Lindsey Beltz

I started working with leather in second grade through my involvement with 4-H. At first, I didn’t share my products with anyone, but when I was in middle school, I started to sell earrings and custom belts. Eventually, this turned into a full-blown business: LB.Leather.

Then one day in my high school banking and finance class, my teacher told us about the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. The program, sponsored by Network Kansas in partnership with K-State Research and Extension, is all about promoting small businesses and an entrepreneurial spirit in kids across the state. I was immediately interested and wanted to get involved!

YEC holds regional competitions for middle through high school Kansas students who either have an existing business or a hypothetical business plan. Once the regional winners are decided, honorees get to compete in the final stage: the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge. I was thrilled to move on from my region to the final event, where I shared an executive summary of LB.Leather, then participated in a mock boardroom to discuss my business.

I ended up earning the Exemplary Award at the final competition! I really liked participating in the timed presentations for the panel of judges. Getting feedback from a variety of people from different backgrounds was helpful and gave me confidence that my business is going in the right direction.

Working with leather is a dying art, and I’m passionate about keeping it alive. I’d love to own my own shop someday, where I not only sell my goods, but also teach others how to create things themselves.

YEC provides an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone, share your story and meet other young entrepreneurs. Everyone from the students to the judges were fantastic — very welcoming and cheering for your success. For all those reasons, I’d encourage others to participate in the future.

To anyone entering YEC, my advice is to give it your all and know that it won’t be perfect, but strive to do your best.