Colby students showcase creativity during Youth Entrepreneur Challenge
March 11, 2026
Young entrepreneurs filled the auxiliary gym of the Colby Event Center on March 11 as Colby Middle School eighth graders presented their ideas during the annual Youth Entrepreneur Challenge, an event hosted locally through Network Kansas.
The competition is part of the statewide Youth Entrepreneur Challenge Series, a program designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of business ownership. Students develop a business concept, build a trade show display, and pitch their ideas to judges who evaluate each project based on creativity, feasibility, marketing, and presentation skills.
A total of 42 student run businesses participated in this year’s local challenge, giving students the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship while competing for prize money and the chance to advance to the state competition. Throughout the day, students and officials were provided snacks and lunch thanks to The Sunflower Bank.
To begin the competition, students set up trade show style booths where they displayed their products and explained their business ideas to judges and visitors. The businesses were then divided into two groups through a random drawing, with each group competing for awards in several categories.
After the judging round, the first-place winner from each group advanced to a final presentation round. In the championship round of two, students were required to present their business idea again without their displays or materials, relying entirely on their speaking ability and understanding of their concept to persuade the judges.
The event showcased a wide variety of creative business ideas from the students.
Food-related businesses were among the most popular. Hometown Crunch Snack Mix offered a sweet, salty, and spiced snack mix that sold out during the event and generated strong interest from visitors. Sweet Shapes Monkey Bread also sold out quickly and drew positive reviews from attendees. Lizzy’s Pickles offered probiotic, dill, and spiced pickles, while WM Bakes featured homemade banana bread. Love Pastries presented gluten-free and dairy-free baked goods, while Divine Bagels promoted a healthier bagel made from five ingredients without high fructose corn syrup.
Several students focused on handmade crafts and creative products. Braelyn’s Boutique featured bouquets made from colorful pipe cleaners designed to last indefinitely. Magic Brush displayed original nature-inspired artwork, while Heart and Hand Blankets showcased handwoven blankets designed to be both comfortable and affordable. Lavender Luxury offered homemade candles packaged with charm necklaces, creating a unique gift option.
Other students developed service-based businesses that could easily operate in the local community. DJ’s Lawn Care and Weed Control and One Man Mowing focused on yard maintenance services. Plain Perfect Tree and Trim pitched a business centered on tree and bush trimming, while Tidy Time Cleaning Service proposed residential cleaning services. Bin Blasters Bros introduced a trash bin cleaning service, an idea that has become popular in larger cities and could represent a new service for the Colby area.
Animal-related businesses were also well represented. Paw Sitive Freeze created flavored treats designed to help dogs take their medications, while Purrables offered organic cat treats. Cam’s Bark and Whisker Bites also focused on homemade pet snacks.
One of the more unique ideas came from Paw-sitive Pastures, a business concept focused on mental health and agriculture. The idea centers around allowing visitors to relax by spending time with farm animals while also offering farm-fresh items such as eggs. The concept emphasizes unplugging from daily stress while reconnecting with animals and nature.
After judges evaluated the booths and business plans, winners were announced for each group.
In Group A, first place went to Smiles Make Armor, a business that creates custom care packages designed to brighten the day of individuals who may be struggling or recovering in hospitals. Stitch and Style placed second with custom shirts featuring handmade patches and original designs. Bloom in Faith Bombs finished third with homemade hot chocolate bombs mixed with protein powder, and T and P Premier Fishing Guides placed fourth with a plan to offer guided fishing trips across western Kansas and southwest Nebraska.
Group A judges also awarded honorable mentions to Hometown Crunch Snack Mix and Braelyn’s Boutique. One Man Mowing received the Ready to Launch award, T and P Premier Fishing Guides earned the Trade Show award, and Braelyn’s Boutique captured the People’s Choice award.
In Group B, Paw-sitive Pastures earned first place and advanced to the final round. Love Pastries finished second, Sweet Shapes Monkey Bread placed third, and Lizzy’s Pickles took fourth. Judges awarded honorable mentions to Flex and Flow Muscle Melt and Lavender Luxury. Bin Blasters Bros received the Ready to Launch award, Paw-sitive Pastures won the Trade Show award, and Sweet Shapes Monkey Bread earned the People’s Choice award.
The final round featured the top two businesses, Smiles Make Armor and Paw-sitive Pastures, presenting their ideas directly to the judges without visual materials.
When the final decision was announced, Paw-sitive Pastures creator Sophie Stramel was named the grand champion of the Colby Youth Entrepreneur Challenge. With the win, Stramel will advance to represent Colby at the state Youth Entrepreneur Challenge.
The event highlighted not only the creativity of Colby’s students but also their willingness to take risks, share ideas, and think about future careers in business.
With dozens of imaginative concepts on display, the competition demonstrated that the next generation of entrepreneurs in northwest Kansas is already developing innovative ideas and learning the skills needed to turn them into reality.