Encouraging Young Entrepreneurs at YEC

Encouraging Young Entrepreneurs at YEC

We are excited to host the 4th annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) and the opportunity it affords to inspire local students and encourage community engagement. As a NetWork Kansas Entrepreneurship Community, the McPherson Chamber of Commerce organizes the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) to help develop the entrepreneur mindset of our youth.

The 2021 YEC will be held at the McPherson Community Building, 122 E. Marlin, on Wednesday, December 15th. Students from Chris Strathman’s MHS Entrepreneur Class will showcase their business ideas and gain valuable experience “pitching” their business proposals.

The competition will consist of three parts, a written business plan called an executive summary, a tradeshow booth, and a 4-minute presentation. All three parts will be evaluated and scored by a panel of judges. The YEC competition will help students gain experience with organizational skills, business planning and public speaking.

The public is encouraged to attend the YEC between 9:00-11:00 am at the McPherson Community Building and visit with the students at their tradeshow booths. Your interest in their ideas will be refreshing for them. Your questions about their product or service will help them iron out key details, and your encouragement may be the boost they need to launch their business in McPherson!

Exposing young people to entrepreneurship helps them develop an entrepreneurial mindset and allows them to explore entrepreneurship as a viable career path and a way to enhance their community. If only one student is inspired to open their own business now or in the future, that’s one more independent business impacting our community.

Take time to stop by the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge tradeshow booths from 9-11 am on Wednesday, December 15th and show your support to the young entrepreneurs.