Schafer brothers are Lemonade Day Entrepreneurs of the Year
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IRON MOUNTAIN -- A pair of young brothers have been chosen as this year's Lemonade Day Entrepreneurs of the Year.
Ian and Ryker Schafer operated the Freedom Freezy Lemon Squeezy stand during the fourth-annual event that took place Saturday, May 16.
When they learned they were chosen as Entrepreneurs of the Year, Ian said, "I thought it was a dream ... best wake-up call ever!" Brother Ryker added in a Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce news release, "I was shocked and excited, I thought Dad was pranking us!"
The free, community-wide education program, organized locally by the DACC, is designed to teach youth how to start, own and operate their own business with the classic lemonade stand. The event is open to students through sixth grade in the surrounding areas, including Wisconsin.
Participants are encouraged to get creative with their business names, stand designs and even their lemonade recipes, though stands don't need to be elaborate. An online map showed more than 20 stands were set up in the area this year.
The Lemonade Day Council team then visits each location and judges the stand on a variety of categories, including originality and creativity.
When asked about the biggest lesson they learned from owning their first business, they said, "We learned to save money and invest it and how to manage money."
Their favorite part of Lemonade Day was "... serving the customers and hearing their stories," Ian said, while Ryker added, "Seeing the smiles and sharing happiness with our customers."
The national Lemonade Day program was started in 2007 in Houston, Texas, by entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael Holthouse. The idea grew from his daughter hosting a lemonade stand to raise money to buy a turtle. DACC's Executive Director and CEO Suzanne Larson discovered the program while traveling in Texas and was inspired to bring it to Dickinson County.
James Schafer, father of Ian and Ryker, said of the program, "One thing I feel parents look forward to when they participate in Lemonade Day is the 'ah-ha' moment. This journey started when the kids had gift money and wanted to spend it on a beginner crossbow. We talked about investments and brought up the lemonade stand. Now, three months later, hearing them acknowledge that none of this would have been possible if they did not invest ... priceless! Lemonade Day is a great program and worth it. Make a life lesson as best you can, because it's something your kids will never forget."
Each of the winners of the Dickinson County Entrepreneur of the Year, which was sponsored by Bay College, received $100 gift card to Walmart and were entered for a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip for them and one parent to the National Entrepreneur of the Year competition in Houston, Texas.
Larson said of this year's event, "Our Lemonade Day was so much fun. We saw kids open for business at lemonade stands all around our community. The local support we received was outstanding. From our sponsors to the public who came out to support these budding entrepreneurs, it was a fantastic day in Dickinson County!"
Since its inception 16 years ago, Lemonade Day has reached over 1.5 million children across more than 90 cities in the U.S. and Canada. The initiative has partnered with over 550 youth-serving organizations and engaged more than 11,000 mentors, raising more than $24 million dollars to date through student-run stands.
"The kids that 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 out opportunities, persevere through challenges, speak with confidence, and solve problems. That 'I can do it' mindset stays with them for life."
Larson also emphasized the program's approach to teaching smart money habits: "Children learn to spend some, save some and share some. Not only are they learning financial literacy and how to run a business -- they’re also discovering the value of giving back to their community."
The chamber thanks these sponsors who made this year's event possible --
-- Signature "Main Squeeze" sponsors: Iron Mountain Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union and Laborers' Union Local 1329 (LiUNA).
-- "Fresh Squeeze" sponsors: IM-K Kiwanis, Northern Interstate Bank, Nicolet Bank and Trident Maritime.
-- Supporting sponsors: Advanta Print, Dickinson Area Community Foundation, Bay College, Frog Country, Radio Now and The Mountain, 41 Lumber, Radio Results Network, First National Bank, Range Bank and Walmart.