The NC Cooperative Extension has launched the inaugural 4-H Young Entrepreneur Program in partnership with Joe and Linda Brittain of the Mills River Farm Market. Through the initiative, young people learn about essential entrepreneurial skills and get hands-on experience by selling their products at the market. 

The original Young Entrepreneur Program began when the Brittains noticed that some vendors' children were setting up small booths within their parents' market stalls. "I thought it might be a good idea to let them really try to sell on their own, have a taste of what marketing is all about," said Linda Brittain. "We started out with a Young Entrepreneur program where the market loaned the youngsters a canopy, table, or chair if they needed. I would check on the kids throughout the day. Several kids were really working hard, so we created the Advanced Young Entrepreneur Program as a next step for youth that were more interested."

Several 4-H members who sold at the Mills River Farm Market completed their 4-H projects related to entrepreneurial skill development. Having known the Brittains for years, Hannah Peeler, Extension Agent for Henderson County 4-H, saw a natural opportunity for collaboration.  

"Many children have no support when they have a desire to do something different," Brittain said. "Perhaps they want to grow a garden, raise chickens, make pottery, create jewelry, learn to bake. Youngsters need people willing to lend a helping hand. We want to be that helping hand, offering as much as we can.”

Participants are required to sell their handmade products at the Mills River Farm Market at least eight times during the season. "This means creating enough products and understanding their gains and losses," said Peeler. "Learning the skills and building one’s business will be the focal point of the meetings, then practicing what is learned through selling at the market."

The program, open to youth ages 10 to 18, teaches participants a range of business and entrepreneurial skills. "We want the youngsters to gain knowledge in branding, record keeping, handling money, and talking with the public,” said Brittain. “These are all things the 4-H program will cover for us.”

The program held its first meeting in late February, and many of the young entrepreneurs in attendance had already given thought to their products and business development. “Many of the youth seem to already be entrepreneurially-minded and creative, and already know what their product will be,” said Peeler.

One participant, Zia, already has experience selling her products at the Mills River Farm Market. “I have learned so much through this program and am excited for the new year,” she said. “I'm looking for a more permanent business name and honing in on a few products rather than my wide range. I'm excited about what this market season will bring.” 

“I love making things and I'd like to share them with others,” said Ellie, another participant. “I think this will help me learn valuable life skills like working with people, learning how a business works, and how to be successful in life. I'm hoping to learn what I enjoy and what I'm good at, which will help me learn skills to help my future.”

While youth will receive guidance and mentorship, they will also face the real challenges of building a business. “A lot of knowledge can be shared about business in a classroom or a textbook, but 4-H by design is an opportunity for a young person to learn resilience in a safe and challenging way,” Peeler said. “They have to do the work and they will reap the benefits. If things do not turn out the way they had hoped or planned one week, they have a mentor in their corner to help them along in their journey, and they continue forward.”