SUCCESS IN AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM

What's New, May/Jun 2001 by Andres, Deb

When Jeannine heard about an entrepreneurship program offered by her school, she was curious. How could an in-school course provide an experience on how to operate a business? She was pleasantly surprised what she learned.

Students at Council Grove High School in Council Grove, KS, are getting a taste of the working world. This program is offered through a joint effort of the Family and Consumer Sciences, Agriculture, Technology and Business departments that teaches students how to own and operate a spice business. The Braves Spice Rack program offers students such an experience in developing and operating a small business.

This business involves the creation of a garden right on the school grounds. The one-year long course exposes students to nutrition, cooking, consumer and marketing skills.

Students begin their garden the summer before the school year. They do all of the planting, weeding, feeding and harvesting to produce their spices. They take a field trip to a regional Small Business Center. Students discuss with a counselor there ways to increase the retail market outlets of their proposed business. The counselor gives students tips on types of retailers to market to and how to approach those retailers.

Students also go on other trips to meet potential retailers of their spices and offer them samples. They discuss a sales agreement, deciding on what percentage of the sale will be kept by the retailer. The director of a local food retail market provides students with labeling suggestions and other ideas for marketing.

After designing the labels for their spices, students arrange a marketing tour. They make appointments with regional retailers with the intent to encourage the sale of their spice products in their stores. The wholesale price is set and a recommended retail price is given. In the first year, all but one of the retailers who were approached agreed to carry the products in their stores.

After perfecting the spice product, students added mixes to their line. They even sent a Salsa mix recipe and products to a research lab at Kansas State University to have a nutrition label developed that meets FDA labeling recommendations. The State Health Department was also asked to inspect the school's kitchens for licensing.

Since beginning the Braves Spice Rack project two years ago, sales of the product have increased dramatically. Students have had to look for dried product suppliers outside of the school. Students are continually busy keeping up with label production and brochure revisions.

Students have also designed a multimedia presentation that reflects the accomplishments of the Braves Spice Rack project. This presentation serves as public relations for the high school as well as sharpening the business and presentation skills of the students. The goals of the project include development of a commission system for students to be monetarily rewarded in addition to the grade they receive in class.

The diverse and integrative nature of this program enables students to learn some complex business systems. The achievements students are experiencing with the Braves Spice Rack program reflect an actual business experience . . . one that will carry them quite well right into today's business world.

Deb Andres is in her tenth year of teaching as a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at. Council Grove High School in Unified School District 417 in Council Grove, KS.