Ready to start their own businesses...

Bradlee Borgholthaus explains the business plan of his company, DinerDriver, which he expects to officially go live June 1.

by Tim Bondy

Mountain Home News

Eight soon-to-be graduates from the inaugural year of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy officially marked the "soft" opening of the businesses they have spent the last six months creating during a trade show held in downtown Mountain Home on April 23.

Friends of America's Heroes CEO Ruth Farnham shakes hands with Olivia Overfield and Terrance Steele as they thank the teen for her efforts to help military members through her non-profit company.

The main purpose of the YEA! program is to teach students to develop a business idea, write a business plan, do the market research and finally pitch their business concepts to a panel of investors before launching their own companies.

Like at any trade show, these young ...

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In true trade show tradition, Elite Wolf Gear CEO Brandon Woltkamp exchanges contact information with Karen Gump, during the Young Entepreneurs Academy trade show April 23. Gump, a member of a local group of outdoor and four wheel enthusiasts, was interested in the survival kits offered by Woltkamp and company co-owner Jared Thome. Gump hoped to sell the kits to each member of her group, making them the first bulk customers of the student-led company.