Barton County high school students will be competing for their chance to win up to $1,250 in cash prizes during the second annual Barton County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Businesses, friends, family, along with the public are invited to attend the competition from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Tuesday, March 8, at the Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10th St.

A 90-minute trade show showcasing each of the competitors’ businesses will begin at 11:30 a.m. During the trade show, students can be found at their booth displaying their business idea for the judges and public to see. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite business to be awarded the People’s Choice Award. Awards will be announced at the close of the trade show once the judges have submitted their scores. Judges will be scoring the participants on three criteria: Business Executive Summary, Four-Minute Presentation, and Tabletop Display.

Cash prizes will be awarded to top competitors. First place will receive $1,000, second place will receive $750, third place will receive $500, and People’s Choice will be awarded with $250. Judges for the 2022 competition are Christy Preston (NetWork Kansas), Davis Jimenez (City of Great Bend and local Mason), Lori Waters (Hoisington Dispatch), Reid Petty (U.S. Congressman Mann’s office), Jessica Milsap (MPIRE Realty), and Sheryl Cheely (local businesswoman).

Last year’s First Place and People’s Choice recipient returns in 2022 in hopes of capturing another award with her business, Kiley’s Creations. Kiley Stevenson is a junior at Ellinwood High School and will compete against five other high school students. Bradley Hopkins, Great Bend High School junior, is also returning as a second-year competitor. Competing in their first competitions are Hoisington High School freshman Tucker Loesch, Great Bend High School senior Skylar Fletcher, and Great Bend High School juniors Jordan Clair and Olivia Roberson.