Kids do it all at ACFM's annual Young Entrepreneur's Day

From planning and production to sales and customer service, a cohort of young people tested the waters of running a sucessful business Saturday at the annual Adams County Farmers Market's Young Entrepreneur's Day.

The yearly event invites kids to host a stand for a day, selling handmade goods, running transactions and interacting with customers.

Muso Nyiwul, 10, of Gettysburg, offered an array of household goods and body products at her table, all of which she made at home. She sold out of insect repellant and hair conditioning spray before the morning was over. She also sold crocheted dishcloths which she makes with her sister, a hobby introduced to Nyiwul by her grandmother.

When asked her about her favorite part of the whole experience, Nyiwul said, "I like making money, and I like doing business."

For market goers with an appetite, there were several stands offering homemade baked goods and food. Ryder Hernandez, 9, and his friend Tim Knapp, 7, both of Orrtanna, set up a stand selling breakfast eggs and toast, peanut butter and jelly, cold brew coffee and handmade lemonade.

In keeping with the spirit of the farmers market, they sourced their ingredients locally, with jam made from peaches from a neighbor’s farm and coffee from local roaster Waldo’s and Co.

Many of the young entrepreneurs have particular goals for the cash they earn. Hernandez explained he and Knapp are saving up money for a gaming shed. Another young seller, Gabrielle Kinyon, 12, of Bendersville, said she’s eyeing a Nintendo Switch game console.

Kinyon and her sisters, Annika, 10, and Karis, 8, each had items they’d worked on to sell. Gabrielle drew bookmarks; Annika made glass picture keychains; Karis had beaded bracelets.

Adams County Farmers Market Manager Rez Djalal said a total of 18 young people signed up for the day this year. It’s a project the farmers market started as part of its mission to be a benefit to the community, he explained.

“It’s a good opportunity for young people to learn business and finance,” Djalal said, adding that it “boosts their confidence to try new ideas and see what works.”

The chance to be creative led many of the young people to begin their businesses in the first place. Carly Mendelsohn, 10, from Virginia, loves to sew. She started selling hand sewn scrunchies as a way to make some money from her hobby. Her brother, CJ, 13, sells paintings of comic superheroes he likes. The pair was in town visiting their grandfather who lives in Gettysburg.

There was a strong sense of camaraderie among all the young merchants. Many of the kids visited each others’ stands and offered words of encouragement and positive vibes.

“I like that there are a bunch of kids selling, and a lot of kids are doing well,” said Ruby Lancaster, 11, of Gettysburg.

Lancaster was at the market for just the third time in public selling her handmade jewelry. She offered bracelets, earrings, rings and small jewelry bowls. She began the hobby after an uncle sent her a jewelry making kit one year. The coolest part about the experience for her is seeing people wearing her creations, she said.