ST. JOHN, Kan. — Budding young entrepreneurs from across Stafford County will showcase their business ideas during the 2026 Stafford County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC), scheduled for February 2026 (exact date to be announced). The event will be held at the Stafford County Annex, located at 210 E. 3rd Street, St. John, KS. Hosted annually by Stafford County Economic Development in partnership with Network Kansas, the YEC provides middle and high school students with a platform to explore and pitch their business ventures.
Students will submit an executive summary of a business they are currently operating or planning, followed by a live pitch before a panel of local judges. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three competitors: $750 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd, and $250 for 3rd. The first-place winner will go on to represent Stafford County at the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge (KEC), held in April 2026 at Kansas State University in Manhattan.
At the state competition, students will compete in multiple pitch rounds and participate in a public trade show, where they will showcase their business ideas through interactive booths. Additional awards and thousands of dollars in prize money are available.
“This program helps our students build real-world business skills, from developing a concept to presenting it professionally in front of a live audience,” said Ryan Russell, Executive Director of Stafford County Economic Development. “It’s also an opportunity to empower young people to see entrepreneurship as a path for their future here in rural Kansas. Any middle school or high school kid from Stafford County that would like to participate can reach out to our office.”
Event details, including registration deadlines and competition guidelines, will be announced later this fall. For more information or to get involved as a judge or sponsor, contact Stafford County Economic Development at (620) 549-3527 or e-mail Ryan at [email protected]. Current donors to the Stafford County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge are Stafford County Economic Development, Network Kansas, and South Central Community Foundation.
