Biz Kids Program will showcase at Glendon Farmers Market this Saturday

The Grade five class at Glendon School has been working hard in the Community Futures Biz Kids Program for weeks and they are holding a farmers market this Saturday.

 The Biz Kids Program was started in the Lakeland region in 2002 by Community Futures Lakeland.

“This program was modeled after the I Want to be a Millionaire Program, which was created in 1990 by Cumberland County, Nova Scotia,” Susanne Appleby from Community Futures Lakeland said. “The program provides local youth with the opportunity to gain some valuable experience in the world of entrepreneurism.”

Appleby says studies have shown that individuals who operate small businesses when they are young are more likely to become entrepreneurs when they are older, thus adding to the development of their community.

“Entrepreneurs are valuable assets to their community as they create jobs, provide necessary products and services to the local consumers, discover innovative ways to solve problems, and encourage people and businesses to move into or remain in the local area,” Appleby said.

Appleby says Coralee Forster a grade five teacher at the Glendon school reached out to her about offering a program for her students to learn about business and finance.

“I showed her the Community Futures Biz Kid program and we thought it would be a great fit for the curriculum,” Appleby told Lakeland Connect. “She has been working with the class in most of the area in the program although Community Futures has stepped in to provide assistance with the others thru Zoom meetings.”

There are 20 students in Foster’s class and 15 of them are attending the Glendon Farmers market this Saturday, May 1, with their products.

 According to Appleby, eight Biz Kid businesses will be showcasing at the Glendon Farmers Market.

• Candy Bouquets.
• WoodenWorks.
• K & G Art and Bracelets.
• K & L Slimes.
• Wear it WILD.
• SAM’s Sweets and Treats.
• FL’s Art.
• K & A Resin Creations.

Community Futures will be at the market to support the students and get feedback from the customers.

“We have donations of hand sanitizer for each Biz Kids table from Waseskwan Supplies Inc in Bonnyville which is owned by Tyler Youngchief and a free Slurpee coupon for the students in their thank you bags from Lakeland CO-OP,” Appleby said.

The Glendon Farmers Market will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. this Saturday.

“We would love to see you out to support the students in this final showcase,” Appleby said.