November/December News

Engaging Youth in Kansas

Pharmacy owner Dawn Hampton instructs youth
entrepreneurs in how to build a successful retail
business in small towns

Two dozen teenagers interested in community improvement, creating new enterprises, or building careers through entrepreneurship took part in a Youth Engagement Day, held in Atwood, KS on November 7th.  The students in Grade 7-12 were from Rawlins County and St. Francis, KS schools.  Another dozen adult mentors led the youth in tours of Rawlins County Hospital, Mizer Milling, Rawlins County Dental Clinic and Currier Drug / Bison Compounding and Therapy.  To conclude, youth presented their idea to the entire group to get feedback and critique for the Spring Entrepreneurship Fair.  Winning Ideas were selected by vote.  1st Place - Cameron Colgan and Sheldon McCain with, Critter Emitters the humane pest removers, 2nd Place - Matt and Zach White,  Aquaponics Vegetable and Fresh Fish business, 3rd Place - Austin Rueber, Cancer Research, 4th Place - Dillon Cozza,  All Around Farm, 5th Place Jayln Dirks, Women's Hunting Lodge, and 6th Place - Spohia Hampton  and Rohey Singhateh, Specialty Clothing Design.   Every student that participated in the Youth Engagement Day received 5 or 10 bonus points if they submit their project ideas in the Spring E-ship Fair

Youth have bright ideas that can improve and reinvent our rural communities too.  But youth need help and resources in learning how to move ideas off the drawing board into real life.  Soft skills and communication are so important for being successful today, and activities like Youth Engagement Days and Youth Entrepreneur Fairs can provide those opportunities to our youth.

Youth Showcase Business Ideas

Winners of the 6th Annual Ogallala Commons Regional 
Entrepreneur Fair celebrate in Plainview, Texas

On November 13th, 42 students competed in the 6^th Annual Ogallala Commons Regional Youth Entrepreneur Fair, held at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX.  Aspiring entrepreneurs from New Deal, Plainview, Dimmitt, Tulia, and Nazareth displayed 21 business ideas, and top finishers received cash prizes totaling $4,500. 

The following youth entrepreneurs were awarded prizes in the “Ready-to-Go business category: 1st place ($1000) Jordan Smoot and Jessica Walker, Tulia, Kupcake Kuties; 2^nd Place ($750) Haley Raymond, Plainview, Attic Treasures; 3^rd Place ($500) Daniel Buck, Dimmitt, Daniel’s RV Park.

(L-R): Darryl Birkenfeld, Ogallala Commons Director, Adrie Lopez,
Emarie Marten, Estafania Saldana, and Amy Henderson,
Vice-President and Commercial Loan Officer,
Amarillo National Bank
Photo by Heath Acker

In the “Still-in-the-Future” business category: 1^st place ($1,000) Adrie Lopez, Estephania Saldana, and Emarie Marten, Friona, Remember When; 2^nd place ($750) Courtney Thornton, Criselda Olivarez, Trace Johnson, Mariah Powell, and Saragosa Rodriquez, Tulia, Puzzles; and 3^rd place ($500) Marisol Quitana and Iris Ocon, Dimmitt, Fashionably Delicious. 

Prize money donors for the Fair were City of Tulia EDC, Peoples Bank-Nazareth, Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative, Happy State Bank, First Bank Muleshe, Amarillo National Bank, Swisher Electric Cooperative, John Bertsch, CFP, and Cargill Feeders, Inc. Sponsors for the Youth E-Fair were West Texas A&M Enterprise Center, West Texas A&M University Small Business Development Center, Plainview Main Street/CVB, along with Ogallala Commons.

Partnering to Create Community Internships
Ogallala Commons is distributing its 2013 Community Internship Partner Guidebook across 7 states, identifying and informing communities, businesses, and organizations about the benefits of creating internships that can enrich both interns and local communities.  On Dec. 4^th, OC held a Community Partnering Meeting at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX, and shared information and built contacts with new organizations and businesses, as well as career services representatives from area universities.  In 2013, OC aims to create over 60 Community Internships.  To obtain information or an application for a Community Internship, contact Julie Hodges, OC Education Coordinator (juliehodges@prairieworkshop.com)

Support our Annual Appeal

Want to help Ogallala Commons with its growing Community Internships Program?  Your tax-deductible contribution to Ogallala Commons will directly support 60 Community Interns in Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Oklahoma in 2013.  For your convenience, we have set up an online contribution system using PayPal. Simply click here to make a contribution now.  If you would rather mail in your contribution, print out the attached contribution form and fill it out to enclose with your contribution.  The address for Ogallala Commons is PO BOX 346, Nazareth, TX 79063.  We appreciate your support!