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NetWork Kansas’ Entrepreneurship (E-) Community Partnership announces the conclusion of the 2018-2019 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) Series. During the 2018-2019 academic year, 865 students from 48 Kansas communities participated in 40 local entrepreneurship competitions.

In February 2019, Greeley County hosted their first YEC Series event. For the past five years, they partnered with neighboring Wichita County to have their students participate in the YEC Series. Christy Hopkins, Greeley County’s Director of Community Development, organized the competition. Hopkins shares how she worked with the school to organize this YEC Series event.

Chris Tecklenburg completed the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program in Reno County during the Fall of 2018. Here he talks about the impact that this program has had on him and how it has helped him work toward launching his business, Tecklenburg Farms.

Scott Weinmann attended Destination BootCamp in May of 2017 as part of a group from Atchison participating in the Community Reinvention Program. Here he talks about the impact that this program has had on the growth of his business.

Joanne Smith completed the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program in Montgomery County during the Fall of 2016. Here she talks about the impact that this program has had on her and how it has helped her work toward launching her business, FAB Creative Services.

Bridget Stanton competed in both the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 YEC Series in Riley County. She placed first in her local event for two years in a row. In April 2017, she won third place at the YEC State Championship. In April 2018, she won second place at the KEC State Championship.

Sherman County hosted their sixth annual YEC Series event. Jessica Bonner, City of Goodland Administrative Assistant, and Suzanne McClure, City of Goodland Economic Development Director, organized this event.

Morton County is a new E-Community with a smaller population but had 19 students involved in its first YEC Series event in December. Becki Richardson, EPICTOUCH Economic Development Director, shares how the event was organized.

Chad Bullock completed Destination BootCamp® in in Longmont, CO in April 2018. Here he talks about the impact that this program has had on the growth of his business, Premier Farm and Home.

Ivy Gatton competed in the 2017-2018 YEC Series and won first place in her local competition with her business, Oh Rats! She went on to compete in the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge State Championship in April 2018. Here she talks about how this program has influenced her as an entrepreneur.