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Western Wake Children's Business Fair
On October 19th, Thomas Brooks Park baseball field in Cary, North Carolina hosted the second annual Western Wake County Children's Business Fair (WWCBF). At rows of booths, children were busy greeting customers and showcasing their creative products. Young entrepreneurs got a perfect opportunity to earn their "first revenue in life" through hands-on work.The fair aims to provide children aged 6-16 with an opportunity to demonstrate their entrepreneurial talents. Initiated by the Acton Children's Business Fair, this event has spread to multiple U.S. cities since its launch in Austin, Texas in 2007. Its original intention was to inspire children's entrepreneurial spirit and creativity through practical experience. The fair's format is simple and low-cost, typically requiring only an open space and some tables. Children can freely exercise their imagination and display their work ranging from handicrafts to food and beverages. The organizers provide toolkits and set up prize money to encourage bold attempts. This year's Western Wake County fair expanded in scale, increasing from 50 booths last year to 60, showing young entrepreneurs’ unprecedented enthusiasm.Eleven-year-old Kelly Tavares stood under his booth's canopy, wearing a black baseball cap with colorful edges and his self-designed T-shirt printed with "BOOKMARKS 4 BOOKWORMS." His booth was neat and organized, with bookmarks and book clips lined up carefully. As customers browsed, he skillfully explained each product's features, exuding confidence and professionalism. In one corner of Kelly's table sat a small box that contained several bills. On the other side, he displayed photos of his pet dog accompanying him while reading, manifesting a harmonious silhouette of a book-loving youth’s family life."Do you want to become an entrepreneur in the future?" When asked this question, Kelly smiled and firmly answered, "Yes!" He shared two future plans: one is to design fashion by using recyclable materials, and the other is to start a company. Although he doesn't have specific business idols, he said, "Everyone has their own path. Steve Jobs had the world's most successful company, Elon Musk has Tesla, but I'll follow my own path." These words from an American kid carried a distinctive entrepreneurial faith and spirit.Sixteen-year-old Moriah Alderman meticulously arranged her chocolate cookies, chocolate muffins, and blueberry muffins in a booth. A poster beside showed her in chef's attire, holding a whisk and smiling. She sold the food at the fair and also promoted her brand "Sugar Bites" through social media. Her parents accompanied and supported her, but did not overly interfere. They said, "If she loves this, we support her to keep going, though it takes time and practice."At the fair, Asian-American children Lucas and Alyssa also demonstrated their business talents. The pair collaborated selling bubble tea and had already accumulated a stack of bills. "Last year we sold lemonade, but this year we decided to do bubble tea because it's more popular," Lucas's mother said, “The children made the bubble tea by themselves, adjusted the proportions, and learned how to serve customers.” She smiled, saying the children learned a lot from their "competitors": "What we say doesn't matter as much as what they learn from their peers."The venue reflected the children's creativity and determination, and this wasn't just a business exercise but an opportunity for children to understand entrepreneurship through practice. As organizers and supporters of this activity, most parents said they value what their children learn through hands-on experience more than just classroom knowledge. The fair allowed children to experience business operations and let their entrepreneurial dreams begin to shine.At the fair, reporters also interviewed representatives from two sponsors who shared their insights on children's entrepreneurship and business education.Bella Huang, Vice President of diamond sponsor iPearl, had her son participate in the fair this year. After successfully selling 50 self-created books last year, he launched his second book this year, continuing his entrepreneurial journey. Bella appreciated the practical opportunities provided by the fair, saying, "Compared to the financial literacy courses many parents in China are keen on, Americans tend to prefer learning through practice. Such fairs are real enlightenment for children - they learn not only how to manage costs and profits but basic marketing and promotion skills."Bella further discussed how these fairs can inspire children's creativity and help build confidence. "Through the fair, my son learned how to sell products, adjust his mindset when facing challenges, and represent responsibility - things that are hard to teach in a classroom." Maria Litzinger from Edward Jones, a financial advisor and a mother, had her two children participate in the fair this year. Maria expressed her hope to cultivate children's awareness of money management from an early age: "At this fair, children can experience the challenges of earning money and learn how to conduct effective sales. As a financial advisor, I strongly support such activities because they establish crucial financial planning concepts through practical experience." Maria also mentioned that during the fair, she was not just an observer but occasionally provided small suggestions, such as how to attract customers and set prices. "We don't directly interfere with their business, but we encourage them to try more and be brave in interacting with customers. All of those are undoubtedly helpful for their future growth."Through the support and encouragement of these sponsors and parents, children gained both business experience and personal growth. As Maria concluded: "This is not just a children's fair, but a valuable lesson about responsibility, creativity, and perseverance."
