Kansas Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Expands with 4-H Partnership
Young entrepreneurs across Kansas have an exciting opportunity to develop their business skills through the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) series, a competition designed for students in grades 6-12. Organized by NetWork Kansas, YEC helps students pitch their business ideas and compete for prize money while gaining hands-on experience in entrepreneurship.
Now, thanks to a new partnership with K-State Research and Extension and Kansas 4-H, the competition will receive nearly $100,000 annually for the next three years, fully funding the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge (KEC)—the state-level culmination of the YEC series. This investment will expand opportunities for young business leaders in all 105 Kansas counties.
"Young entrepreneurs are the future of economic prosperity in Kansas," said Gregg Hadley, assistant vice president and director for extension at Kansas State University. "It’s a natural fit for K-State Research and Extension to support a program that builds on youth development."
The 4-H program, known for fostering leadership and skills development, plays a key role in this initiative. "Through 4-H, K-State has a long history of providing positive youth development programming statewide," said Sarah Maass, program director for 4-H youth development. "This partnership strengthens our ability to empower young people through entrepreneurship."
With updated materials and expanded resources, this collaboration between NetWork Kansas, K-State Research and Extension, and 4-H ensures that youth in every Kansas county have the chance to develop their entrepreneurial skills and turn their ideas into reality.
4-H Agents in Johnson County and now in the process of gathering information from other areas that have hosted these enriching experiences in order to bring this to the youth of Johnson County. If you have a passion for assisting youth with their business and entrepreneurship dreams reach out to the 4-H Team at joco4-h@jocogov.org.
by Lexi Ray, 4-H Youth Development Agent, April 2025