The public is invited to the fourth annual Barton County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 6, at the Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10th St. The live trade show featuring student ideas starts at noon.

This competition students in grades 7-12 in Barton County is brought to the community by Great Bend Economic Development and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. The competition was created to challenge our youth, encourage our business community to partner with and mentor our younger generations, and foster an entrepreneurial spirit. This event is also made possible by a partnership with NetWork Kansas. NetWork Kansas holds regional and state Youth Entrepreneurship Challenges as part of its mission in developing entrepreneurship ecosystems throughout Kansas. Great Bend Economic Development and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce partner in this competition as both organizations are tasked with strengthening the area’s workforce for the business community, and in this case, that means nurturing the next generation’s entrepreneurs.  

Students and judges will have lunch together to break the ice, and then competitors will begin their formal 4-minute presentations to the judges at noon. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event to cheer on our student competitors and show their support for the next generation of business ideas. The winners will be announced at approximately 2 p.m. There is $2,500 in prize money to be divided among the top competitors. Third place will receive $500, second place will receive $750, and first place will receive $1,000 and the opportunity to continue on to the state-level competition. Audience members will have a chance to vote for their favorite and award the $250  People’s Choice to one competitor as well.