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This summer, local students stepped into entrepreneurship through the Young Entrepreneurs Training Initiative (YETI)—our first year delivering it in Lac La Biche. Over July and August, they learned how to price, plan, and pitch, then tested those skills in the real world: three students launched, selling at the weekly Farmers’ Market or from home. We closed on August 20, 2025 with a Final Awards Ceremony at our office, where students presented their journeys to family and supporters.
Startup support & milestones
Each participant received $500 in startup support, weekly coaching, and access to mentors. Those who met their milestones earned an additional $500 completion award. It wasn’t theory for theory’s sake: one student presented a small 3D-printing service; another tested a plant-and-garden micro-venture; a third turned a jewelry hobby into a brand and saw what real margins look like at the table.
Weekly Farmers’ Market access
The Lac La Biche Agricultural Society offered free vendor tables at the weekly Farmers’ Market, giving students a recurring platform to test prices, practice conversations, and gather feedback. Our thanks as well to Bev Tkachuk for the support that made those market days smooth and welcoming.
Sponsor spotlight: MCSnet
Meet the student ventures
The Stalk Market — Madison (Grade 11)
Handcrafted flower baskets, planters, and small gifts—grown and assembled in Madison’s home-based living-room-turned-greenhouse. Seasonal favourites include eco-friendly single-plant bags, mixed hanging baskets, and succulents.
Find Madison: Order inquiries via The Stalk Market Facebook page; pick-up arranged from home.
Blissful Beadings — Maria (Grade 9)
A jewelry brand built around gemstone and lava-rock designs—bracelets, earrings, and necklaces with a natural, earthy feel. Maria moved from a school entrepreneurship fair to selling at community events with support from YETI.
Find Maria: Lac La Biche Farmers’ Market most Fridays; custom orders by message.
Knechtel 3D Prints — Ian (Grade 10)
Custom 3D-printed products from multicolour articulating animals to personalized keychains and gamer gear. Ian turned a fascination with design and printing into a small venture, learning production timelines and customer communication along the way.
Find Ian: at the market every other Friday through the summer.
(See short venture profiles at yeti.cfllb.com.)
Madison / The Stalk Market
Ian / Knechtel 3D Prints
Maria (right) / Blissful Beadings
Final Awards Ceremony — August 20, 2025
At our CFLLB office on August 20, 2025, each YETI had 3–5 minutes to share their journey—where they were before YETI, how they found the program and why they joined, what they learned, and what comes next. Families filled the room, and the Q&A went beyond polite applause; parents asked classmates smart questions about pricing choices, supplier calls, and the tweaks they’d make next time. We wrapped the formal program by presenting the $500 completion awards to eligible participants.
Afterward, the room turned into a lively networking hour as coordinators, parents, and students compared notes from the weekly market, traded insights, and swapped contact info for next steps. We also want to acknowledge Missy Jacknife, Graduation Coach at J.A. Williams High School, for championing student participation and follow-through.
Why this matters for Lac La Biche
Programs like YETI build confidence and employability close to home. Students see a path from idea to income and practice the skills employers actually ask for: planning, communication, and follow-through. For a first-year program, that’s a strong foundation—and a reason to grow.
Get involved
Curious about the next intake? Visit YETI.cfllb.com to join the interest list. If you’re a business owner who wants to mentor or sponsor a seat, you’ll find details there as well. We’re already planning what’s next.
