Nearly 70 high school students from seven different business classes took part in the second annual Entrepreneurship Education Program put on in partnership between Vilas County Economic Development Corp. (VCEDC) and the Northland Pines School District.

With guidance from local leaders, the program gives students in the district the opportunity to turn their ideas into business plans while building skills to become future entrepreneurs.

VCEDC Executive Director Kathy Schmitz was ecstatic to bring the program back for the second year and believes it is a fantastic chance for businesspeople within the community to inspire the next generation of business owners.

“We really want our youth to know we have a welcoming business environment here in Vilas County, whether they stay around after school or decide to come back one day and open their own venture,” she said.

Schmitz added that of the students polled, between a quarter and a half said they’d like to open their own business one day. “Whether or not they open one or not, this program helps them to understand what goes into starting a business.”

Building a business idea

riginally launched in February 2025, this year’s program included a week-long educational unit that brought in classroom instruction from guest business speakers, hands-on business formation, and culminated in a “Shark Tank” style event for students to receive constructive feedback on their business plans.

Through a week of lectures on topics including business idea generation and problem solving; marketing and market research; leadership; business law; and finances, students put together a business idea and plan and then pitched it to a group of judges at Northland Pines High School.

Business ideas ranged from cat cafes to recreation and pet services to food trucks to retro movie theaters — all ideas students thought would thrive in the Vilas County community.

Jake Richards, business instructor at Northland Pines, said the program is beneficial on a number of levels; giving students an understanding of not only making a pitch and explaining why it works to others, but also working in a group dynamic and solving problems.

“Each year, this partnership with VCEDC gives our students a deeper, more authentic look at what it really takes to be an entrepreneur,” Richards said. “Working directly with business professionals helps them understand the legal, financial, marketing, and leadership questions that come with owning a business. You can see their confidence grow as they start turning ideas into possibilities and realize, ‘I can actually do this.’ That transformation is what makes this program so powerful.”

Richards added that having adult guest speakers throughout the week who are able to prompt those students and ask them the tough questions helps them rethink the idea and narrow down their focus.

‘Shark Tank’ finalists

The competition portion carried some weight, with a $1,000 scholarship on the line from VCEDC.

Of the 25 groups that created and pitched business plans, four were chosen based on their initial presentation to expand on their vision.

After learning more about the businesses being pitched, four finalists were chosen: Dockside Food Truck Lot, Whispering Walkers dog walking service, Tony’s Tortillas Taco Truck, and Rise Property Co. property management.

Each group was judged on their explanation of their business idea, marketing plans, leadership and management roles, what kinds of business they would start (LLC, partnership, etc.), and start-up and operational costs.

Ultimately, students Kami Neff, Liam Payne, Sawyer Trzebiatowski and Hudson Warner won top honors and scholarship funds for their Dockside Food Truck Lot idea. Their business idea was offering a convenient space on the Chain of Lakes where food trucks could gather and offer up a variety of dining options for people recreating on the water.

Schmitz has been impressed by what she’s seen in the last two years of the Entrepreneurship Education Program, noting that the 2025 Shark Tank winners went on to win the SkillsUSA State Entrepreneurship Championship competition with their boat spa business idea.

With a lot of bright minds working together, she is excited to see what the future will bring, both from these students as well as upcoming business classes.

“We’re really proud of the creativity and work the students have put in over the last week,” she said. “Students gain confidence, practical skills, and the guidance to turn an idea into a real business plan. And when they’re ready, they know we have a welcoming environment for business with the resources they need,” she said.

“I think we planted a seed and to me, that’s a win.”