Creativity Flows at 2nd Annual Brevard Children’s Business Fair

They crocheted, painted, baked, beaded and more at the Second Annual Brevard Children’s Business Fair. What started last year with 25 vendors grew this year to 50, and a waiting list. A total of 68 kidpreneurs age 6 to 16 set up tents and tables to sell their wares and share their business plans at The Avenue Viera.

“We didn’t expect this much response from the county,’’ said Nora McFarland, the executive director for the event. “It has been pretty overwhelming.’’

The judging panel consisted of Michelle Bujold of The Avenue Viera, Joshua Adams of Rock Paper Scissors and Scott Benjamin of the Florida Institute of Technology School of Business.

Michelle Bujold, the marketing coordinator for The Avenue Viera, was one of three judges who ranked the businesses in several categories.

“It’s an exciting event to put together,’’ Bujold said. ‘‘Incredibly inspiring.”

Registration opened last fall, with the 50 vendors notified in October. That gave them five months to develop their product/service, create a brand, build a marketing strategy and then open for business for just one day. McFarland hosted Facebook live meetings within a private group to offer the parents information and the kids encouragement along the way.

Their background this year ranged from the daughter of an artist from Cocoa Village to an aspiring astronaut recently relocated from the state of Washington to Melbourne.

Ivy McFullin, 10, of Suntree participated for the second time, displaying her quilling and string artwork. Her goal was to raise money to buy a pig.

“They’re the third smartest animal and they have a really good sense of smell,’’ she said. “I really like them.’’

D.J. Lyons, 10, fell in love with astronomy and dreams of pursuing an engineering education and life as an astronaut. His mother, Rhonda, is artistic and inspired him. D.J. mixed love of art and space at an out-of-this-world display table at the fair. He has business cards and a website for his space-themed artwork from The Nyrad Shop

The following businesses won cash prizes:

• Best in Show ($100): The Grom Squad run by Dylan Geiger of Satellite Beach, 16
• Most Business Potential ($50): 3 Bros Bakery by Carson Sisler, 10; Nolan Hyatt, 11; and Joshua Hannerman, 12. All are from Cocoa Beach
• Most Creative Idea ($30): Wanderlust, Rachel Gold, 14, of Satellite Beach
• Most Impressive Presentation ($30): Jersie’s Fizzies, Jersie Ramos, 9, Melbourne.

Read more articles in our DIGITAL MAGAZINE.