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The second Student Market, presented by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, took place at The Barn 1880: Historic Venue Sunday.
The event was sponsored by Northwest Bank and OMNI Lash.
The Barn 1880 owner Amanda Scroggs, as a Chamber member and teacher, said she went to the Chamber two or three years ago and said she sees a lot of creative people. She also went and enjoyed what North Webster does with their Young Entrepreneur Market and asked how that can be done in Warsaw.
The Chamber was generous and supportive and the Student Market was kicked off last year, she said.
Nora Christiansen, Chamber events coordinator, said when Scroggs approached the Chamber with her idea, the Chamber loved it.
“We definitely always want to encourage young people and their businesses,” Christiansen said.
Students sold items ranging from 3D printings to baked goods and jewelry.
Scroggs said the Student Market is for students from kindergarten through college. Christiansen said there were 23 vendors at Sunday’s event. Students at Sunday’s event ranged up to high school and were either homeschooled or from schools in Warsaw Community Schools. The Student Market was open to all students in Kosciusko County.
“We want to support young entrepreneurs and their creativity and help them learn about what it means to have a business, to have good customer service, how to make change, run a credit card, inventory, all those things,” Scroggs said.
Last year, Scroggs said there was a really good turnout “and again we had a really good turnout. And I think it’s something that will grow as we have that momentum” and will become a traditional thing. “We are just so grateful the weather’s great so people can be outside, inside, just enjoy The Barn and the beautiful views anyway, grab a cold drink, grab a cookie, buy some crafts, start your Christmas shopping already.”
Scroggs said she hopes the event will be put on next year as it’s shown that it’s successful enough they can continue it.
“I think more and more families are finding it ... a lot of the families are already business people or entrepreneurs and they want their children to have that experience as well,” Scroggs said.
Christiansen said, “It’s wonderful to see the kids who are interested in joining us. We’ve had lots of interest from them and just doing something different.”
She said turnout from the public was great Sunday. She thought having the Student Market was a great way for the community to show support for young entrepreneurs and young people who have ideas and want to be creative. It’s a good way for the kids to learn to run their business and figure things out.
The Chamber also runs their Young Entrepreneur Award off of the Student Market, so there were judges walking around interviewing students who wanted to be interviewed and one of them will be awarded.
Clara Schroeder, who is going to be a second-grader at Jefferson Elementary School, was selling wristlets Sunday. She had a sewing project for 4-H and she wanted to make wristlets. Part of her profits Sunday will go toward the library. She said she wanted to give money to the library because their elevator wasn’t working. She said she likes the fact people like the wristlets.
Madilyn Moore, who is going to school at Edgewood Middle School this next school year, was selling pretzel rods covered in chocolate, chocolate suckers and dipping doughnuts.
She wanted to do something different than other people. She went to the Student Market last year but didn’t sell anything. Last year, she saw students selling 3D printings, cookies, so she wanted to be different and stand out. She thought Sunday’s event was going great. She liked meeting people, finding out people’s stories and just getting to know people.
Those interested in being vendors at next year’s event can contact the Chamber.
