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Business good for young entrepreneurs

Strong winds didn’t sour the attitudes of 40 young entrepreneurs who raised money for charity during the first-ever Lemonade Day in Diamond Valley.

Strong winds didn’t sour the attitudes of 40 young entrepreneurs who raised money for charity during the first-ever Lemonade Day in Diamond Valley.

Fourteen decorative lemonade stands were placed in front of businesses, town buildings and recreation facilities in Black Diamond and Turner Valley. Young entrepreneurs attracted passersby with various refreshments and treats during the inaugural event June 11.

“We had some fantastic stands,” said Diamond Valley Lemonade Day event organizer Barry Crane, adding themes ranged from Hawaiian to country. “Every kid went over and above when it came to building the stands.”

Crane, a father and Turner Valley town councillor, spearheaded Diamond Valley Lemonade Day this spring, following in the footsteps of the successful Okotoks event, which marked its sophomore year the same day.

“For a first year out you couldn’t have asked for a better turnout,” he said. “I was so impressed with how professional they were. They were all prepared with coolers and hand wash stations, tables and chairs.”

Crane said he spent $100 as he went from stand to stand taking photographs and ensuring the young entrepreneurs didn’t have any issues.

“Most of the parents were just in the wings, off to the side with blankets and chairs,” he said. “They sat back and watched their kids and visited with other parents.”

With the exception of one stand blowing over due to high winds that may have also kept the number of potential buyers down, Crane said the participants finished the day feeling pride for raising money for various charities. Among the most successful was the stand at the Turner Valley Golf Club, which raised $600, he said.

“There is not one kid who thinks they didn’t do well,” he said. “To me that’s a victory right here.”

Nine-year-old Chase Bowley had a successful day with his lemonade stand, where he and eight-year-old sister Hannah sold popcorn, fruit punch, iced tea and homemade seasoned chips provided by the Country Story Diner in Turner Valley.

The chips were the most popular item of the day - the brother and sister team sold 36 bags – while the lemonade was their most popular drink, said Bowley.

“I would take the money and serve the drinks and she would serve the popcorn and chips,” he said.

Bowley figured out ahead of time exactly how much they were making with each $1 glass of lemonade they sold. Twenty-six cents from each glass sold was enough to cover expenses, leaving a 74 cent profit that allowed them to donate $50 to the Oilfields Food Bank and keep a little for themselves.

Among the most unique ideas was that of 12-year-old Casey Boehmer, who served vanilla ice cream flavoured with a choice of lemonade, pink lemonade, limeade, orange and peach drinks.

“We put it in cups and we froze them overnight,” he said, adding his mom came up with the idea. “We also sold lemonade, sparkling pink lemonade, home-made cinnamon buns, Freezies and caramel apple pops.”

Boehmer placed his stand in front of Grillo’s Pizzeria in Black Diamond and is donating his proceeds to Fort McMurray.

Lemonade Day had an overwhelming response from merchants who stepped forward to sponsor the eager youngsters.

Mark Muller, owner of Country Food Mart AG Foods, hosted a lemonade stand in front of his business, as well as Oilfields High School students selling hot dogs and the Black Diamond Community Garden Club selling plants.

“We had a bunch of people sitting on the rocks out front eating hot dogs and drinking lemonade,” he said. “It was a very nice social atmosphere.”

When Muller heard the idea of the Diamond Valley Lemonade Day, he said he was eager to hop on board.

“It’s sort of promoting entrepreneurism in these young folks and that’s been my life,” he said. “I think it’s really great those kids took that in.”

Monique LeBlanc, Turner Valley’s community services and business development manager, said Lemonade Day was not only a great learning opportunity for young entrepreneurs, but it also benefits local merchants.

“By accommodating the lemonade stands at their locations, local businesses benefit from increased traffic and awareness of their own shops, while also providing encouragement and support to the kids,” she said.

Crane said a committee is being formed to organize the event next year and he expects the number of participating entrepreneurs and merchants to increase.

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