Youth Business Ventures Competition Winners Announced

Recipients of the 2019 Youth Business Ventures Competition are Braden West (second from right) and Jhett West (second from left). They were presented with their awards by Natalie and Alan Telck of AgTerra Technologies, one of the sponsors for the competition.

The winners of the second annual Sheridan County Youth Business Ventures Competition, coordinated by the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce Ag & Natural Resources Committee, were announced Wednesday, May 8, during the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch.

Braden West and Jhett West were selected as the recipients for the competition. Both are in the Senior Category for Ages 13-18. With the funds, Braden plans to create Opportunity Genetics, LLC, an elite swine production company focusing on raising hogs from farrow to marketing either as weaned elite swine genetics for show or as finished farm-to-table pork.

Jhett’s existing business, Code Blue, is a skin and hair health stimulator that increases the hair growth on animals. He plans to use the competition funds to expand his sales to additional consumers and with more efficiency and create an app for online product orders.

The competition was open to any Sheridan County youth ages 8 to 18.

Braden and Jhett each received $500 in seed money, with possible access to additional funding over the next year based on the success of the businesses and need. In addition, the selection panel members are available to the youth throughout the next year to act as mentors.

“Through the Youth Business Ventures Competition, we hope to encourage entrepreneurism in our local youth and provide them with the tools for success with seed money, mentorship and Chamber resources,” said Dana Pearce, vice chair of the Chamber’s Ag & Natural Resources Committee. “The process of developing a business plan, financial statements and a marketing plan helps participants with their future careers, goal setting and gives them the foundation for starting and growing a business.”

The funding for the Youth Business Ventures Competition was made possible by sponsorships from AgTerra Technologies, Inc., Three Peaks Real Estate, Sheridan Local Foods and the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce Ag & Natural Resources Committee.

For more information about the competition, call the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce at (307) 672-2485.



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