Second annual business fair set for April 28 in Perham

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

Roots and Wings Forest School students are gearing up for their second annual Acton Children’s Business Fair, which will be held at the Perham Area Community Center (PACC) on Sunday, April 28 from 2-4 p.m.

The event, which is in collaboration with the Perham Chamber of Commerce, began a year ago at the New York Mills Cultural Center. Its name comes from Acton Academy, a private school in Texas that has become a network of schools around the world, including affiliate program, Roots and Wings Forest School. The event was such a success, organizers knew it would quickly outgrow the space.

“Last year’s event hosted 12 business booths at the Cultural Center,” said Leona Cichy, Director of Roots and Wings Forest School. “The turn out was amazing. The room was packed for almost all of the two hours the fair was held. We knew this year’s fair would outgrow that space, and had interest from the Perham Chamber to collaborate on the event.”

The fair is intended to bring skills from the retail, marketing and financial industries to students in order to learn more about being in small business. Students from Roots and Wings created business portfolios and presented them to Latham Hetland, loan officer at Farmers & Merchants State Bank, in order to request school funding for their start-up loan.

“While nervous at first, they all enjoyed sharing their business idea and they all received their business loans,” said Cichy. “The business fair teaches so many real-world skills to our young learners. Of course it teaches business skills like budgeting, marketing, money management, and product development, but it also teaches critical thinking, perseverance, and social skills like how to talk to customers.

“Overall, the business fair gives out students the confidence to know that they can do anything they put their mind to,” continued Cichy. “(It) opens their minds to the idea of entrepreneurship as a pathway for their future.”

All elementary students attending Roots and Wings will participate ins the fair as a school project. Information about the fair was shared with local school districts, social media contacts, and local students outside the school are also welcome to join the business fair. Applications for business booths will be taken through Friday, April 19 by calling the school at (218) 325-0234.

Students are excited, though some with trepidation, experiencing the fair for the first time.

“I’m excited about making more money,” said student Timmy Ball. “I’m excited but I’m wondering if everything is going to go okay.”

“I’m hoping to have people buy my products, that’s what I’m excited about,” said fellow student Kip Taylor.

Other students were excited about selling their own wares, including fire starters and fishing lures.

“This year, we have over 40 business booths with students ages 6-14 participating from Roots and Wings as well as New York Mills, Perham, Frazee, Henning, and New London-Spicer,” said Cichy. “I get most excited to see the enthusiasm the business owners have for their products and the opportunity to sell them. We have lots of unique business ideas that will be represented at this year’s fair including fire starters, seeds, fishing lures, candles, coffee, jewelry, and so much more.”