Kids Learn Entrepreneurship Through Honeybees

NDSU Extension Service - Kidder County has created some budding entrepreneurs in a program that allows young people to run a beekeeping business.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years, many due to lack of business experience and poor management. Kidder County Extension agent, Jason Goltz decided to use beekeeping as a way to teach kids basic business skills in his "Youth Entrepreneurship " program.

Kids 9-12 years old were provided an opportunity to start a “real” business in order to gain business and entrepreneurship knowledge. Using beekeeping as the business venture; hives, bees, and equipment were provided to facilitate the business start-up. Kids learned the basics of beekeeping and the basics of business, including budgeting and marketing.

The kids tended the hive, harvested the honey and sold it. They marketed the honey by telling the story of where it came from and what they learned in the process.

The program was a big success. Two of the kids are making plans for their own beekeeping business.

Read the complete "Youth Entrepreneurship - Honeybees" Impact Report (PDF).