Cynthiana, KY is a town that has been flourishing in economic development, locally owned businesses, and increased tourism over the past decade. Thus, entrepreneurship is a popular trend in the community. About 6 months following my transfer as 4-H Agent to Harrison County (my hometown), I met with the Chamber Director/Tourism Director and Main Street Coordinator to make introductions, discuss opportunities, and share collaborative ideas. One of the shared thoughts was that of beginning a 4-H Entrepreneur Club. I explained the concept behind the idea of the club and the potential opportunities that it could grow into. During that meeting, the Chamber Director verbally agreed that she would be qualified to help head up the club and suggested another local real estate agent to help her. We all agreed that our downtown has been moving in the right direction for a while and share the desire to foster an environment for the young people in Harrison County to share in the love for our community and dreams of continuing small business success. Each of us at the meeting were all in occupational positions that are ideal for joining together to create a learning environment for youth of Harrison County who have an entrepreneurial heart to learn the necessary skills to be an entrepreneur.

Not long after that meeting, I met with the Chamber Director and Real Estate Agent to plan objectives, meeting outlines, and advertisement flyer for the upcoming newsletter. Our objectives were to provide youth with a business plan booklet that would guide them in brainstorming business ideas, determining their business plan, marketing audience, and track expected expenses. We also wanted to share marketing techniques with the participants and help them navigate how to become a business vendor. To help further prepare the young people, we also wanted them to make a presentation for a panel of adults (and the other club members). Presenting would require them to research/determine their business facts, make samples of their products, and give them exposure to speaking in front of others. We have always kept the concept of high customer service as an underlying objective to how we tailor our meetings – knowing that instilling proper marketing techniques, communication skills building, and understanding of one’s own product/service is key.

A long-term objective that we outlined was to utilize returner 4-Hers in mentor roles that could share successes and failures with new entrepreneurs in successive years.

As a result of our planning meeting, we outlined a 3-session meeting that following participation,

youth would have a developed business plan, give a presentation, and received a business

license. They also became honorary Chamber members (receiving the benefits of Chamber

members). The panel for the presentations (set up “Shark Tank” style, but without the

intimidation factor) included an agent at one of our local banks. She was asked to participate and

offer micro loans of up to $250 to each of the young entrepreneurs if they needed one. Five of

the seven 4-H businesses utilized the loan option. At the conclusion of the presentation meeting,

those youth met with the banker (along with their parent/guardian) to sign for the micro-loan.

During the marketing meeting, youth learned from a marketing manager at one of our longest-

standing factory businesses in the county. She focused on gearing the youth up for their first

vendor opportunity. That vendor opportunity was scheduled to set up and sell at the three

Summer Concert Series. The first summer concert series had to be cancelled due to weather,

however, the local Boyd’s Station Art Gallery opened their building for our group to debut their

young businesses and collectively, the 7 businesses sold over $4000 worth of goods!

Following the debut, youth were able to set up and sell at the latter two Summer Concert Series,

the County Fair, and the Extension Office Open House.

This program has been extremely successful because of the collaborative partnership between leaders. The Chamber Director is very passionate about this group because a huge part of her career deals directly with bringing in business to downtown Cynthiana. She also has a daughter who became one of our seven 4-H businesses.  The Chamber director secured the bank agent to participate with the micro-loans and secured the marketing guest speaker. She also brought the business license and honorary Chamber membership for each of the 4-Hers. The Realtor is an invested volunteer because she became a business owner right out of school, owning the longest standing restaurant businesses in Cynthiana for many years, before selling to become a Real Estate Agent. She also has a daughter who began her 4-H business through our program last year. As 4-H Agent, I organized the planning meeting, created the flyer, advertised in newsletters and on social media, developed leader scripts for the meetings, and printed the materials/gathered supplies for each meeting.

The program is unique in our community as an entrepreneur club has never been offered through Harrison County 4-H. This is a workforce ready focused club that complements many of the initiatives that are being strongly advocated in Harrison County (Area Vocational Building, Entrepreneurial class for high school students, and renewing the workforce ready status of the county.) The volunteers of the group have professional careers, personal testimonies, and family investment in providing as much opportunity as possible for the young participants of this group.

Many of the youth “sold out” at one of their vendor opportunities allowing them the learning lesson to understand the importance of inventory. At the debrief meeting, participants talked through the points of knowing their audience, anticipation of inventory, changing or adding to what they offer, etc. For example, most entrepreneurs decided that the county fair was not the best use of their time, as folks come to ride rides, watch shows, and eat. Purchasing items is just not feasible as opposed to an avenue like the summer concert series where folks could run back to their vehicles easily.

One 4-H business team (hair braiding) did very well with profits last year. They have actually decided to lower their price confident that lowering the price will increase their number of sells and profit them even more. This same business has also included an additional braid type for this year to attract an expanded audience.

One business expanded their offerings throughout the season due to consumer demand on product type.

All the loans were paid back in full.  Many of the youth technically did not “need” the money to start their business, however, their parent/guardian went through the loan steps with their child to teach them the process and show them the importance of being able to pay back the loan.

Since our 4-H program, Field and Main bank has created a unique program called bonsai for school aged children. It’s a free program that teaches about starting a business, and financing. Also, the St. Matthews Chamber in Louisville has modeled their entrepreneur program for students after our Harrison County Chamber and 4-H partnership.

Prior to the debut of the Chamber/4-H Young Entrepreneurs, the Chamber Director, her daughter, the Real Estate Agent, and myself did a local radio program called “Coffee Break Extra” to discuss the newly developed group, what they’ve learned, what they planned to sell, and advertise their first selling opportunity.

Harrison County Chamber/4-H Young Entrepreneurs has already begun meetings for this year. We have tweaked our beginning meetings to accommodate both the returning entrepreneurs and qualify our new members as businessmen and women. Two additional volunteers have joined the team for planning and implementing meetings. One is a downtown business owner (kids clothing shop) and the other is the bank agent who gave out micro-loans. Our team of 5 have divided up roles and responsibilities to provide more year-round learning and additional selling opportunities. This year’s entrepreneur group has already done a field trip to the business of our new leader, set up and sold at Shop Small Saturday, and have been asked to sell at one of the Elementary School Spring Festivals. During our first meeting, we utilized our returning entrepreneurs to share the evaluation of their business selling from last year with the new entrepreneurs. The returners were eager to share tips and tricks that will make everyone more successful.

Our county also has an adult H.E.A.T (Harrison Entrepreneurial Assistance Team) board that I was asked to serve on, and have recently joined, because of the Young Entrepreneurs establishment to bring fresh ideas and join young entrepreneurs with adult opportunities where possible. I have also been asked by our Chamber Director to set on a panel of Entrepreneurs at an upcoming monthly Chamber meeting to discuss and promote this program with adult professionals of Harrison County.

This year, our group partnered with a local business, Cymply Cynful Nutrition where over 20 youth participants created and marketed their own bubble tea using 10 flavors and 4 different bubble options. The top two bubble teas are now menu options in Cymply Cynful’s store! There is also a donations cup available for 4-H as a result which will be given to the Harrison County Young Entrepreneurs to use in a way determined by the group.