Freeman FBLA chapter shows sixth-graders principles of business, how to develop an idea from ground up

The sixth-graders at Freeman Middle School recently got the chance to learn about the Future Business Leaders of America and test their business skills.

Students spent more than a week learning about business etiquette, budgeting, advertising and marketing under the leadership of students in the Freeman High School FBLA chapter. They spent part of their afternoon Friday at an investor fair designed to showcase their business ideas.

“It’s kind of like a science fair,” said sophomore and FBLA vice president Dixie Sefton as the cafeteria filled with crowds of students with their business ideas laid out on trifolds. “They basically came up with their own business idea.”

The daily sessions at the middle school were an American Enterprise Project for the high school’s FBLA chapter, with several members helping organize and staff the sessions. Part of the lesson was a discussion about businesses in the town of Rockford. People often assume it isn’t possible to have a successful business in a small town like Rockford, Sefton said, but that isn’t true.

“You can do it,” she said. “There are tons of businesses in the Rockford area that do well.”

The goal behind the project was to get the younger students interested in joining the FBLA when they get to high school. The chapter there has about 55 members, Sefton said. “We don’t have that big of a school,” she said.

FBLA also teaches life skills in addition to business skills, Sefton said, such as interacting with adults and learning teamwork. Sefton helped organize the educational sessions and the investor fair.

“I took on this because I love working with children,” she said.

Parents and community members circulated during the investor fair, giving the students a chance to make a pitch about their business. There were more than a few candy shops, and they handed out samples. The team with a pizza shop handed out small pieces of pizza for people to taste.

The students were organized into teams and each team was judged on the organization of the trifold, creativity, demonstration of knowledge, professionalism and how much they would invest in the business idea.

Some students were clearly going for points in the professionalism area as several wore ties and professional attire.

The array of businesses the sixth-graders came up with was diverse, Sefton said. “They’ve really done a ton of things,” she said.

Along with several candy shops there was a coffee shop, a clothing line, restaurants, a game shop, a couple of sporting goods shops and a doggy day care that promised to cure doggy depression for $5 a day.

One team handing out brownies had named their shop, a bakery, Poisonous Pastries. Their products had catchy names like Killer Brownies, Creepy Cookies, Murderous Muffins and Cruel Cake.

But there most certainly wasn’t any poison in the Killer Brownies, said team member Maris Vernon. “It’s just that our theme is poison,” she said.

The group picked a bakery because it seemed like a fun thing to do. “I like to bake,” said team member Madisen Ortiz.

Cheetah Sport Shoes promised a comfortable shoe that fits well.

“Me and my friends, we all play a lot of sports,” said team member Brooke Hoyer. “We have a lot of trouble finding shoes that fit us.”

Team member Madi Brebner said that after the experience with FBLA she might be more likely to own her own business in the future.

“You get to use your idea that you have in your mind and bring it to life,” she said.

After all the points were tallied, the team behind the Brunch Bar was declared the winner. The Brunch Bar would be a restaurant that serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, and then donates its leftover food to the poor.