The Don Sjogren Community YMCA’s first annual craft show was more than just a chance to get a jump start on Christmas shopping.
The event allowed youth entrepreneurs to learn about business, increase their confidence, practice self-discipline and improve communications skills with adults.
YMCA Membership Director Micki Fisher organized the Christmas Blitzen event on December 3.
“I wanted to support the young entrepreneurs in our community,” Micki said. “It is a great way to support our youth and let them have a positive experience.”
The youth learned everything from how to create a business (the work that goes into that), business terms such as expenses and profit, how to talk to customers, how to present their products and how to count money.
Of the 42 vendors at the show, nine of those were youth vendors including Bair Bros. Crayons, homemade crayons in different shapes; Ridley Fisher, Mad Batter Bakery; Ryker Schroeder, selling beef sticks to raise funds for his Washington D.C. trip; Chloe Wilbur, Faye in Christ Creations (crafts, jewelry, etc.); Chloe, Camrie, Kaydee and Kari Anderson, CK Cotton Kandy; Aurora & Eilonwy Christensen, comic books; Sydney Bradley, homemade crafts and Christmas ornaments; Jerzee Weber, dip mixes as a fundraiser for her Washington D.C. Trip; Kendellen and Raemi Kellen, Chain Reaction keychains.
The youngest vendor was just 6 years old.
Micki said the kid vendors did well at the event. Ridley brought approximately 65 plates of cookies and truffles and sold out at the event!
In addition to the youth entrepreneurs, 33 other vendors attended the event. Vendors came from Ft. Myers, Fla.,; Philipsburg, Kan.; Juniata, Hastings, Superior, Kearney, Overton, Superior, and Wood River, in addition to several vendors from Phelps County.
Mystic Images of Holdrege captured Christmas mini photos in the YMCA lobby during the event, and local FCCLA students wrapped presents for a free-will donation.
Micki said she plans to continue the event, so save the date for Dec. 2, 2023, for the second annual YMCA Christmas Blitzen craft show.
“My goal is to continue to grow the event to support our local vendors and to give our community the opportunity to shop local and support the vendors,” Micki said.
For the 2023 event, Micki would also like to offer a local youth group the opportunity to serve lunch at the event to support their group.
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