Young entrepreneurs, Kids sell lemonade throughout Laramie to earn and learn

LARAMIE — Lemonade stands popped up all over Laramie on Saturday, and they all had offerings of more than cold drinks with smiles. In addition to their drink, cookie and lunch menus, they all served valuable business experiences.

Lemonade Day in Laramie is part of a national project to help youth become business leaders, social advocates and volunteers.

The program turns a longtime common rite of passage into a first business opportunity and a chance for the community to support them.

“It’s kids selling lemonade. Everyone’s been there. We are here to support the kids,” said Trevor Stanfill, who with Colter Unwin were on their way to sample something from each of the booths in Laramie.

In the Lemonade Day program, children in grades first through sixth receive information on how to create a budget, set goals, serve customers, repay investors and give to the community.

They keep all the money they make and are encouraged to spend some, save some and share some with a charitable cause or nonprofit organization.

Tanner Evans, with Courtney Yarrington and Jake Felton visited TuTu Good on Reynolds Street on their way to visit 13 of the 40 Laramie stands.

Evans and Felton, wearing unmistakable lemon yellow outfits, were a part of the organizational team.

Organizers divided the stands so that each one would receive a visit. Unlike the early years, the event has become so popular that the organizers don’t have time to visit every one.

The event started in Laramie in 2019, returned from a break because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 — and it has been growing since.

The number of Laramie businesses that support the program by sponsoring a booth, or allowing them on the business grounds, also has also been increasing.

“We get awesome business support. The Laramie community has really stepped up,” Evans said.

At TuTu Good, Elianah Savery supported her love of dance and LAWS, a Laramie animal shelter, with her hand-squeezed lemonade mixes.

A sign noted that 10% of the stand’s profits would go toward the Laramie Animal Welfare Society.

In addition to helping a community organization, the lemonade provided a much-needed relief for a Laramie worker.

Lea Nance was suffering from the heat after a morning of pouring concrete. With the bin on her Croell truck still turning, she was happy to buy two glasses of lemonade and Rice Krispies bars.

Camille Christensen, with her daughter Jaysa and son Nico, were visiting lemonade stands to celebrate “Kids’ Day,” a family holiday modeled on Mother’s and Father’s Day.

“This is part of the activity they chose,” she said.

Business savvy was a factor in the location and products offered by Frozen Fruitees, a stand on 22nd Street.

Willow Crawford chose to infuse flavors into her lemonade, and set up her stand on a well-traveled street.

She rebranded her stand after last year, going from Lemonade Rocket to Frozen Fruitees. She also offered free lemon drops, after seeing the success of the chocolate covered coffee beans at the Human Bean coffee shop.

At Tropical Lemonade on 2nd Street, entrepreneurs Brody Burt and Asher Necklason filled cups under the supervision of Lemonade Day alumna Peyton Burt.

Peyton Burt had graduated out of the program, but was on hand to offer advice and supervise.

Peyton Burt said the proceeds from their sales would first be used to pay for the tropical beverage booth and other equipment paid for by her family, and donate to an animal shelter.

“You learn how to save some and pay back,” she said.

The tropical booth offered an option to pay with Venmo, a departure from the traditional lemonade stands.

Karolina Sharma set up Dino Lemonade Delights on 2nd Street, a theme selected because “Dinos are my favorite,” she said.

“And they have a historical relationship with Laramie,” her father, Keerti Sharma said.

At the Brothers Lemonade stand, Brecken and Davin Greaser worked on making change and keeping the signage up.

Brecken Greaser said business was good, and he enjoyed seeing people come to the stand and all the things they wanted to buy.

Warren Greaser, their father, found the program “great for their math” skills and learning how to run a business.

Karla Greaser, the boys’ mother, said the brothers had been learning all day, starting with letting customers know how much their selections cost and remembering to say, “Thank you.”

This story was published on August 14, 2024.