Let us know who you'd like to work with and we will do our best to make it happen! If we can't, we'll make a similar connection for you.
If you have further questions about the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, you can listen to our 2023 info session for participants, or contact us today!
Great Things are
Just Around the Bend!
Explore more resources from Great Bend Economic Development.
2025 Winners
PARTICIPANT RESOURCES
Competition Tips and Tricks
Our goal is to provide YEC participants with all the resources they need to feel confident in presenting to our judges. We have prepared helpful guides and downloadable examples for your executive summary, 4-minute presentation, and tradeshow display. For additional help, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@gbedinc.com. Good luck!
Executive Summary Tips and Tricks
The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) is a competition for students in grades 7-12 to develop and present business ideas. It teaches skills like public speaking and business planning, with winners advancing to a state championship. Local entrepreneurs judge and support students, helping them prepare for entrepreneurial careers and positively impact their communities.
Executive Summary Example
Finance Sheet Example
Executive Summary Example
Startup Cost Table Example
Executive Summary Guidelines
Executive Summary Scorecard
4 Minute Presentation Tips and Tricks
Judging will reflect a business’s performance in the following categories:
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Business Overview: What is it, who occupies key roles (management/operations), what is your experience, and what legal structure will you use?
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Business Description: What product or service will you provide, where will your business exist, when will it happen, what funds will you need, etc?
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Marketing: Market research including target market, is the market big enough to matter, how will you reach your market, potential growth, who is your competition, what promotion and advertising will you use, how did you choose your pricing strategy?
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Financials: Project financial requirements, cash flow, projected income, etc.
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Presentation: Poise, confidence, comprehension, ability to answer judges’ questions, proper attire for a business presentation, captures attention, is within time limits, etc.
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Google Slides: Creative, neat, easy-to-understand, relates to your business, engages judges.
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Investable: Is it an idea that, based on the judges’ experience, makes them interested in investing in your company?
We Need Teachers and Mentors
To make the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge successful every year, we need teacher champions and business professionals to advocate for the program and act as coaches or judges. From inviting a GBED spokesperson to speak to a school class to mentoring on a specific topic, there are many ways to contribute! With a minimal time commitment, this program is an easy, effective way to connect with the next generation of the workforce. Reach out today to learn more and see how you can help!
Why Should You Participate?
Participating in the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge offers students valuable experiences in business planning, communication, and networking. It helps them understand the comprehensive process of starting a business, enhances their public speaking skills, and provides opportunities to connect with local mentors and community leaders.
First Place
Zoey Bogner
The Kansas Voice
Second Place
Callie Umphres & Bennett Jacobs
Ice on Wheels
Third Place
Tucker Loesch
Loesch Manufacturing