Routt County 4-H and the Yampa Valley Entrepreneurship Center partnered to launch the Routt County Young Entrepreneur Program.

Culminating in a Pitch Competition July 31, the program offered local youth, ages 8 to 13, a hands-on introduction to entrepreneurship.  Participants – who named themselves the Routty Kidpreneurs – attended workshops on business planning, money management, marketing and the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. 

With guidance from experienced local business owners and mentors, they also had the opportunity to sell their products at local Farmers Markets.

The program concluded with the Pitch Competition, where each participant presented their business idea to a panel of local judges and peers. This event allowed the youth to receive feedback, encouragement and the chance to win startup funds.  

Milan Anzulewicz took first place with “Iron Rail Bees” and Mylee Solorzano-Gabet’s “Mylee’s Bridle and Biscuits” received second. In third and fourth place were “Steamboat Slime Sensations” by Haley Myrtle and “Parkinstix” by AJ Parkinson.

The program received support through the collaboration of Routt County 4-H, the Yampa Valley Entrepreneurship Center and a grant from Ski Town USA Rotary Club, along with many local business owners and mentors.