Show Me 4H Wares at the State Fair

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Show Me 4-H Wares at the State Fair
Summary by Adam Loftin, Entrep. Curric.
Specialist (AmeriCorpsVISTA) August 2008
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The Goals of Show Me 4-H Wares

• Youth will make a connection between 4-H project
  skills and entrepreneurship skills
• Youth will gain practical business experience
• Youth will practice marketing techniques
• Youth will practice social skills while dealing
  with the public
• A positive experience will be reinforced when the
  youth earns money

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The Participants

• Eulynn, age 16
• Item Sheep ornaments
• Camp Branch 4-H Club, Warren County

• Nick, age 11
• Item Rose petal soap
• Crystal Clovers 4-H Club, Jackson County

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The Participants

• Cheyenne, age 13
• Item Cloth crayon holders
• Fairview Friends 4-H Club, Boone County

• Caitlin, age 14
• Item Photo greeting cards
• Archie Achievers 4-H Club, Cass County

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The Participants

• Austin, age 14
• Item Skateboard accessories
• CloverZine 4-H Club, Benton County

• Cheyanne, age 12
• Item Childrens quilts
• CloverZine 4-H Club, Benton County

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The Participants

• Dalton, age 10
• Item Animal feeders
• Lake Spring 4-H Club, Dent County

• Michael, age 10
• Item Chick brooders incubators
• CloverZine 4-H Club, Benton County

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The ResultsBy the Numbers

• 8 youth applied and were selected as exhibitors
  to sell during the fair.
• 4 youth earned income through direct sales on
  site at the fair.
• Youth made contacts with prospective customers
  and distributed promotional literature.
• Collectively, youth exhibitors sold over 300 in
  merchandise.

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Making the ConnectionTurning 4-H Projects into
Profit

• I learned from this experience that I can use
  photography in different ways to help build up my
  savings. --Caitlin, age 14

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Marketing Techniques

• I was very successful in sales promotion of
  this product. I had also included other samples
  of glycerin soap for saleand also included
  business cards on the order forms.
• --Nick, age 11

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Learning Experiences

• One youth exhibitor said she was nervous at first
  about being in front of people, but gained
  experience dealing with customers and criticism,
  and regained her confidence by the end of the
  day.

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Parting Thoughts

• We are grateful to 4-H for givingthis unique
  opportunity and for the huge amount of
  encouragement fromthe Extension office and
  fromthe Columbia office.
• --Parent of youth exhibitor
• The involvement support of caring adults is key
  for entrepreneurial youth to take on new
  challenges risks!