The stage was set, the anticipation was palpable, and the excitement was electric as the IGNITE Rural Business Competition Grand Finale unfolded on Thursday, Oct. 5, at the iconic Crest Theater in downtown Great Bend. This event marked the culmination of an journey that began with the top 10 businesses competing in a semi-final round. There were five finalists competing at the Crest.
The IGNITE Rural Business Competition, organized by Great Bend Economic Development, aimed to empower entrepreneurs and promote innovation in Barton County, said GBED President Sara Arnberger. The competition provides a platform for emerging businesses to showcase their ideas, win grants, and contribute to the local economy.
With 1,805 total viewers tuning in to the live stream on Thursday night, igniteks.com saw an impressive 887 visitors directly to the site and an additional 1,650 coming from Facebook to the site. In the last 30 days alone, there were a total of 2,565 site sessions, showcasing the widespread interest and engagement generated by the competition.
One of the highlights of the evening was the People’s Choice award, which was presented to 10-39 Café of Ellinwood. “They not only earned the admiration of the audience but also an additional $5,000, thanks to their remarkable 56% share of the votes,” Arnberger said. A total of 921 votes were cast on the Slido.com platform between the hours of 6 and 8:50 p.m.
The judges for the evening – Kari Smith, Jason Mayers and Jerrod Westfahl – played the role of “sharks” or judges, carefully evaluating the top five finalists. Each finalist delivered a 10-minute pitch followed by an additional 10-minute question and answer period. The judges’ deliberation determined how the prize money would be awarded.
The winners of the IGNITE Rural Business Competition were announced as follows:
• First place: The Greystone - winning $50,000
• Second place: 10-39 Café - winning $30,000
• Third place: Hatchet Axtion - winning $10,000
“These businesses demonstrated outstanding innovation, dedication, and a vision for contributing to the Barton County community.” Arnberger said. “The competition showcased the remarkable entrepreneurial spirit thriving in the region.”
Hosted by Shannon Towns and Lyle Jones, the evening was filled with humor, sponsor acknowledgments, and an opportunity for the audience to get to know the contestants. The event was a true celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship in Barton County.
To relive the event. visit www.igniteks.com for streaming highlights and narratives about the entrepreneurs who made it to the top five. One can also watch the live-stream finale in its entirety on the website as well.