Casper’s ‘Lemonade Day’ returns to teach kids how to run a business

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook at age 19. For kids in Casper, they’ll be starting their own business much earlier.

Okay, perhaps this isn’t the best comparison. Nevertheless, Casper’s “Lemonade Day” is giving kids their first taste of what it’s like to start a legitimate business, and it involves a little more than setting up a table on a sidewalk and mixing water and sugar.

“Lemonade Day” is a free community event, focused on teaching kids how to start and run their own business. Kids follow a 14-step process that includes budgeting, marketing, construction, research, developing a recipe, and tabulating business results.

The 2023 “Lemonade Day” kickoff event will be held May 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hilltop Bank’s Main Office at 300 Country Club Road. For the second year, the kickoff will be on the south side of the building off 4th Street.

This is the first opportunity for kids to register and pick up their backpacks full of information to guide them through the process of starting their own business.

There will be free lemonade and cookies for everyone at the kickoff, while supplies last.

Backpacks will be available at any Hilltop Bank lobby location starting May 4. Each backpack contains an official guide to starting your own business as well as coupons, special offers, and prizes from Hilltop’s sponsors—all aimed at helping kids to run a successful business.

Then, on June 24, participating entrepreneurs will open for business as they set up their stands all over town. Participants even keep 100% of the money they earn.

Hilltop Bank President & CEO, Greg Dixson, is eager to support young entrepreneurs in the community.

“Lemonade Day participants get to plan their lemonade stand, find funding to capitalize their business, build their stand, plan a menu, and exemplify their great sales skills. With Lemonade Day, there are so many good life lessons from start to finish,” Dixson said. “The lemonade is great, but not nearly as rewarding as witnessing young entrepreneurs at work.”

Over the years, thousands of kids have registered for the event and it’s estimated that nearly $50,000 will be earned by participants this year.

This is an event where all of Casper can participate whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, mentor, a customer, or all the above.

Tom McCarthy, Casper’s “Lemonade Day” city director, says the event is important to the future of the community.

“Financial literacy and an entrepreneurial spirit are essential building blocks for future business and community leaders. That we can cultivate those skills in such a fun way, with support from the entire city, is incredible,” McCarthy said.