Organizer sees “a lot of passion and hard work” put into projects
From left, Uriel Guevara and Domenico Damiani in their Mint Plush Productions booth at the South Valley Children’s Business Fair. Photo courtesy Ewa Samples
By Staff Report
The winners of South Valley’s Inaugural Children’s Business Fair have been announced.
Nearly two dozen young people showed off their entrepreneurial spirit by selling products and services from jewelry to a pet pooper-scooper.
Photo courtesy Ewa Samples
Winners are:
Most Original
- Art By Izzy – Isabel Rasmussen, 12
- Yarn Girl – Anuhya Gottam, 13
- Dog Patch – Barrett Macias, 7, and Sophia Macias, 9
Business Potential
- Made by Matt – Matthew Swank-Fitch, 14
- Bright and Sunny – Lauren Huerta, 13 and Sunny Fernandez, 13
- Earl’s Garden – Addison Clawson, 15
Best Presentation
- Embedded Jewels – Ava Haven, 14
- mini plush production – Uriel Guevara and Domenico Damiani
- Gia Gems – Gia Vakklaganti, 11 and Tanishka Bhaskar, 13
The Children’s Business Fair was organized by local photographer/videographer Ewa Samples. She said the event was an opportunity to encourage children and teens to get creative during the summer months and find ways to earn a little extra cash while building their commerce skills. She said she was amazed by the potential she saw at the fair.
“I saw a lot of passion and really hard work put into each and every single booth,” she said. “I think all the participants were the winners, no question about it. They worked hard, they showed up, and a lot of them were very close to selling out what they had prepared to sell at the fair.”
There were 26 booths from children ages 8 to 14 and arranged at the Community Center for shoppers to wander around and learn about what the young people were selling. They each got a table provided and then set it up and decorated it on their own.
Three judges wandered among the various wares and services for sale and choose which ones are the best three to receive prizes.
Samples said she saw a lot of people visiting the booths and supporting the young entrepreneurs.
“I saw nothing but big smiles on the kids’ faces, vigorous dialogs between them and their customers, and a lot of transactions,” she said. “I couldn’t be more proud of everybody who showed up as a participant or a supporter.”
