The Adams County Farmers Market is once again holding its popular Young Entrepreneurs Day on Saturday, August 16th, 2025, from 8 am to 1 pm at the Gettysburg Rec Park. Now in its 6th year, Young Entrepreneurs Day is an event where local children can sign up and sell their own crafts, creations, and art at the farmers market alongside the regular lineup of experienced farmers market vendors.
The goal of Young Entrepreneurs Day is to help children practice salesmanship, learn money-handling skills, build self-confidence, and foster creative thinking as they launch their own ‘small’ businesses. This event has now welcomed over 100 business-minded youngsters since it began in 2019. Many participants have attended every year, while for others, it will be their first time behind a market booth.
Every year, a new cohort of young entrepreneurs find novel ways to monetize their interests. “Market shoppers are always impressed by the level of professionalism these kids demonstrate,” said Market Manager Reza Djalal. “It’s fun to see the kids who have been doing this for several years find new ways to develop and improve their past business ideas.” In 2024, approximately 50 individual participants earned over $3,000 combined during Young Entrepreneurs Day.
This year’s anticipated offerings include fiber arts, decorated pens, bookmarks, bracelets, plushies, drawings, and treats, just to name a few. Some event participants are endeavoring to raise money for their 4-H projects or other causes.
Young Entrepreneurs Day at the Adams County Farmers Market mirrors similar events taking place at farmers markets across the state, and even nationally, such as “Kid Vendor Day” at the North Square Farmers Market in Chambersburg or the “Kids Craft Vendor Day” at the Pittsfield Township Farmers Market in Michigan.
Kid-run businesses were further supported in Pennsylvania in 2021 with the passing of House Bill 664, which allows children to operate lemonade stands and other small businesses like mowing lawns without needing to receive a business license from their local municipality. This legislation has helped make events like Young Entrepreneurs Day easier to coordinate within the Commonwealth.
Event organizers want Young Entrepreneurs Day to be an opportunity to cultivate the next generation of business leaders in Adams County. According to one Young Entrepreneurs Day parent, “(my son) is building a business that helps kids like him explore creativity, learn new skills, and turn fun designs into real products. His goal is to inspire other young inventors to dream big, make cool things, and believe that you’re never too young to start something amazing.”