Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, July 23, 2026. Reprinted with permission and gratitude.
By David Phillips
While many kids 14 and under might be spending their summer at the pool, playing video games, or scrolling through their phones, some are dis covering a fun and productive way to spend their time—starting their own businesses!
The entrepreneurial ventures of several local youth will be showcased next month at the Spring Valley Minnesota Children’s Business Fair, which is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon at Bluff Brothers Brewing in Spring Valley. The public is welcome to view the young entrepreneurs’ creations and purchase their items during this free event.
It might not seem like there would be many entrepreneurs aged 6 to 14, but organizer Jordan Li effort has already signed up over 20 young people for booths. Each child will have his or her own booth to showcase and sell products.
Lieffort, who has lived in Spring Valley since 2019 and is a stay-at-home mom with three children, came up with the idea after attending a similar event in another city with her daughter. They had such a great time that she decided to create one in Spring Valley to give local kids a chance to shine.
“I honestly never expected it to take off the way it has, and I’m incredibly thankful for the support we’ve received from our community,” she said. “I’m excited to see our community come together to support these amazing young entrepreneurs, and I hope this becomes a tradition that continues to grow for years to come.”
Some examples of products from the youth who are signed up include dirty sodas, homemade jewelry and natural lip balm. Lieffort added that many kids already create something, so whether it’s crocheted pot holders, beaded jewelry, painted vases with greenery, or something else, they just need a little help to find a market.
Lieffort shared that her mom always told her kids, “If you want to do something, you can do it,” a mantra that’s stayed with her. Now, as an adult, she’s a go-getter herself and teaches her kids the same idea: if they want something, they can make it happen.
For the business fair, the young entrepreneurs can whip up anything they dream up, even using things they already have at home. They don’t have to spend a fortune to create something because the learning is what really matters.
“The Children’s Business Fair gives young entrepreneurs the opportunity to create their own business, develop a product or serv ice, and present it to the public. It’s an exciting hands-on experience that teaches responsibility, creativity, problem solving, customer service and what it takes to run a business,” she explained. “These children are our future, and it’s inspiring to watch them build confidence while sharing something they’ve worked hard to create.”
The event is completely supported by kind local sponsors, so there’s no booth fee for the kids to participate. Every penny raised goes straight back to the kids through cash prizes, and any extra money will be used to make next year’s event even more exciting and fun, according to Lieffort.
The youth will be on their own at the fair, though the youngest kids might get a little help from a parent or guardian if they’re not comfort able counting money. There’s no help from the local business sponsors, and most of the time, the parents are asked to step back and explore other booths to see what other kids have created.
During the event, shoppers and other participants will vote for their favorite booths. These votes will be counted, and the first-, second-, and third-place winners in each age group will receive cash prizes. The event will wrap up with an awards ceremony from noon to 1 p.m., where the winners will be recognized and presented with their cash prizes.
Lieffort discovered the participants for the fair through a Facebook page called Spring Valley MN Children’s Business Fair. So far, more than 20 young people have signed up, with some even coming from Austin, Dodge Center, and Preston. If you’re still interested in setting up a booth, you can sign up on the Facebook page up to a week before the fair.
“I was really surprised by how popular it became,” she mentioned. “I thought we’d only have about seven participants, but we’ve now got over 20 different booths.
Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325
