August 28, 2006
Entrepreneurs Offer Business Skills at the Nebraska State Fair's 4-H Cyber Fair
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska youth can learn more about starting their own business during the 4-H Cyber Fair's EntrepreneurShip Patio Experience Sept. 2-4 at the Nebraska State Fair.
The event, in the covered patio area connected to the Farmland Building, gives youth and others opportunities to construct their ideal entrepreneurship town at E-Town, talk to Nebraska entrepreneurs at several exhibit booths and view entrepreneurship resources, including the new 4-H curriculum, ESI: EntrepreneurShip Investigation.
"I thought a lot of the things people thought up were very interesting," said Shailana Dunn-Wall, 14, of Omaha, who was at the event the fair's opening weekend.
Robin Lindauer, owner of WebTechSolutions in York, decided to exhibit as an entrepreneur because she thought it was a good opportunity to give back to 4-H. The 4-H alum started a Web design and consulting business.
"My business is going well, so I thought I'd give back and share my story," Lindauer said. "If it helps a 4-H'er it's worth it to share that with them."
Derry Tramp, an Ord High School teacher and one of the ESI curriculum writers, said he hoped the activities-based entrepreneur curriculum would help students understand what opportunities are available for them back home and keep kids in their communities.
Dawn Hromanik, director of education for the Oxbow Academy in Murdock and one of the exhibitors, agreed.
"Entrepreneurship is very important for economic development," she said. "We hope this gets high school graduates working locally instead of moving to other states."
Oxbow Academy employs 50 people in Murdock, population 267, Hromanik said.
E-Town, a virtual town projected on a screen, allows youth to build a town on the giant screen or build businesses out of several supplies, such as paper, blocks, etc.
At 11 a.m. Sept. 2, Rep. Tom Osborne will offer the presentation, Youth Entrepreneurship: Past, Present and Future. Osborne also will dedicate the Congressman Tom Osborne Electronic Library, a gift to the Nebraska 4-H curriculum, ESI: EntrepreneurShip Investigation.
A video also will be presented throughout the Labor Day weekend with youth asking Osborne entrepreneur-related questions.
Tiffany Urich, 22, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln senior majoring in fashion merchandise, was creating a business card on a computer, during a visit to Cyber Fair Saturday (Aug. 26).
She said the Cyber Fair was "cool, interactive and offered lots of technology."
For more information about the ESI: EntrepreneurShip Investigation 4-H curriculum, contact the Nebraska State 4-H office at (402) 472-4067 or visit the Web at CyberFair and Nebraska 4-H Curriculum.
4-H is part of UNL Extension in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
8/28/06-SAK
Sandi Alswager Karstens IANR News and Photography (402) 472-3030
Department: 4-H Youth Development
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