2026 Smith County YEC

This competition gives students an opportunity to develop an entrepreneurial mindset by going through the process of developing a business proposal. Student entrepreneurs will compete in three areas: a written Executive Summary, a Trade Show booth, and a 4-minute Presentation.
 
There is also the opportunity for teachers, business people, and others to participate as a mentor or judge. Mentors will work with the participants to develop their idea into the business over the next few months. Judges will review materials, take in the trade show booth and presentations, and provide helpful feedback to the entrepreneurs. 
 
Smith Center Economic Development, NetWork Kansas, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, and several local donors are teaming up to provide over $6,500 in cash prizes across several awards. The Dane G. Hansen Foundation removed the financial barrier to communities participating in the YEC Series by granting the sanction application fee as well as providing an allocation of prize funds to each county's event. 

Further questions regarding this Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge can be sent to Galen Lambert at galen@smithcenter.net or Michelle Rust at mrust@ruraltel.net.

Schedule and Key Dates
1/9/2026 - Deadline to register business on VentureDash
1/13/2026 - Participants finalize business owners, mentors and resources
1/30/2026 - Deadline for Judges to sign up
1/30/2026 - Deadline for rough draft for Executive Summary to be submitted in Venture Dash
2/25/2026 - Deadline for Submission of Final Executive Summary in Venture Dash, 
3/10/2026 - Participants set up booths 7:30 am
3/10/2026 - Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Day begins 9 am