(Lander, WY) – The Academy of the Winds and Probitas Academy hosted the 3rd Annual Children’s Business Fair last Friday at the Rock Church in Lander, where young entrepreneurs sold their goods after going through “the full process of building a business from the ground up.”
Academy of the Winds is a private nonprofit school in Lander “rooted in Montessori philosophy and project-based learning” that focuses on “developing respectful, responsible learners prepared to think critically and navigate the future,” Executive Director Jenny Schuker shared with County 10, while Probitas Academy is a homeschool cooperative led by Jan Francisco, which “shares many of those same values around student-driven, hands-on education.”
Schucker explained that the local Children’s Business Fair began in 2024, when she and Francisco started coordinating to bring the event to Lander.
“Jeff and Laura Sandefer, co-founders of Acton Academy, founded the concept and hosted the first Children’s Business Fair in Austin, Texas, in 2007,” Schucker said. “Acton’s philosophy is simple: entrepreneurship is a life skill. They believed that real learning happens through real experience, including the experience of failure.”
“That belief is something both Academy of the Winds and Probitas Academy share deeply; we want our students to see themselves as capable, creative problem-solvers, not someday, but now,” Schucker explained. “There is something uniquely powerful about watching a child design a product, set a price, pitch to a stranger, and handle their own transactions. We also wanted to create something that brought together private-schooled, homeschooled, and public-schooled kids side by side. Regardless of where a child is educated, every kid deserves the chance to test an idea, earn real money, and learn what it actually takes to run a business.”
Schucker went on to say that the event’s growth over the last three years has been “remarkable to watch.”
“In the early years, signs were basic, business ideas were simple, and tables were pretty bare-bones. Now you walk through and see kids standing up, making eye contact, and confidently explaining their products.”
She said the children’s business savvy has grown as well.
“We have kids taking custom orders, kids who sold out and returned with overflow inventory, and businesses that now receive orders throughout the year, long after the fair is over. A lot of that growth comes from the kids learning from each other. Those who have participated all three years know what works and what doesn’t. They’ve made mistakes, adjusted, and come back stronger. Each year raises the bar, and the kids rise to meet it.”
County 10 also caught up with three of the budding youth businesses and the kids behind them.
Fifth-grader Hannah Francisco was running the Probitas Academy bake sale, where she was selling homemade cupcakes, Oreos, banana bread, rolls, and even some homemade dog collars. Hannah said that her friends helped her bake, and that because of the fair she has “learned how to sell to people… and how to bake better.” h/t Vince Tropea, County 10 Grady Penn’s business, Grady’s Gifts and Goodies, specialized in artisan bread and chips and salsa, and he was also selling a hand-painted American flag saw. His sisters, Dally and Laramie, were also there to help. h/t Vince Tropea, County 10 Emmy Vold of Emmy’s Trading Post was selling seashell jewelry holders, medicine pouches, and some banana bread, all of which she made herself. She said she started making the jewelry holders as Christmas presents and wanted to try selling them at the Fair, and that her dad showed her how to make the pouches because it’s something he used to make. h/t Vince Tropea, County 10
Schucker said this year’s event went really well and that the “best part” was that kids made a profit, “even after paying back their business loans and booth fees.”
“We had amazing community support and 36 kids with booths. Products ranged from baked goods, homemade chocolates, soaps, jewelry, body scrubs and lotions, to handmade cutting boards and everything in between. It was a fantastic fair.”
Schucker said they would love to hear from anyone interested in participating next year (you can reach out here), and explained a bit more about the process.
“The one rule is that every business must be entirely student-created and student-managed, from the idea all the way through to the sale. Most participants have built income and expense spreadsheets, learned about loans and interest, paid booth fees, and calculated their own returns.”
“That’s real-world financial literacy. We believe this kind of experience will carry children forward in an ever-changing world,” Schucker added. “Not just the business skills, but the mindset. Thinking creatively and critically, making something that didn’t exist before, showing up professionally, and being fully responsible for their decisions. Learning to rise from both failure and success. Those are the skills that kids will need in the future.”
Schucker also expressed gratitude to the Rock Church for hosting.
“We want to thank the Rock Church for graciously hosting and supporting this event for us for the last 3 years. We are beyond grateful for the use of their space.”