Imperial youth wins MCC's Hormel Entrepreneur competition

Morgan Peterson of Imperial (center) accepts a check for $5,000 for winning the 2021 Hormel Youth Entrepreneur Competition. Presenting the check were judges (from left): Mary Pierce, MPCC Ogallala Campus Coordinator; Andrea Pennock, McCook Community College Foundation, Sharon Kircher, MPCC Area Director of Business & Community Education; Gavin Harsh, McCook Community Foundation; Donna Kircher and Kimberly Cook representing UNL Extension Imperial youth wins MCC’s Hormel Entrepreneur competition

MPCC photo

McCOOK, Neb. — Morgan Peterson of Imperial was named winner of the 2021 Hormel Youth Entrepreneurship competition through McCook Community College.

Peterson was one of four finalists for the competition who made business plan presentations Saturday. She received $5,000 for her business, ImpERFECT Confections.

Ethan Graff of McCook won second place and received $2,500 for his Nebraska Pizza Company. Kailynn Rodewald, McCook, received a third-place check for $1,500 for her presentation of Sweet & Sassy Cakes and Cupcakes.

Four young entrepreneurs presented their plans for businesses Saturday in the 2021 Hormel Youth Entrepreneurship at McCook Community College. Finalists included (from left): Quincy Long, McCook; Kailynn Rodewald, McCook; Morgan Peterson, Imperial; and Ethan Graff, McCook.

MPCC photo

These three young entrepreneurs, along with Quincy Long, McCook (Strawberry Frog Stickers), each presented their business ideas to a panel of judges Saturday in MCC’s McMillen Hall. Their business plans include information on how and why this business was chosen, a cost analysis including assets and expenditures, projected costs and revenue, examples of marketing and plans for what any money would be used for.

Winners will be asked to participate in the Nebraska Community Foundation’s annual training and banquet in McCook on November 17-18, since prize money for the youth entrepreneurship program derived from the NCF youth engagement grant.

The McCook Community Foundation Fund provided $7,500 for a matching grant from the Nebraska Community Foundation as part of the Youth Engagement Grant. Those funds have been used to educate local entrepreneurs as well as provide the prize money for the first Hormel Youth Entrepreneurship Camp.

The camp was led by Cultivate Rural Leaders’ McCook Leadership 2.0 group, along with local UNL 4-H Extension staff