The winning team consisted of Austin Hayes, Ryder Mason, Weldon Holder and Ansel Williams, who were all fourth graders last spring at North Elementary in Iron Mountain.

The Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce, along with its sponsors, partnered for the second-annual Lemonade Day that took place May 18.

Squeeze the Day member Ansel Williams said he loved taking part in Lemonade Day.

He thought his “biggest lesson” was to not be afraid to try new things.

THE SQUEEZE THE DAY team was chosen as the 2024 Lemonade Day Entrepreneur of the Year award for Dickinson County. The Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce partnered with its sponsors to host the second-annual Lemonade Day on May 18. Loyal 2 Local sponsored the Entrepreneur of the Year award. Squeeze the Day team members with their $100 Walmart gift card are, from left, Weldon Holder, Austin Hayes, Ryder Mason, and Ansel Williams, who were in fourth grade at the time of the event. (Submitted photo)

“People are more likely to buy from you if you say ‘thank you,'” he added. “Thanks to my teacher, Mr. Powell, for helping me on my journey and everything else.”

Ansel’s mother, Margaret Williams, praised the program as a great way for kids to learn about entrepreneurship. “They had to visit Antonio’s to ask the business to host their stand, created an advertisement, made a business plan, set a budget, and more to make their lemonade stand a success,” she said. “We really appreciate the teachers and Chamber of Commerce that put so much work into the program.”

Suzanne Larson, Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce executive director and organizer of Lemonade Day, explained that on sale day, the Lemon Council traveled to each stand to visit with students and discuss their findings.

“Many criteria were discussed to eventually come up with a winner,” she said.

Each member of Squeeze the Day received a $100 Walmart gift card. Loyal 2 Local was the Entrepreneur of the Year award sponsor.

MEMBERS OF THE Sunny Sip Lemonade stand are, from left, Mackenzie Farragh, Ashyr Jacques-Basso, Colt Hicks and Kalli Proudfit. The team took in the most profit on Lemonade Day, donating a third of the $658 raised to the Dickinson County Cancer Unit Loan Closet. (Theresa Proudfit photo)

Ansel Williams added he plans to buy a ton of fishing stuff with his gift card.

They now move on to the national contest, where a national Entrepreneur of the Year will be chosen. That winner then receives a round-trip ticket for them and one parent/mentor to travel to Houston to attend the awards ceremony.

Larson called this year’s youth event a huge success, with more than 30 lemonade stands, managed by about 100 students, set up around the community.

“Our Lemonade Day was so much fun,” Larson said. “The local support we received was outstanding — from event sponsors to the public who came out to support these budding entrepreneurs. It was a fantastic day in Dickinson County.”

Lemonade Day aims to give kindergarten through eighth-grade students a unique entrepreneurial and experiential program infused with life skills, character development, financial literacy, career exploration and mentorship.

The program — a hybrid of STEM, social-emotional learning and project-based education — introduces youth to foundational lessons through the real-world experience of starting their own business: a lemonade stand, the quintessential first business for young entrepreneurs.

“The kids who are involved in Lemonade Day learn how to make a goal, set a plan and achieve their dreams,” Larson said. “It’s proven that children who receive business education are more willing to seek opportunities, are more persevering, have greater ability to speak in public and solve problems, and adapt more easily to overcome challenges.”

“That ‘I can do’ mentality is applied for the rest of one’s life,” she added.

Young participants learn to spend some, save some and share some as they go through the lesson modules.

“Not only are we teaching our youth about owning their first business and financial literacy, but we are also showing them how to give back to their community through philanthropy,” Larson said. “Their hard work culminates in a city-wide Lemonade Day.”

The Squeeze the Day team made a donation to the Almost Home Animal Shelter.

The Sunny Sip team of Mackenzie Farragh, Ashyr Jacques-Basso, Colt Hicks and Kalli Proudfit took in the most profit for the day. They raised $658, donating a third of their earnings to the Dickinson County Cancer Unit Loan Closet.

“It was fun, getting a lot of customers and making money,” Kalli Proudfit said. “I liked giving money to the Cancer Closet and they sent us a thank-you note.”

“Something I liked about Lemonade Day was that I got to be with my friends and see a lot of people and family I knew and also got to meet a lot of new people from the area,” Mackenzie Farragh added.

Over the past 15 years, 1.5 million children have taken part in Lemonade Day. The program has been licensed in more than 90 cities in the U.S. and Canada and has seen more than 550 youth-service partnerships. They have had in excess of 11,000 mentors assisting these entrepreneurs. Lemonade Day has also raised more than $24 million to date.

The local Lemonade Day will return in 2025, with details to be announced in the spring. All area students, as well as home schoolers, are encouraged to take part.

Larson thanks all the Lemonade Day sponsors. This year’s “Signature” sponsors include Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union, First National Bank & Trust, Nicolet Bank, Laborers’ Union Local 1329, Grede Manufacturing and Great North Bank. “Fresh Squeeze” sponsors include Iron Mountain-Kingsford Kiwanis, Northern Interstate Bank and U.P. State Credit Union. Other sponsors include American Legion Post 50, Advanta Print, Radio Results Network, U.P. State Bank, Dickinson Area Community Foundation, Imagination Factory Children’s Museum, 41 Lumber, Bay College, Walmart, Frog Country Radio, and Loyal 2 Local.

For more information, contact Larson at 906-774-2002 or by email at slarson@dickinsonchamber.com.