Second grader Millie Shoemaker offered an intriguing combination of items, including marshmallow s’mores, dog treats, fire starters and candles to benefit the Animal Welfare League at the North Webster Kids Business Fair Saturday, March 18. Photos by Ray Balogh.

By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — More than 1,200 individuals and families — optimistically called “shoppers” by event organizers — beat a steady stream through the doors of the North Webster Community Center Saturday, March 18, to attend the 14th kid’s business fair, Kosciusko County’s largest event of its kind.

They were introduced with route instructions by the greeters at the front table: “Just start in the community hall, go around back and come down the hallway and that will take you into the gym.”

What they encountered during their perambulations was a plethora of creative and enthusiastic elementary business owners vending their labors of love, exchanging their homemade wares for cash and experiencing the satisfaction of a commercial venture well done.

The venue this year hosted 105 business booths involving 141 kids, the community center’s largest fair yet. Last year, 70 businesses with 86 kids participated.

“I think the best part of this experience is that the community center is really mission driven to provide opportunities of huge potential for the community and the chamber of commerce,” said Emily Worrell, NWCC executive director.

“If this is the future of North Webster, then we are doing it right.”

That future includes prior business fair students who “graduated out and continued on and opened small businesses in town,” said Worrell.

The fair also hosted a couple of inaugural participations. “We have our first ever nonprofit here, doing a silent auction to benefit the library at the Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

“And for the first time we have Abraham Korenstra, who will be playing music the whole time. This year he published a CD and is selling copies here.

“We also have a large acrylic-on-canvas artist booth. I have never seen so much product from one kiddo.

“Just about anything you could ask for is in here.”

The fair, normally confined to Kosciusko County participants, has grown so popular “we started pulling in from Noble and Whitley counties,” Worrell said.

The array of wares was impressive. The businesses sported names such as Kreativity Kove, Puzzled?, Julie’s Handmade Wonders, Sweet Castle, Pom Pom Pets, Abel Brewing Co., Warrior Wear, Hibiscus Teriyaki, KRAZY KAT, Sugar Rush and Bling on a String.

Several of the booths sold handmade jewelry and other handcrafted items. Others offered greeting cards, back scratchers, cutting boards, soaps and bath bombs.

First grader Mackynzie Miller operated Mack’s Clouds and described her product as “playdough for the bubble bath that dissolves completely.”

For those with a sweet tooth, a full menu of empty but delicious calories was available: cotton candy, homemade brownies and cookies, various kinds of pie, turtle candies, chocolate dipped pretzels, Chex mix and cupcakes. Several booths offered dog treats as well.

Businesses were divided into grade levels: kindergarten to second grade, third to fifth grades and sixth to eighth grades.

Cash prizes were awarded in three categories: Best Presentation, Most Original Idea and Highest Business Potential.

The middle age group was the most populous and extra prizes were awarded for that contingent.

Twenty judges visited all the booths in their assigned sectors and compared notes to award the 19 trophies, which included one overall winner.

Winners were not available when this article was posted. That information will be posted as it becomes available.